|
Post by edisonphonographs on Sept 4, 2009 22:31:51 GMT -5
Well...I broke down and finally bought a Victor. I saw this Victor 4-3 on craigslist drop from $175 to $100 and decided it was worth the drive. Got there in a rain storm and my heart fell when I saw it didn't have an Orthophonic reproducer but a cheap Polk one. Something about the arm didn't look right either and the knobs aren't original, but since it was almost completly wound (knew it was missing a crank) I let it play down and confirmed that it was the original 2 spring Victor motor in it. It went forever and seemed very strong, so I went ahead and got it since I had driven all that way. Does anyone have a 4-3 they can attach a picture of the arm and crank? And if anyone has a parts machine they might have either on please let me know. i know its a cheap machine they made tons of but for $100 I figured it would still be worth fixing up. Thanks in advance, Eric
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 5, 2009 18:26:21 GMT -5
I can supply you pix of my CONSOLETTE which was the earlier version of your 4-3, but I don't have the auto brake feature or the 12" TT like yours but the crank would be the same. The crank would have been oxidized, as well as the door pulls. From what I can see of the pix, your tone arm an bracket appear to be correct for your machine although I notice there is a screw missing at the 3 o'clock position on the bracket base. Does the hole on the bracket line up with a hole on the rear board? Did you remove the turn table and see if the eccentric auto brake system is folded up underneath it? Your tone arm has the trip rod so unless it was removed, it should be there. When you get your soundbox, you will be amazed at the output this little machine delivers!!
Bill
|
|
|
Post by edisonphonographs on Sept 5, 2009 23:24:03 GMT -5
Bill, Thanks for the post. I am attaching a picture of the auto brake, a picture of the arm when it was attached, you can see that there are two other holes it doesn't line up with which is why I figured someone stuck another tone arm on it. I had also thought that the arm for this should have been nickel colored, although I see on the Victor page that the later models also came in a bronze color. I just unscrewed the arm and am attaching pics of the holes on the cabinet itself and one showing the holes on the arm. This has to be the wrong arm as I can't get all the holes to line up. Sorry in advance for the lighting. Eric
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 5, 2009 23:53:50 GMT -5
Eric, From you pic, you appear to have the correct brake for your 4-3. If you place the flat of the bracket base parallel to the rear of the machine, do the 4 screw holes on the bracket base line up with 4 of the 6 screw holes on the rear board? If so, I'm wondering if some of the original holes became stripped and "crafty hands" made new ones. If they do and are stripped, you can glue slivers of wood (flat toothpicks work well) to the sides of the stripped holes to give the screws something to "grab" again. You won't see this repair as the base will cover the holes. Edit: don't lose that felt ring that's hanging off the end of the base. That is a seal and you can re-glue it to the base bottom.
Bill
|
|
|
Post by edisonphonographs on Sept 6, 2009 12:39:14 GMT -5
Bill,
The base of the tone arm does not line up with the holes , and if you look closely you can see the old impression from the original tone arm. It looks like the base of the original was a little bit larger in size than this one. I'm going to go ahead and order the crank for this and then I'll see if this arm that I have will work properly. If it does, then I'll just have to keep an eye out for the correct one. If you can send me a close up of yours, where I can also see the shape of the base, that would help get me started. Thanks for your help. Eric
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 6, 2009 20:40:43 GMT -5
Eric, Here are some pix of my CONSOLETTE, but as I mentioned earlier there are some differences. The key one here is the tone arm and bracket. I have the earlier bracket w/o the overhang support. I know there were at least two different types of overhang style brackets used on later Victrolas, with the height of the overhang to the base being one of the differences. I checked Wonderful Windups, www.wwindups.com/Pages/Phonographparts.htm but they seem to be out of stock for both brackets at present. You may want to give them a call and they may be able to tell you which bracket and base you need. The part number is stamped on the bottom of the base of yours. According to the Victor Data book, your 4-3 is a type E. by the serial number on your plate.
|
|
|
Post by edisonphonographs on Sept 17, 2009 22:39:42 GMT -5
Bill,
Thanks again for all your help on this. I got my crank in, wound it up and tried adjusting the tone arm that is currently on it in different positions to see how it would play. It appears that the thingy-eyed angle it was bolted down at when I got it is the only position that it will work properly. I played a couple of my least disireable records on it with the Polk reproducer that came with it, and even with that Polk I was amazed at the sound. I picked up an orthophonic reproducer that came off of a portable (I know, but it was cheap and until I come across the correct arm I don't want to throw more money into it yet). Anyway, it seems that the slit that the protrusion inside the reproducer hole slides into is not wide enough for this orthophonic. I thought I was imagining things so I pulled a Victor no. 2 reproducer I have out and checked, and it is too narrow a slit for it also. The Polk is the only one that fits it! I'm at a loss, this arm looks exactly like other gold colored tone arms for Victor orthophonics that I have seen, but I may be mistaken.
|
|
|
Post by edisonphonographs on Sept 19, 2009 0:18:19 GMT -5
Never mind, false alarm. I feel a little foolish now, but I was able to get the orthophonic reproducer on the arm now. It just took a little more convincing than the other reproducer took. Played a couple of records, the sound is really very good. Hopefully this is my last post on this one.
thanks again, Eric
|
|
|
Post by maroongem on Sept 19, 2009 22:15:33 GMT -5
Happy to hear that the soundbox fit. Tight is good as there are no air leaks!
Bill
|
|
|
Post by victor78 on Jan 22, 2010 18:03:57 GMT -5
Eric, If your still looking for a tone arm, I have one from the early style 4-3 similar to the one Maroongem posted. I only have a few parts left from this machine, and this is one of them. Machine came pretty well beat up, and lots of screws missing (how does this happen) If your interested, contact me privately. I dont need the tone arm for anything else that I have here. Jim
|
|