RCA Victor suitcase - tone arm sticks/record skips

[Mastersvoice]

Hi - new to the forum, and I couldn't find anything similar to this question. I have a wind-up suitcase model marked "RCA" in an oilcloth covered case with some bakelite embellishments inside (speed indicator, turntable knob, etc.). The two-piece arm easily swivels up and down, but the side-to-side motion tends to stick, causing the needle movement to freeze and making the record "skip." Where the arm attaches to the turntable base, it is riveted on and, when the top is removed and flipped, the horn is riveted onto the underside, making it impossible to get inside the tone arm. There is no spring tension inside to help "float" the arm that I can tell. I've tried lubricating the base of the tone arm with various standard products, and nothing works. Would graphite be any better? While cleaning the swivel base with WD 40, I did notice some gray "dirt" coming out - maybe that was graphite?
If the arm would just move freely, it would be a great piece!

[David Spanovich]

It sounds like the pot metal joint has swelled.

Graphite might work; it depends on how much it's sticking.

You could try getting some very fine #600 "wet or dry" sandpaper and wedging it in between the arm and the base, and turning the arm back and forth to see if it loosens it up a bit.

If that doesn't work, about the only option I can think of is to drill out the rivets. In that way, you can remove the tonearm to get at the under-side of the base. After you're done, you can reattach the base using screws of the appropriate size.

DS

[Mastersvoice]

Thanks, David - the sandpaper idea would be a good start. The arm has an "enameling" of sorts on it, and I didn't consider that it might be pot metal (so far, no telltale cracking or disintegration. Will just need to be careful with the finish. Appreciate the feedback - Michael

[Orthophonic]

First off, these things are real pickles! They tend to jam even when the pot metal is not totally swelled; you can check this by lifting up on the tone arm while you move it side to side. Chances are it will move more freely. You might take out the rivets holding it in the machine and turn the base if the tone arm travel distance will let you do it and replace the rivets with screws and nuts. It might work more freely in this position and maybe not. Another thing to try is to get a very thin steel washer to go between the tone arm and its mount. Good luck on finding something like this but the difference between the metals may make it move more freely as originally they are pot metal on top of pot metal. Naturally you will need to do something about the decreased distance for the lock ring that holds the tone arm in the base. Basically, to get it to work better you will need to do some intense tinkering to see what may work for you. Personally I like the tone arms with ball bearings and next to that, the ones with a pin through the center that rests on a small steel support inside the tone arm that has a partial hole cut in it for the pin to turn in. These have much less friction and work much more freely.

[estott]

These late RCA portables can give trouble- they were built by a couple of outside makers like Waters-Conley, and RCA just put their name on them. They weren't bad if you just wanted something to play records on a picnic but compared to the ones Victor built in NJ the quality is pretty cheap. If the arm has gone bad you can sometimes find a replacement off of one of the generic machines.

[Mastersvoice]

Thanks all for the advice! I purchased it originally for a paltry $15, and it is in near-pristine condition, except for the expected wear on the oilcloth covering. With the number of other working machines I have, I am more tempted to leave it be, since the tone arm, stylus, etc. are perfect otherwise. (And I have more pressing projects to attend to, like adjustments to a player piano - LOL). Love this site - glad I found it.