Andrew, Thank You for taking the time to respond as you did, with all that helpful information! I guessed aright that if the symptoms were described, someone who knows them would indicate a prognosis. I think that since these machines are fairly rare, and yet when working properly play records with a lovely, iconic sound, they should be restored. They're easier on the old records than a Victrola, also, if you like to play them a lot, as I do. I have a great GE phonograph, with an AM radio, that I would estimate to have been available in the 40s, extrapolating from your description of this Admir al. The original stylus must be gone. I got it with a standard steel needle in it. And yes, the garbled music was from the record. There is no radio with this unit, it only plays records. I'll wait and see if anyone in the area responds, but appreciate your making yourself available. I used to know someone in the antique radio club that came down to the Salem, Sounds of Nostalgia show, but it's been awhile. I've lost touch. It would be nice to know who's doing this now. All the Best, : ) Edward In a message dated 9/2/2012 3:01:52 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, [email protected] writes:
Hi Edward ~ Your Admiral is more likely late pre-war; ca. 1939 to 42, or early post-war; ca. 1946-1947. The symptoms you describe are typical of this technology when it ages, and are: Hardened rubber on the idler wheel (turntable noise); Dead electrolytic capacitors, two to three of these will be found in need of replacement (loud hum and garbled sound). This is a job for a soldering iron, and the correct types and polarity will be needed. These are available. If when you say "the music sounds garbled" you mean music from a record and not from a built-in radio, then it's a small miracle that your crystal cartridge might actually be good. 99% of these are found dead or substantially diminished in unrestored phonographs of this era. The fact that there's a set screw for the stylus indicates that yours still has the crystal cartridge. These can be rebuilt with a new element if needed (some of the distortion can be from the cartridge), or replaced with a more reliable type of cartridge and stylus. The unit may need some other minor work. Usually motor bearings, idler wheel arbor & bushings and platter bearings need de-gumming and new lubrication, and if it has a changer, these usually need some attention as well. On the electronic side, the power cord may be brittle if it's original and certain of the "paper" capacitors will likely benefit from replacement as these get electrically leaky and can also contribute to distortion. I don't know who in Portland works on antique radios, but I know you can find someone through the radio collector community out there or a museum. If that fails I restore these types of items but you would incur shipping charges in addition to the usual parts and labor. Good luck with this. Andrew Baron Santa Fe On Sep 2, 2012, at 2:26 PM, [email protected] wrote: > Greetings Phellow Fonoteers, > > Can anyone recommend a repair man for an electric-powered, 78-player, > hopefully in the Portland, Oregon area? I have an Admiral tabletop that's > likely from the 1930s. It has some interesting Art Deco features, and has a > thumb screw at the head of the tone arm for changing needles. The turntable > makes enough noise to stampede the cattle, and when the tubes warm up it > hums very loudly, and I fear it will frighten the peasants who have no way of > appreciating what manner of sinister experiments are going on here. Also, > the music sounds garbled. I suspect it has an electrical short going on > but this isn't something I know a lot about, but I don't want to awaken my > creation prematurely, or burn our castle down. > > Anyway, if you know somebody, possibly an antique radio man, I'll call him > or her forthwith. > > Many Thanks, > > : ) > > Edward > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.org > _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.org
