I'm new here and was referred here from another site (Fedora Lounge). I have a problem with my portable: it winds up and plays but then slows down very quickly and stops after a couple of seconds. What's the diagnosis? And, even better, what's the prognosis? What would be the best way to fix this? Get a pro to do it? Or try it myself? If the latter, what do I do?
Thank you very much for the very helpful tips and advice - I'm a real newbie with this kind of thing. I'll try out some of your suggestions and post my results...
That looks like a deluxe red leather 101, and it's obviously well traveled.
I don't know if you're a newbie to the hobby or not, but just in case, I'll post a few beginner's tips.
For starters, make sure you're winding the machine enough. It would probably take about 25 turns of the crank or so for a full winding, perhaps more. (If you hear any bumping noises while winding, stop winding it! That means that the grease in the main spring has dried out and the spring barrel should be cleaned and re-greased as soon as possible.)
If it slows down after a full wind, then there could be other factors involved.
Also, I'm wondering if you've ever had the motor cleaned and re-greased. If not, and it hasn't been done for some time, that's a likely cause.
If the motor has been recently serviced and adjusted by someone who knows how, then a frozen sound box could be the culprit. Has the sound box (reproducer) been overhauled with fresh gaskets and properly adjusted?
If both of the above have been taken care of, there are a few other things to consider:
The records you're trying to play:
These are only designed to play shellac based 78 rpm records of a certain period -- circa 1900-1935, or there about. Trying to play a later production (circa late 1940s/early 1950s+) or vinyl 78 record, an LP, or a 45 rpm record will not work.
The condition of the record:
If a record is heavily worn, it can slow down the turntable after a few seconds.
The condition of the needle:
If a (steel) needle has been used to play more than one or two sides of a record, it should not be used again. A worn steel needle will not only slow down a turntable; it will destroy the record.
The type of needle used:
You can play most shellac based records using steel, fiber or thorn needles, as well as tungsten styli that were specially designed to be used on acoustic gramophones. You cannot use a jewel tipped stylus or one tipped with osmium, etc. They will slow down the turntable, as well as damage the record.
These are just the basic issues I can think of right now.
I see from reading your post on Fedora Lounge that you are located in Germany. I don't know of any repair shops located there, but perhaps some of this forum's members do. If you have a chance, please register on this site. In that way, your posts will show up as soon as you post them, and you may get a few more responses.
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