The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I have the opportunity to purchase a Brunswick Panatrope Model 42 changer. Currently not working. Would this make a worthy project? I have a guy locally that can rebuild the electronics if needed. I don't know how much mechanical work is needed.

Curious if any of you own and have restored them yourself. Would like to have a resource if I do decide to pick it up. And would should I look for before committing to the purchase?

Thanks - Scott

Scott,

I've restored a couple of these units. Nice compact changers, The only changer that Brunswick made. The electronics aren't hard to restore if you are familiar with pre 30's radios, the radio is a modified Brunswick Model 15.

The changer is built very well and other than a good cleaning and lubrication it's pretty much bullet proof. The original models only played 10" records, later a modification was made to allow the ability to single play 12" records. For being a slinger style changer it is fairly easy on records.

The one pictured appears to have been modified for 12" use

Chuck

MTPhono wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 7:12 pm I have the opportunity to purchase a Brunswick Panatrope Model 42 changer. Currently not working. Would this make a worthy project? I have a guy locally that can rebuild the electronics if needed. I don't know how much mechanical work is needed.

Curious if any of you own and have restored them yourself. Would like to have a resource if I do decide to pick it up. And would should I look for before committing to the purchase?

Thanks - Scott

These are marvelous machines. I would buy this ASAP. These barely come up and are really the cream of the crop in terms of changers.

That’s funny to hear. I had one, and the changer was not very interesting in its action, so I unloaded it. Not very attractive cabinet either; it has this weird repwood appliqué that tends to fall off.

Heavy as hell, too.

There are plenty of other changers that are a lot more interesting in my opinion, with the Big Victors heading that list.

I have one and the motor housing is all pot metal and is falling apart. Off and on I've been looking for a replacement for it, so make sure that stuff is in good shape. There is no simple replacement for that because of the way it's all cast. I figure if I have time next year I'll just replace all of that with a single place mechanism as I've got it all refinished and the amplifier, et. are restored. At least then it will play a record. They do look MUCH better refinished. Those early lacquers fade a lot.

PeterF wrote: Wed Dec 15, 2021 9:17 pm That’s funny to hear. I had one, and the changer was not very interesting in its action, so I unloaded it. Not very attractive cabinet either; it has this weird repwood appliqué that tends to fall off.

Heavy as hell, too.

There are plenty of other changers that are a lot more interesting in my opinion, with the Big Victors heading that list.

I'm always biased towards Brunswick. One of these is probably my dream machine. REALLY gentle on records, a good pickup and speaker. Nothing amazing in terms of operation but a real nice workhorse, so I've heard.

Thanks for the feedback. I plan on picking up tomorrow as a winter project. I may be tapping your knowledge in the near future.

Russie Ofrio bought mine. As I recall, it had a couple of hose clamps holding the electric motor to the remnants of the pot metal bracket. When we visited him later, he had the thing working well.

He’s pretty talented in this sort of thing and no doubt came up with a clever solution. You might get in touch with him.

I’m looking forward to hearing about progress on this. I have one that was given to me—it belonged to my wife’s godmother and her family since it was new. I have not had a chance to work on it yet and electronics are not my area. It does weigh a LOT but I would really like to get it working (or at least to the point where I would feel comfortable plugging it in). Then I would just have to find room for it somewhere accessible in the house…

Bill

I have one here in the UK, bought in a job lot of machines which included two EMGs a couple of years ago, and I've never tried it - I'm now encouraged to!

I "should" have sold it, but it's such a wonderful piece that I really don't want to. It's in nice condition and I was told it had been working well around 5 to 10 years ago, but it may have been stored in slightly damp conditions for some time before I acquired it - hence I've always been wary of turning it on. I planned either to get someone competent to be present or check it over first, or to borrow a Variac to run it up gradually. Maybe just the old incandescent light bulb in series trick would be enough precaution though?