My first record player

I have been "downsizing" for two years, and the only thing I have accomplished is giving away a little crystal radio. Nothing else has gone, and I may have gained a couple things. So much for progress.

In digging thru my storage, I ran across my first record player. I took some pictures, and when I get them loaded, I'll share. This record player is a "Gilt Edge" that my grandma bought new in 1946 at Monkey Wards in Anderson, IN. My mom worked there after school, so grandma may have gotten a discount of some kind. This thing is 78 rpm, has two tubes, a 35Z5 and a 50L6, has a six inch speaker with tone control. It has an Astatic crystal cartridge that is dead. Considering that it has resided in my storage shed for 30 years, it is in pretty good condition. The turntable need reflocking, and the cartridge will need rebuilt or replaced. I started using this thing when I was four years old. This was my only player until 1959, when I got a four speed Truetone for Christmas. I still have it, but it's time in the storage shed has not been kind to it. It still plays, but the tolex on the cabinet is in poor condition. I think these two old players deserve better than spending time in the storage shed. The old 78 player actually had a bent-shank diamond needle in it for a time. Grandma got tired of changing out the steel needle, I guess. I found my GE "Swingline" stereo that I had when I was a tadpole. It was not my first stereo, though. The cartridge in it is dead, but the VM changer still works. It has three tubes, a 50DC4 rectifier and two 35EH5 audio tubes. It takes a 2-volt crystal cartridge, still available new. I have never thrown anything away in my life.

WC

I'll take the 78 player if you don't want it.

If I can find a cartridge for it, I plan on fixing it up.  

WC

You'd be better off rebuilding the original. You can buy new sapphire four thousand play bent needles from one dealer for something like thirteen dollars. I've been buying them. They're good.

I see West-Tech's website is still up. Do they rebuild cartridges still? I have heard several stories about them. I appreciate the input on bent shank needles. Wonder if diamond bent shanks are available? I'm not a fan of sapphire needles.

WC

The diamond ones are three speed, and, do a lousy job playing 78's.
I have had very good luck with sapphire. West Tech isn't what it used to be. They used to be based in Florida, and, had a good reputation. The owner died, and, the company was bought out by the present owner. His reputation isn't so stellar. He even refused to rebuild a batch of 45 rpm cartridges I need rebuilt. So, I'll have to jury rig cartridges in. My interest in fourty Five rpm players is waining due to this.
I have one rebuilt cartridge left that still works great that was rebuilt by the original owner of West Tech about twenty years ago. It's in my Combination RCA Victor 6T84. Cartridge is still alive, and, well.
It's not age, as a lot of people think that causes them to die. It's abuse, including excessive heat. Crystal hates that!!
I have a 1939 RCA Victor model R-98 victrola with a fifteen watt amplifier that uses 2A3 output tubes in push pull. The cartridge was stored in a hot place for awhile, which did some dammaage, but, believe it, or, not, still puts out adequate volume. It is the original cartridge installed at the factory. Proper care, and, a crystal cartridge should be good nearly forever....
One of my classroom Newcomb record players apparently had a good life. The original crystal cartridge is like new.

Wonder if Gary at VM Enthusiasts could fix me up?

WC

The problem is he's using light stereo cartridges, now. I'd recommend against that. That heavy arm alone will destroy the crystal.

What are my options?

WC

Stereo Needle Dad on ebay, who also sells the needles I mentioned, sells tested, known playing cartridges. I recently bought 3 turn over ceramic cartridges from him for admittedly a higher price, but, with him you KNOW they work.

You need some before and later on, after pics of your players.

See my thread on the restoration of my RCA Victor R-98 victrola. I can't see the video on this computer, but, I recorded two records on it, and, the recordings are in Photo Bucket.
Take a good look, listen, enjoy....

https://s18.photobucket.com/user/55Bill51/media/2012_1029ImageRCAVictorR980020.mp4.html

Hey bill
I still have that vm 1001b. Or is it a 200b
What did you put in yours
Thanks sam

I keep running into new old stock bad cartridges for it. It's a 200B.
Mine has major changer problems.

Your RCA sounds great, Bill. I'll look into the vendor you mentioned and see what I can come up with. Thanks for the tip.

WC

I will try to post some pictures of this old record player, IF my Internet connection will let me.



"Gilt Edge" is the brand.  Allegedly purchased at Montgomery Wards.  It has very Silvertone-looking knobs on it.



Powerful amplifier chassis.  50L6 and 35Z5 tubes.



Can anybody decipher the value for this old Micamold cap?  I hate these things.



1959 Truetone four speed record player.  This thing has a million miles on it with the original tubes still there.



My little GE "Swingline" stereo, circa 1964.  My sister used this thing all during college and she broke the handle.  Her boyfriend at the time (six husbands ago) put a hunk of bungie cord on it for a handle.  It has a VM changer and a dead Astatic 280 cartridge.  It is in pretty good shape considering the life it has had.



That's it for now. Thanks for looking.

WC

Get rid of that paper, and, that mica cap. Crap.
I like the GE. Solid State??

After I get a plan down to replace/rebuild the cartridge, that is on the list. There is no reason to recap the amplifier if I can't get a good cartridge. I'm surprised that nobody has commented about the electical tape on the filter cap. That cap does not look very old. What is the value of the Micamold cap? Orange, black, green on top, with a yellow dot underneath. The GE is tube. It is a three tuber with a 50DC4 rectifier and two 35EH5 amplifiers. It takes a 2-volt crystal cartridge. The tubes hang upside down, a real nifty idea. And a PCB chassis on top of that.

WC

http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?&id=JN.bMav6eK0e%2bdrek3DhFwgsA&w=300&h=300&c=0&pid=1.9&rs=0&p=0

75, that is a nice link but with my computer skills I can't get it large enough to read. I assume and you know what that means that it is reading 5 0 4 if going with the arrow. So what is the value? Is it 504pF? A strange value.
Jerry

This one you can see.

http://www.tpub.com/neets/book2/32NE0176.GIF

This may also help.

http://www.radioremembered.org/capcode.htm

Thanks gang, still confusing to me so what the heck is the value?
Jerry Semi brain dead!

You will need to do the math, but I think it's 500,000 micro-microfarads (uuf).