The Victor orthophonic reproducer (or #5 as it is sometimes known) was
designed to have all the diaphragm flexure accommodated by the pleats
stamped into the metal diaphragm. Unlike earlier designs, the gaskets were
not intended to provide flexure - they were strictly there to seal the air
leaks where the diaphragm joins the body of the reproducer. This design was
purposely done to make the flexure and, therefore, the mechanical resonance
more consistent from one unit to another and to ensure that it remains
constant over time. This provided a much more consistent and predictable
performance from one production unit to another. It was known to the
designers of this reproducer that the earlier designs employing rubber
gaskets deteriorated over time which resulted in decreased performance. The
correct replacement gaskets for the #5 would be those that seal well without
providing any flexure. If you do use rubber gaskets, the flexure that they
provide will lower the diaphragm resonance frequency. This will emphasize
the bass frequencies, but at the expense of the treble. The resulting sound
will be more bass-heavy and with less treble and brilliance. The amount of
this change in frequency response will be dependent on the softness of the
gasket rubber and on the amount of clamping force you have when they are in
place. In other words, the difference will be somewhat unpredictable and
will vary from one implementation to another and with how the clamping force
has been adjusted. This is exactly what one has to deal with when
rebuilding the earlier designs such as Edisons and the early Victors that
require flexure in their gaskets, and good restorers are aware of this.
Some owners may prefer this more bass-heavy sound in the #5, but it will not
be representing the intended frequency response of the original design of
the reproducer.
Greg Bogantz
----- Original Message -----
From: "john robles" <[email protected]>
To: "Antique Phonograph List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 1:26 PM
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Orthophonic Reproducer Gaskets question...
My gaskets don't appear to have anything to do with flexibility since they
are so thin. I can't imagine how they do any more then keep the metal
backing from touching the diaphragm directly.
John Robles
--- On Mon, 3/22/10, Ron L'Herault <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Ron L'Herault <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Orthophonic Reproducer Gaskets question...
To: "'Antique Phonograph List'" <[email protected]>
Date: Monday, March 22, 2010, 9:15 AM
In theory, they only make an air seal, rather than playing a part in
compliance/flexibility, right?
Ron L
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Steven Medved
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 11:34 AM
To: Phono-l
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Orthophonic Reproducer Gaskets question...
Hello Al,
The original looks like paper coated with shellac to me. I have spoken to
people who rebuild them and they tell me you get better sound from neoprene.
I would assume Ron Sitko is selling them.
Steve
From: [email protected]
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:26:27 -0400
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Orthophonic Reproducer Gaskets question...
Does anyone on this learned list know what material was used as gaskets on
the Victor Orthophonic reproducer? I have been asked to make a punch and
die to cut them out but if someone is already making them I don't intend
on
reinventing the wheel.
Thanks and best wishes to all on the list,
Al
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