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Post by eckster on Feb 4, 2012 20:21:56 GMT -6
Someone put a dud diaphragm in the reproducer soldered it on one side and put wax on the needle bar. www.phonographs.org/store/product_info.php?products_id=661There is a little photo of diaphragms on this link. Click on the image to zoom it. The one to the far left is the improve diaphragm. Your best bet is to go on line and find a diaphragm for the viva tone reproducer. It is the same as that one but a bit larger. This link may even have reproducers for sale also. England for parts would be your best bet. Wow from the first pictures I thought the reproducer was in good shape. I guess its good you took it apart. What a mess.
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Post by eckster on Feb 4, 2012 20:56:09 GMT -6
Judging by the pictures. It is better you get a rebuilt reproducer. For an H.M.V. 102c portable. Or even a good used one on line. When you get the reproducer you may have to pop out the end flange gasket out of the old one so it fits the tone arm because its slightly bigger and put it in the new one
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Post by eckster on Feb 5, 2012 11:35:53 GMT -6
I sent you a p.m.
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Post by eckster on Feb 5, 2012 19:09:17 GMT -6
This link has been pretty slow for along time. So have the others.
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Post by eckster on Feb 5, 2012 19:38:27 GMT -6
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Post by armadillo on Feb 9, 2012 12:53:48 GMT -6
Eckster, thanks a lot for your help ! I did follow your advice and put all the machine a part. The inside looks fine, quite greasy but no mold. The motor was dirty, I cleaned and re-greased, as you can see in the pictures it looks good: Too bad about my reproducer ! Honestly, I don,t know if I,m able to rebuild it myself, it looks quite difficult. I wonder if I can just send my reproducer somewhere to get the job done without spending too much money. Cheers !
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Post by eckster on Feb 9, 2012 22:44:39 GMT -6
Thats good. Look at the governor weight at the bottom. Its cracked. Governors when old like that and cracked will eventually fling off into the cabinet. You should get those replaced. These look like 20 gram weights. When doing this you should also replace the 3 small springs that the weights are attached to. work over a container because the screws are really small. If the weights are cracked usually the small springs have weakened ALWAYS replace all the springs doesnt matter how good they look. I will try and track down replacement parts tor your reproducer and governor for an economical price. In hopes that also someone on this link can also direct you to quality parts and quality repair facility for your particular machine. It may take some time but its good not to rush. I want you to have a good quality working machine in the end without more headaches. It is also a good idea to get the proper length of governor springs. Send a sample to the parts facility. I just picked up governor springs and sent a sample spring in and here the person still sent me the wrong size event though i gave him the sample and they ended up a bit too short. They work just barely. My speed control knob is turned all the way in. I am going to post a link on this governor dilema.
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Post by eckster on Feb 10, 2012 20:34:42 GMT -6
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Post by eckster on Feb 10, 2012 21:07:38 GMT -6
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Post by armadillo on Feb 12, 2012 12:24:37 GMT -6
Wow that was quite impressive, than you, Eckster. Of course its not an easy choice: I,d do the job myself, I,m fine at soldering delicate objects with a 25w soldering pen. However, the last link you send me gives me to think: www.ebay.ca/itm/Victor-Orthophonic-Reproducer-Repair-Service-/110535158861?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19bc68ac4d#ht_3667wt_1174The add says, or at least I understand, --which is not the same-- that this person can completely restore my abused reproducer for about 60 good old American dollars. It may sound silly to you but I have waited many years to find myself this phonograph, they are not easy so find here in Spain, yes, you can find them in ebay, but shipping a phonograph overseas is a quite risky business. I don,t want to jeopardize the sound quality for 60 U.S.D if a good professional can do it right. Anyway I,d have to add the r-t shipping of my reproducer to Spain However, honestly, I want to try to do the job myself. It,s not the money only, which does not come nearly easy as it used to, but also to show my kids a lesson. A lesson about the importance, fragility and endurance of an apparently simple object like a phonograph. If I only need to change the two rubber rings plus the diaphragm. The only problem I can recall is the missing screws from the reproducer. QUESTIONS : - Are the missing screws from the reproducer essential ? - If important, are they esy to fint in the U.S. ? - Where In the U.S. can I buy all the parts I need to restore my reproducer ? I ask those because this thursday there is a friend coming to Spain from the U.S. and he can bring me the parts. Thanks again !
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Post by eckster on Feb 12, 2012 20:17:39 GMT -6
Yes the screws are essential because they provide an airtight seal to the diaphragm which is sandwhiched between 2 gaskets. They also centralize the diaphragm so it doesnt touch the housing and the sound doesnt leak to the housing causing loss of sound. The vibations from the needle goes through the needlebar emanates from the center out creating sound which has to be amplified through the scientifically constructed tonearm which expands ever so slightly. Then further amplification is produced as sound snails down the the ever expanding horn assembly in the cabinet and lovely portrays itself out of the opening of the horn. Without the screws the plain adhesive that is somtimes used to mate the gaskets with the diaphragm will eventually vibrate the housing loose causing the bezel and other components to separate away and eventually the reproducer will fall apart. If the engineneer has put screws in there then screws should go back in. Its a given. I am glad someone is helping you from the states. Because I am from Canada. I have to go to differerent suppliers to sometimes hunt for parts. The toughest thing is Phonographs were founded in America. A few overseas. Companys Like England Had Grammophone companies that Berliner had a hand in. Then the same company from England based quarters in Moscow (Like my machine) and Molotov Russia (Molot like your machine) Some of these machines were restricted to military or high official use like The RSFR. Which is printed in Russian on my Machine. Also to Mention is Zonophone (english again) Then Pathe (France) (VoX) Germany and the list goes on. A lot of piano companies joined the bandwagon and started making portables, tabletop, Floor models and the list goes on. Often times there is not much information on these machines. But one thing is known our machines are HMV blueprints with columbia style reproducers. The U.S. should have screws. Try Arizona, New Jersy or any link that deals with phonograph repairs. Some link or pages are under construction on the web right now. I hope I was of help and yes the economy, is a bit slow now. Picture your reproducer as a mechanical mylar speaker used in tweeters and your horn as an amplifying subwoofer like in modern equipment. The two wafers have to be isolated from the housing by some means so that the sound is not lost. Your welcome! Eckster.
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Post by armadillo on Mar 5, 2012 6:14:48 GMT -6
Hi all ! My friend from N.Y. could not help me with the parts so I,m finally going to send the reproducer to a specialist all the way in California and I.ll let you know about the results.
Fair winds and following seas....
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Post by eckster on Mar 5, 2012 21:01:42 GMT -6
Ok hope that will work out Awe some
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Post by armadillo on Mar 24, 2012 12:28:09 GMT -6
The reproducer of my portable machine has been successfully restored in California. Mr Pete even found the three missing small metric screws.
And I hope it arrives pronto here so we can enjoy the sound experience.
I,ll let you know...
Now I got a rusky machine with an american heart.
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Post by eckster on Mar 24, 2012 20:07:36 GMT -6
YAY!!! Congrats. Hope you are able to post a video of it playing I would not mind hereing it
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