Refurbish Victrola cabinets by cleaning or stripping them of dirt. Use an oily cleaning solvent to remove dirt and grease. Gently rub the surface with sandpaper after you remove all grease and dirt, then gloss out scratches with a restorative wood finish. Finish up with an appropriate wood wax. Consult the Victor-Victrola Page.
Full Answer
How do I remove the motor from my Victrola?
The motor is removed from the motorboard by either 2 or 4 large screws that usually tap straight into the motor frame. If your Victrola has a speed indicator, then you must remove the indicator needle before pulling the motor.
Can you remove a mainspring from a Victrola?
Also, some manufacturers such as Victor used a tiny ball bearing at the bottom of the turntable drive shaft, so don't lose this if you tilt the disassembled motor. Although it may seem odd to instruct you not to remove a mainspring in a tutorial about Victrola repair, this is exactly what I am going to do.
How do I return a Victrola product?
To return a product, fill out the form on Victrola.com/contact with your order number, place of purchase, and other relevant information. After submission, we will contact you to begin the return process.
Can you use WD40 on a Victrola motor?
Victrola motors will tolerate an astonishing amount of old grease, but a good starting point for any repair is to clean the motor. It's perfectly acceptable, and sometime miraculous, to spray everything in the motor with a lethal dose of WD40. (If you have an early Columbia machine keep the WD40 off the fiber drive gear.)
How do I fix my Victrola?
First, unplug the machine and remove the turntable. Then, use a soft brush to clean any dust or debris from the motor. Once you've done this, reassemble the machine and try turning it on again.
How much is a working Victrola worth?
Most Victrola (internal horn) models are still quite commonly found at estate sales and on EBay, with the average selling price in the $50 to $200 range for typical "attic-stored" machines.
How can I tell how old my Victrola is?
As a general rule:External Horn Victors were made between 1901 and 1920, although the vast majority of these were produced in the 1902-1913 timeframe.Internal Horn Victrolas were made between 1906 and 1929.Orthophonic Victrolas (improved sound) were made between 1925 and 1929.More items...
How do you disassemble a Victrola?
0:132:51339. How to disassemble a Victor phonograph motor that ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd this is the motor we have just started you have to find out where the clip is right here whereMoreAnd this is the motor we have just started you have to find out where the clip is right here where it goes together right there and then you're going to take a screwdriver.
What are rare 78 records?
Chasing The World's Rarest 78 RPM RecordsHear a few notable recordings from the 78 RPM era, as picked by guests Amanda Petrusich & Chris King:Geeshie Wiley, "Last Kind Word Blues"Willie Brown, "Future Blues"Skip James, "Devil Got My Woman"Blind Uncle Gaspard, "Sur Le Borde de L'eau"Sylvester Weaver, "Guitar Rag"More items...•
Are antique Victrolas worth anything?
Antique Victrola Values On the whole, Victrolas are worth anywhere between $500-$5,000, depending on the collector's needs and how many repairs would be needed to make the machine run again, with fully functioning Victrolas being the most expensive and tabletops being the least.
Are Victor records worth anything?
It is a fact that the vast majority of "old 78 RPM" records we come across are worth between 50 cents and $2.00 each (and often far less, depending on condition). Hundreds of thousands of early 78 RPM recordings survive today, and we often find them sold by the crates at swap meets and garage sales for a few bucks.
How many times do you wind a Victrola?
The Victor-Victrola Page. How many turns of the crank should be made? ANSWER: This depends on which model you have. Low-cost models with single-spring motors can often be wound with only a few turns, while the more expensive ones with 3 or 4-spring motors can require many turns (upwards of 50 revolutions) to fully wind ...
What year did the Victrola come out?
Victrola, one of the leading turntable manufacturers, was born in 1906 in Camden, NJ when first introduced to the American public by the Victor Talking Machine Company.
Can you lay a Victrola on its side?
The Victrola can be safely moved on its back or positioned upright (in a van or truck). Use care to wrap it well in furniture blankets to prevent damage to the finish.
How do you take apart a record player?
3:0318:22how to inspect and service a Sears LXI record player made by SanyoYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBefore you turn over a turntable. And really start tearing into it there are a few things you needMoreBefore you turn over a turntable. And really start tearing into it there are a few things you need to do one remove the mat you'll also have to remove the platter.
How do you oil a Victrola?
0:552:14775. Oiling a Victrola on-off brake system - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd i put one drop and i rub my finger in here and you just work it like this for a while. And thenMoreAnd i put one drop and i rub my finger in here and you just work it like this for a while. And then you come up and you go. On off that's the way it should be it should be very sensitive.
Are Victor records worth anything?
It is a fact that the vast majority of "old 78 RPM" records we come across are worth between 50 cents and $2.00 each (and often far less, depending on condition). Hundreds of thousands of early 78 RPM recordings survive today, and we often find them sold by the crates at swap meets and garage sales for a few bucks.
Are old phonograph records worth anything?
The average value of most 78 rpm records offered to us is $1 or less. Remember, we had to go through 500,000 records to find a single copy of "Terrible Blues".
Are any vinyl albums worth money?
Whether you agree or not, there's no denying an original pressing (with Sun catalog number "209" on the label) can be worth a bundle. Copies in good shape average around $1,000, while records in exceptionally clean condition can net up to $4,000.
What do you call Victrola records?
ANSWER: Victors and Victrolas will play any laterally-cut 78 RPM record. This would include most flat shellac records, with the exception of some early Edison and Pathe discs, which used a vertical cutting method.
How does a Victrola motor work?
Your motor and mileage may differ. A typical Victrola motor works like this: * Power is stored in a mainspring, which is enclosed in a spring barrel. Your Victrola may have one, or multiple, mainsprings. Additional mainsprings do not yield more power but rather extend the playing time.
What is the worm on a turntable drive?
Most machines will have bushings that you can loosen slightly to adjust the free play. On most motors that emulate Victor Victrolas a turntable drive gear is attached to the turntable shaft. An endless screw, more colorfully referred to as the worm, engages the turntable drive gear.
What to do if mainspring slipped off barrel?
If the mainspring has slipped off the inner arbor, ie the arbor in the center of barrel, you can try wiggling the spring or reforming the end with a pair of plyers. If you have multiple mainsprings it's often impossible to view the inner mainspring without removing the outer one, so again you may be out of luck.
How to tell if a mainspring is broken?
Broken mainspring: The symptom of a broken mainspring is usually that you turn and turn the crank but meet no resistance, and that the spring never holds tension. If the spring seems to hold tension but the motor unwinds on its own, or the motor binds, it's possible you have something other than a broken mainspring.
Can Victrola tone arms be repaired?
Genuine Victor Victrola tone arms aren't usually troublesome, but many off-brand machines used pot metal tone arms. In many cases the design of these tone arms was unique to the machine. Since pot metal is not repairable the only choice you have is to marry your machine to a tone arm from a different company.
Can you clean a Victrola motor?
Cleaning the motor. Victrola motors will tolerate an astonishing amount of old grease, but a good starting point for any repair is to clean the motor. It's perfectly acceptable, and sometime miraculous, to spray everything in the motor with a lethal dose of WD40.
Can you order replacement elbows for Grafonolas?
You can order replacement elbows for many Columbia Grafonolas, and replacement brackets for many Orthophonic Victrolas, from Norman and Janyne Smith. Reproducer repair. Reproducers vary in design and quality. In general, the reproducer consists of a shell which houses a mica (later aluminum) diaphram.
What happens if your motor doesn't wind up?
If your motor doesn’t wind up, more than likely your mainspring (s) are broken. Usually one spring breaks at a time but it is possible that all the springs are broken. When servicing a broken spring, the spring is removed from the barrel and the barrel is cleaned.
Can a motor be sent without a board?
If the motor is sent without the board, we can’t correctly test for speed variations or the other usual problems that motors have before being serviced. If the motor is sent by itself, then we’ll test it to the best of our abilities.
When will my order to arrive?
If your order contains multiple items, it may ship from different warehouse locations. Tracking information will be sent as items are shipped.
What if I ordered the wrong color?
You may cancel your order for our other products within one hour of ordering by submitting a form with your order # on: Victrola.com/contact . You will receive a confirmation email once your order is fully cancelled and refunded.
How do I return my product?
To return a product, fill out the form on Victrola.com/contact with your order number, place of purchase, and other relevant information. After submission, we will contact you to begin the return process.
