The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

My Edison Concert won’t track well unless I put a little pressure on the tracking arm. Which screws do I need to tighten to get more downward pressure? Picture for context. Thank you!

I would suspect that the issue is not with the half-nuts or half-nut bar, but rather with the amount of weight with the horn not being suspended from a crane.

The machine will track well if I put a little downward pressure on the half nut with my finger. I figured one of the screws (or two) could translate some more downward force. I’m just not sure which ones.

Your thought is a good one though, and I can try it with my big horn and crane (just a pain to setup).

Hi KCW,

Loosen the circled screw, then twist the nickeled part with the half-nut spring on it, slightly downward.
Then tighten the screw back up. This will put more pressure on the half-nut.

Cheers, Bob S.

The carrier arm is clamped to the sliding tube by the screw a the back as per the photo a slight slackening of the screw should allow the tube to rotate an the engagement of the half nut can be re set in my experience the halfnut should just fully engage when the arm is about 1mm away from touching the straight edge so that lowering it fully gives the correct pressure. One tip is to use a piece of thick card under the carrier arm while you twist the tube and then lock the screw and remove the card.

All fixed! Thank you! The photos really helped. I appreciate your input and time spent explaining this to me.