/r/Phonographs

Photograph via //r/Phonographs

Welcome to r/Phonographs!

Feel free to join us, stay a while, and ask any questions!

Check out these sites:

talkingmachineforum.com

antiquephono.org

Please adhere to all reddit rules.

/r/Phonographs

2,304 Subscribers

3

1920s Victrola

Curious if an antique Victrola 1920s era is considered a phonograph? Has anyone used a working refurbished one? I think it’d be really cool to connect one to a new turntable and speakers.

3 Comments
2024/12/01
06:01 UTC

7

Help. Record player keep blowing its fuse.

My zenith keeps blowing the fuse (2a 250v). In lime green is the power coming from the outlet. Everything else looks ok but I am not a whiz. Any help would is greatly appreciated.

10 Comments
2024/11/30
02:02 UTC

7

Wax Cylinder Needle Question

My father-in-law has an Edison 1913 D3 Wax Cylinder Phonograph.

I was curious about what types of needs are best for it.

I know nothing about phonographs and don't know if needles are brand/model-specific, cylinder-specific, universal, etc.

Thank You.

8 Comments
2024/11/28
15:48 UTC

42

My collection.

Love my Credenza! Got it for free a week ago and can’t stop playing it!

4 Comments
2024/11/24
23:26 UTC

10

What are my best options if I like the way crapophones look but I want something that's at least somewhat functional?

This sub saved me from spending money on an overpriced crapophone I thought was real, but to be honest, I'm still drawn to them like a moth to a flame because I don't want to drop $1000+ on a real antique that only plays shellac records, needs a new needle every time, etc.

I just really like the way they look with the big horn and all. I have goth decor and I don't feel like a normal turntable is going to scratch the itch. The sound quality doesn't matter to me, I have some hearing loss so it sounding like ass isn't a big deal. Are there any replicas that have the aesthetic of a gramophone with a horn but will play other records and won't completely destroy them? It's fine if the horn itself isn't functional too. I can pretend.

7 Comments
2024/11/24
20:17 UTC

3

Viva-Tonal Grafonola No. 202 restoring

I had NO prior interest or experience with gramophones/phonographs, until today. Long story short I found a Colombia Viva Tonal 202, there was even an old record inside! It seems to be working quite well (considering how old it is), although my aforementioned lack of knowledge and experience with these things makes it hard to tell whether it really is in good shape or not. I want to bring this little thing closer to its former glory.

I looked up pictures/videos of the model online, and it seems that the one I found has a different soundbox. All the pictures I've found show a metal soundbox, while this one has a strange ceramic-looking part with (old and worn out) cables with banana plugs running from it. I'm guessing this is some sort of "conversion" you can do, to be able to hook old players like this to speakers? Those cables are the only part that's clearly broken, on first glance.

I know pictures would explain better than words, and I can supply some if anyone is curious.

While you can hear the music, it's not really "loud". And I keep reading that these things play "surprisingly loud". Is this likely because of the current soundbox? If its purpose is to bring the sound signal through a cable, I'm guessing it might also block the sound from entering the actual horn? If I am somewhat correct in my assumptions so far, then maybe replacing the soundbox with a normal one would be a natural first step in this little project.

Second, I want to clean up the enclosure. But I feel wary about this, as I don't want to accidentally damage it by using the wrong chemicals or techniques.
The enclosure is supposedly made of leatherette. Any advice on what approach I should take for making it look fresh without damaging it?
As for various metal parts, i suppose soaking in rust remover and scrubbing, then buffing is worth a try. I found someone who did this on their old player, and then used a liquid metal polish, and the result looked amazing. The corner protectors are oxidized brass, would the same method also be good for those?

Also, the thin felt/velvet "disc" that goes on top of the spindle can be lifted off. Is this supposed to be the case, or is it usually attached to the spindle?

3 Comments
2024/11/23
21:57 UTC

6

What to do with a vivatonal that’s not up to speed

I have a Vivatonal model 711 that I brought springs for in a restoration attempts. The turntable spins, but slows to a stop when i put a record & tonearm on. Any ideas on what to do? Thanks.

6 Comments
2024/11/23
19:08 UTC

6

Please Help Me Readjust My Pathé Phonograph!!

I recently got a Pathé phonograph, and, as the inexperienced idiot I am, I turned the screw on the picture "WhAt DoEs It dO?".

The screw circled in the picture pushes the reproducer (or viceversa) to allow for perfect movement and reproduction. It's got to be in the perfect position, not too loose, not too tight

The cylinder which sounded perfectly on my phonograph, now skips all throughout, I've tried for days to readjust It, no luck!

I'm going insane, can anyone give me any advice?

Thanks!

Note: My phonograph isn't the one picture but rather one that uses the exact same system (Pathé too)

2 Comments
2024/11/21
21:15 UTC

8

PLEASE help, installing new mainspring malfunctions

TLDR- why is my main spring bending like this

I just got an amberola 30 and initially you could crank it but nothing would happen. So me and a friend opened it up and this mainspring was broken in half, so I ordered a new one about a week ago or so. Fast forward yesterday and today we tried installing the spring but each time after we installed it and cranked it it would bend the inner flange, The most recent time was the worst (see pics attached). Yet in a way the most recent time was the most successful because we were struggling to get the inner nub hooked on, but we did put it together and turned the crank and initially, this time actually, spun the governor after about 10 cranks and then after that nothing happened so I flipped it over and took it apart again and saw this. What could be causing this? I'm dying to hear this thing work. I have over 200 cylinders I got with it and this is killing me to keep hitting roadblocks.

I see some posts about a disassembling something to do with a pawl something. I've only flipped it over and taken the spring barrel off to insert the new mainspring, Am I supposed to disassemble more?

4 Comments
2024/11/20
17:45 UTC

9

Should I leave the brake on when winding?

I've always let the turntable spin while winding, however I've never actually confirmed whether or not this will hurt the phonograph.

3 Comments
2024/11/15
22:05 UTC

3

Good products to clean phonograph parts?

I’m gonna start work on disassembling my phonograph and cleaning the whole thing. Any recommendations on what products to use when cleaning all the inside components? Thanks again as always <3

11 Comments
2024/11/15
20:07 UTC

9

Crapaphone? (Repost with photo this time)

6 Comments
2024/11/15
15:34 UTC

6

Crapophone?

New to this. Wanting to buy a gramophone with a brass horn to add a decor/talking point in a stately 1906 house we are renovating in South Africa: I know that brass was unpopular, but need brass for this project. Was there any non-knock off ones ever sold? And could this one be an actual import as was commonly done by households at the time say in the early 30's/40's perhaps?

3 Comments
2024/11/15
07:16 UTC

13

Any info on the Columbia BA

Found it on Facebook for 350$ and I'm interested in it

3 Comments
2024/11/14
23:22 UTC

3

Columbia Grafonola Model ID

7 Comments
2024/11/14
16:50 UTC

6

HMV Identification help: I am out of my depth

I saw this at the goodwill I work at and had to remove it from kids trying to play with it. It's honestly really beautiful so I wanted to identify it and found this subreddit. If it's fake or not worth anything I'd love to know, much appreciated !

https://preview.redd.it/gbsolet74u0e1.jpg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=46d457415807cab33b57a8f8c9d9ec5a4e333138

https://preview.redd.it/b7n6ket74u0e1.jpg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1ff4be6aea125041d0abefa27a7a5104ef9c333

https://preview.redd.it/kl5mtet74u0e1.jpg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=673a66530632af51c7ec22bed601cfda663b4c19

7 Comments
2024/11/14
09:19 UTC

5

VV 4-3 Ratchet not engaging

My VV 4-3 has a faulty ratchet, and I know it's because the teeth on the ratchet gear and the ratchet pawl are all chewed up. I was wondering how to remove them, either so I can tidy them up with a file or so I can just remachine them. Anything helps!

0 Comments
2024/11/13
22:42 UTC

17

Music cylinders

0 Comments
2024/11/13
21:37 UTC

12

Tone arm won’t lift and won’t move left or right

The tone arm on my London upright – 37 Edison photograph will not move. If I force it up the entire horn lifts out of place and still won’t move right properly. I have not done anything to it for this part to not work. Does anyone know how to alleviate this issue? I have included a video video and can include more videos and pictures upon request. If need to be. Thank youuuu!

13 Comments
2024/11/13
04:11 UTC

12

Second graphite horns

0 Comments
2024/11/12
01:29 UTC

Back To Top