The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

Hi all - Relative newbie here and looking for help. We have a cabinet phonograph that has been in my wife's family, but we don't know the make/model. The thread in the needle bar just stripped (where the thumb-screw goes to hold the needle in place), so we can't use it any more. At first I was trying to replace just the needle bar, but at this point I'm interested in just getting a replacement reproducer so we can use it again. I don't know how to figure out which reproducer will work. Any hints?

Good for the needle arm only. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Phonograph-Vic ... SwxGheD71p

Looks nice, but cracks have been hidden with magic marker on the backside. Probably still o.k. however. A bit pricey though! His no returns policy, so boldly stated, is also disconcerting. Still... https://www.ebay.com/itm/GRAMOPHONE-PHO ... SwUi5eb6cY

In reality, your reproducer is a generic replacement of the day. Really, anything in good shape, that fits on the tone arm should work just fine. You might remove your current reproducer and show a photo of the tone arm end, along with noting the diameter, and it may suggest a bunch of other possible replacements.

BTW, is there a brand name anywhere on your phonograph?

Also, have a look here at #2, maybe he'll sell it???

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=44648

Thanks, Jerry. The tonearm diameter is 20mm. No - there are no markings anywhere on the cabinet. I haven't found luck searching online based on what I can see, unfortunately. Thanks for the links, too.

Hey, KZurch, I have a feeling the tonearm/reproducer might not be original to your machine.

Your's looks more like an early twenties style upright, the doors putting it sometime after the victor patent expired. The tonearm on it is more common with later 20s machines with the reproducer coming from a portable. Someone either tried to "upgrade" it, or it originally had an earlier generic supplier tonearm made of pot metal. As time goes on the pot metal brakes down becoming fragile/easy to break, so someone got parts from a later machine to replace them.

It's interesting, the brake and speed control kinda look similar to some Columbias', but I know Heineman had a similar style brake. (Could it be British/European?) I can think of a few american off-brands that used the door design once the victor pant expire, Kimberly, Phonola, or Venetian.