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Just got an Edison P-1 portable from Matt: who would you recommend to rebuild the reproducer?

The potmetal is in good shape, barring a slight chip on the needle bar pivot area; it needs a proper rubber flange; the screen in the neck is missing; and there appears to be a perforation near the center of the diaphragm (I have temporarily sealed it with Tacky Glue). I'd just like to make sure it's performing up to par.....

On a related issue, what would anyone suggest for cleaning / conserving the Fabrikoid covering?

Bill

Update: I have so far replaced the screen with a hose/faucet screen; found a set screw that, with a little filing, fits decently (the old one was severely bent); and modified a rubber grommet to fit relatively tolerably.

One thing that concerns me somewhat is the needle angle, which seems rather high (closer to 80 degrees than 60). As far as I can tell, the set screw is all the way back in the slot...

Still looking for someone with enough experience with potmetal to check the gaskets, etc.

I'm currently trying to strengthen the worn parts of the carrying handle with Tacky Glue; and may try some black shellac as well...

Will try Gojo on the Fabrikoid, as mentioned; and if I can find some dark blue shoe polish....?

Bill

Judging from the lack of responses, I assume that my best course is to leave the soundbox alone; as it seems to perform fairly well.....

As for the flange: I would conclude that the set screw was not meant to fit into the tone arm slot, but merely to hold the flange in place. That presupposes a metal sleeve with pin inside the rubber portion. Does anyone know whether a flange from one of the later Victor soundboxes might fit? The dimensions are: 15/16" OD; 11/16" ID; depth approx. ⅜".

If that fails, I shall try to find some brass tubing of appropriate diameter, and drill it to fit a pin....

Bill

Bill,

I asked a few similar questions recently on this thread:
http://forum.talkingmachine.info/viewto ... f=2&t=8305

You may find that the page on portables mentioned in that thread is of some use.

FYI, I used electrical tape wound around the tonearm as a temporary replacement for a rubber flange. Also, I cleaned the Fabrikoid using Fantastik with no adverse effects.

One question for you - will your machine play 12" records? Mine will not. The records wind up resting on the case handle ring.

Kevin

Well ,the real impediment is the automatic stop, which would be in the way of anything larger than the turntable...

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:Well ,the real impediment is the automatic stop, which would be in the way of anything larger than the turntable...

Bill

Only if you use it

Besides, my automatic stop doesn't work well (if at all). I also find that on occasion the brake will just kick in by itself in the niddle of a record.

Well, even if you don't use it, it's still in the way: the pivot on the trip lever is higher than the turntable....

So far, though, I haven't had much trouble with it on 10 inch discs: I tend to set it so conservatively that it often fails to go off at all (I've generally been playing early electrics with an eccentric groove, and set it approximately to the innermost extreme)...

Bill

Lucius1958 wrote:Well, even if you don't use it, it's still in the way: the pivot on the trip lever is higher than the turntable....

So far, though, I haven't had much trouble with it on 10 inch discs: I tend to set it so conservatively that it often fails to go off at all (I've generally been playing early electrics with an eccentric groove, and set it approximately to the innermost extreme)...

Bill

That's really interesting - on mine the pivot is nowhere near as high as the turntable. I've wondered if mine might be missing a part of the automatic brake. Can you post photos?

Here are a couple of views of the brake on my P-1:

You and I have different brakes, but we also have slightly different machines. Yours appears to have the crank storage in an escutcheon on the main board. Mine has a clip on the board instead. I would guess that the brank and crank storage were probably changed at the same time. You learn something new every day!

Here are pics of my brake.