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Hopefully this didn't get posted twice, I accidentally pressed a few buttons when uploading the last time and TMF kinda freaked out.

Yesterday, i was playing a record on my machine and noticed that the reproducer was buzzing slightly at the high frequencies. From what I know (I'm pretty new to collecting) this is a tell-tale sign of a reproducer that needs to be rebuilt.(once the video has uploaded to youtube, ill put the link in a comment)

It would make sense that this would happen, as i had gotten it recently and the person who was selling it wasn't selling anything else phonograph related, so there's a decent chance it has the original gaskets and such (or an aged repair). The only problem with this is that I've had this machine for a few months, and only now it has started buzzing, if my idea of it being non-rebuilt was correct, maybe it was a time bomb and it getting a lot of use caused it to happen? maybe somehow the gaskets are just starting to harden now? I don't know.

I want to open it up and see the issues, but since this is an off-brand machine, I'm concerned that the backing is pot metal, and considering my inexperience, that would probably lead to a non-repairable reproducer.

For a background on the machine, it is an HMV 102 style off-brand which iirc is british. The reproducer has "SWISS MADE" embossed on the edge of the back, but no other defining characteristics that I know of, besides the name of the brand that it was made for put on the front.

Sorry for the lengthy message.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

Here's the link as promised:

https://youtu.be/m5UyS_D0-Lk?si=F8-tZbFVk831_jk7

Is this a May-Fair Deluxe machine or just the reproducer?

Unless the back of the soundbox is cracked the front should unscrew easily to change the gaskets. This is likely to be the cause of the buzzing. Certainly an easier task than the reproducer 5A or 5B found on the HMV 102 which does have a pot metal back.

Post pictures of the reproducer. Front & back sides. We have no way of knowing if your reproducer is pot metal or not otherwise. Even if it is pot metal, it can still be rebuilt if the metal has not degraded.

Here's the reproducer. It is a May-Fair machine with a matching (i assume) reproducer.

Okay, the reproducer is pot metal but it's very stable and should be safe to work on. However, if you have not done anything like this before, it may be best to send it out for a rebuild. The diaphragm is very thin aluminum and very delicate. Even to a trained hand it can be tricky to disassemble without damaging it. Old, dried gasket material tends to stick to the diaphragm and can tear it while separating the front and back of the reproducer.

Just my two cents, but I noticed that the needle is clamped very close to its tip. Your sound box is very similar in design to the one used on my non-branded Paillard portable phonograph.

I've found that, on occasion, there's distortion when playing some records--in spite of the fact that the sound box was rebuilt--but this is eliminated by moving the needle down about ¼ inch so more of the tip is exposed. You might try this, if you haven't already done it.

Ideally, though, if the original gaskets have hardened, an overhaul would optimize its performance, as suggested.

OrthoFan

OrthoFan wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:32 pm Just my two cents, but I noticed that the needle is clamped very close to its tip. Your sound box is very similar in design to the one used on my non-branded Paillard portable phonograph.

I've found that, on occasion, there's distortion when playing some records--in spite of the fact that the sound box was rebuilt--but this is eliminated by moving the needle down about ¼ inch so more of the tip is exposed. You might try this, if you haven't already done it.

Ideally, though, if the original gaskets have hardened, an overhaul would optimize its performance, as suggested.

OrthoFan

That would make sense, but this problem is new. It only started happening yesterday, I had played with the same record & same needles with 0 buzzing.

JerryVan wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2025 12:21 pm Okay, the reproducer is pot metal but it's very stable and should be safe to work on. However, if you have not done anything like this before, it may be best to send it out for a rebuild. The diaphragm is very thin aluminum and very delicate. Even to a trained hand it can be tricky to disassemble without damaging it. Old, dried gasket material tends to stick to the diaphragm and can tear it while separating the front and back of the reproducer.

Probably against my better judgement, I tried to take it apart. and the back & front separated from the diaphragm, and i was able to get the gaskets separated from the diaphragm with no damage. Do you know what material it is/where I could get new ones from?

Great! Good for you!

Double check with the thickness of the old tubing, while taking into account that it's probably now crushed flat, with no spring-back.

https://thephonographshop.com/products/ ... 8-od-304pf
(I assume they're selling this by the foot.)

They also have it a little bit thicker, if needed. https://thephonographshop.com/products/ ... -foot-9030

Look very closely for any holes or rips in the diaphragm. Hold it up to the light and look for even the tiniest pinholes.