If I had an Amberola 30 that was not tracking, I would:
1) Remove the reproducer from the carriage and disconnect it from the horn.
2) Run the machine with the carriage all the way to the left side and see
that it tracks fully to the right side. Lubricate all sliding surfaces with a
drop of sewing machine oil. NOT 3in1 !
3) Adjust the contact of the half-nut to the feedscrew if it needs it.
4) I would check the reproducer to be sure the weight moves freely left and
right with no binding. I would check by pressing up on the stylus to see if
the stylus lifts the weight to where the limit pin is centered in the limit
loop when the stylus bar is roughly parallel to the weight. If it is not then
there is a problem with the diaphragm link or the diaphragm. All mechanical
movements must be free with no binding for the reproducer to function
properly. While out of the machine I would put in new gaskets and treat the
diaphragm with a preservative. A drop of sewing machine oil to the weight
hinge and
the stylus fulcrum is a good idea.
5) I would take my stylus microscope and examine the stylus. A good cheap
hand lens will do the same job. The stylus should be a conical shape up to
the contact surface which is a tiny dome shape. If parallel sides are seen or
any sharp angle on the stylus it is time for a replacement.
6) Put the reproducer back into the carriage and test play all the way
through a Toots Packa record without the horn attached. I would use a record
that
I know plays well on other machines. Should you find any kind of powder or
shavings around the reproducer stylus or on the record (which you wiped clean
before playing) then you would immediately suspect the stylus was worn to
the point of causing destruction of records and the cause of skipping.
7) Since the horn is suspended with a spring and swings in a modified
pendulum movement, I would reattach the reproducer and move the carriage from
side
to side with the half-nut not engaged. The lower front of the horn is held
in place so it does not swing. When the horn goes from side to side while the
carriage is moving across the record the horn will move up and down. This
should be free of binding. Make sure no one has put anything around the horn
that would cause it to bind. I have found instances where people put things
into their machines to hide them and they would get caught between the horn
and cabinet. With proper lubrication of all the sliding surfaces and
feedscrew there should be little friction. The spring must be strong enough
to hold
most of the weight of the horn with not much weight being on the reproducer
sleeve connection. (A drop of sewing machine oil on the connector is a good
idea to lower friction.)
8) Taking my Blue Amberol Toots Packa record I would try playing it again.
I would look from the side with a flashlight to see if the stylus is
contacting the arm so that the limit pin on the reproducer is roughly centered
in the
limit loop. I would look to see if the feedscrew is engaging the half-nut
and moving the carriage. If all the above is true then the record should be
playing.
I hope this helps.
Best wishes to all on the list,
Al
The Edison Curmudgeon...
