Thanks 😀 👍. I do find it fascinating that gramophones are still being made. I also find it interesting that despite having all the right parts, nobody really expects them to get used (they are sold as conversation pieces), and yet with a little work can probably play quite well. Some way to go on this one though..
My first gramophone was a fake which I knew it was when I bought it. It's gotten a lot of modifications over the years and plays as well any of my actual antiques. It probably helped that all the parts that matter are actual antiques in good working condition.
I enjoyed this video greatly. As I commented in your comparison video on the soundboxes, I have some experience with the fakes. A friend of mine in an antique phonograph club I'm in loved to experiment on the fake gramophones and took apart successfully a buzzy soundbox and was able to remove the cardboard gaskets. The gasket that was glued he replaced with a bead of automotive silicone gasket sealer after he cleaned the surface. Once back together, it played so well that one wishes the people who made them had taken the time to put even just a little more quality into them.
Thanks 😀 👍. Yes, the fake soundboxes are fairly poorly put together as far as I can see, and although I managed to fix this one, I still got a bit of a crumple in the diaphragm in the end. A better pivot on the needle bar would help greatly, though. I think if there was demand, there would be better quality/adjusted versions of these machines available, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
@@mrrgstuff I agree. A couple of us in the antique phonograph club I'm in thought about getting our hands on a few of them, working them all over to better quality and selling them as "improved crapophones" but never actually followed through. Around 2003 or 04, I came across a Dutch website where someone was selling higher quality tone arms and back brackets to upgrade the fakes with but I had no luck ordering a tone arm from him.
I'm always loosing things (too much stuff) and it wastes so much time. Been meaning to find a circle cutter for a while and just happened to find this one. Too cheap not to buy! Thanks 😀 👍
Thanks 👍 😀. Glad you are enjoying the videos! 😀. It's a good point. I have invested in a decent modern cartridge: th-cam.com/video/MXGczxwlMYc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LlX3jnltO3IinuRt I've also previously done some tests comparing gramophones to record players: th-cam.com/video/a1BaFVlxhII/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t7yeQ5LVasHMlNtx th-cam.com/video/BlesZlGhdKo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_us6PmD6j41gWnkN I'm currently sorting out the wiring on my BSR turntable so I can use it more easily and also make recordings from. I need to look at ways to reduce the surface noise as it is still higher than on my gramophone recordings 🤔🫤
Maybe 😉. I doubt there is any real quality control on them. It's not in the video but I did manage to crumple the diaphragm slightly by straightening up the needle holder. I probably ought to take it to pieces again and bend the needle bar a bit more. It does work as it is, which at least is some success. Thanks 😀 👍
Very informative, thanks for uploading. I have two questions: what is the thickness of the gasket and what material do you use to plug the hole in the centre of diaphragm?
The gaskets I made out of thin card (0.35mm) and craft foam board (1.7mm). I think any thin card would work. I sealed the hole in the middle of the diaphragm with bees wax, though candle wax would have worked too. Hope that helps. Thanks 😀 👍
I don't think written instructions could cover any better than what this video shows already. It's mainly just replacing the gaskets. I used craft foam and cardboard, though the original ones were just cardboard. Because I broke it when dismantling it, I also had to make a new brass end to the needle bar to fix it to the diaphragm, but this won't be necessary if you can get the central screw to come out or avoid separating the needle bar and the diaphragm in the first place
Would it have made a difference do you think if you hadn’t have gone through the diaphragm with the screws? I use a similar circle cutter to cut out Aluminium circles for diaphragms. Good work.
It's a very good point. To be fair to it, it's just copying the original Thorens design which also has this issue. Having said that I could make the gaskets much wider and the diaphragm smaller which would allow the diaphragm to be suspended entirely by the gaskets and not touch the screws 🤔. The other area I really don't like about this design is the pivot. I'm sure that could be improved and should help the sound too. It does work surprising well as it is though. Thanks 😀 👍
It is important to change the needle. However, the main problem with fake gramophones is that they are not built to play records. The tonearm is often not the right shape or length, and the soundbox usually sits at a poor angle. The tracking weight is also usually quite high, and all these lead to poor tracking and excess record wear. You might find this video interesting: th-cam.com/video/2RIN0DZmTKw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ri6ZP--H1JfC3JU2 The platter also usually wobbles, which can cause record wear. It can be improved, though: th-cam.com/video/a_echDb_Hdg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=cly6OXriM-WoQK7e Thanks 😀 👍
@@mrrgstuff Thanks. I whatched your videos before. In the next days I will own a fake gramophone. I will try to follow your indications to improve the sound and the healthy of my records. Regards.
Recently I have a little bit problem with the needle screw. It is overpassed and I need to put teflon tape to screw it. I do not know if you know what I mean. Did you have this issue? How can I solve it? Thanks
I love seeing you work on fake gramophones, it is just wonderful seeing those things actually work properly.
Thanks 😀 👍. I do find it fascinating that gramophones are still being made. I also find it interesting that despite having all the right parts, nobody really expects them to get used (they are sold as conversation pieces), and yet with a little work can probably play quite well. Some way to go on this one though..
My first gramophone was a fake which I knew it was when I bought it. It's gotten a lot of modifications over the years and plays as well any of my actual antiques. It probably helped that all the parts that matter are actual antiques in good working condition.
I enjoyed this video greatly. As I commented in your comparison video on the soundboxes, I have some experience with the fakes. A friend of mine in an antique phonograph club I'm in loved to experiment on the fake gramophones and took apart successfully a buzzy soundbox and was able to remove the cardboard gaskets. The gasket that was glued he replaced with a bead of automotive silicone gasket sealer after he cleaned the surface. Once back together, it played so well that one wishes the people who made them had taken the time to put even just a little more quality into them.
Thanks 😀 👍. Yes, the fake soundboxes are fairly poorly put together as far as I can see, and although I managed to fix this one, I still got a bit of a crumple in the diaphragm in the end. A better pivot on the needle bar would help greatly, though. I think if there was demand, there would be better quality/adjusted versions of these machines available, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
@@mrrgstuff I agree. A couple of us in the antique phonograph club I'm in thought about getting our hands on a few of them, working them all over to better quality and selling them as "improved crapophones" but never actually followed through. Around 2003 or 04, I came across a Dutch website where someone was selling higher quality tone arms and back brackets to upgrade the fakes with but I had no luck ordering a tone arm from him.
Excellent result, well done 😊😊
Thanks 😀 👍
I think I might be visiting The Works, might be a handy tool for my stock, although I will probably forget where I put it.
I'm always loosing things (too much stuff) and it wastes so much time. Been meaning to find a circle cutter for a while and just happened to find this one. Too cheap not to buy! Thanks 😀 👍
Can you do higher fidelity replays of your 78s using a modern player? I'd love to hear reproduction at its best.
Love your work !
Thanks 👍 😀. Glad you are enjoying the videos! 😀. It's a good point. I have invested in a decent modern cartridge:
th-cam.com/video/MXGczxwlMYc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=LlX3jnltO3IinuRt
I've also previously done some tests comparing gramophones to record players:
th-cam.com/video/a1BaFVlxhII/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t7yeQ5LVasHMlNtx
th-cam.com/video/BlesZlGhdKo/w-d-xo.htmlsi=_us6PmD6j41gWnkN
I'm currently sorting out the wiring on my BSR turntable so I can use it more easily and also make recordings from. I need to look at ways to reduce the surface noise as it is still higher than on my gramophone recordings 🤔🫤
That sound box is probably much better now than when it was first made.
Maybe 😉. I doubt there is any real quality control on them. It's not in the video but I did manage to crumple the diaphragm slightly by straightening up the needle holder. I probably ought to take it to pieces again and bend the needle bar a bit more. It does work as it is, which at least is some success. Thanks 😀 👍
Very informative, thanks for uploading. I have two questions: what is the thickness of the gasket and what material do you use to plug the hole in the centre of diaphragm?
The gaskets I made out of thin card (0.35mm) and craft foam board (1.7mm). I think any thin card would work. I sealed the hole in the middle of the diaphragm with bees wax, though candle wax would have worked too. Hope that helps. Thanks 😀 👍
hi, could I ask if you could send me the written instructions on how to do this job and what materials are needed to do this work on the head please
I don't think written instructions could cover any better than what this video shows already. It's mainly just replacing the gaskets. I used craft foam and cardboard, though the original ones were just cardboard. Because I broke it when dismantling it, I also had to make a new brass end to the needle bar to fix it to the diaphragm, but this won't be necessary if you can get the central screw to come out or avoid separating the needle bar and the diaphragm in the first place
Very nice demo and job on that repro sound box! cheers!!
Thanks 😀 👍
Which product did you use to clean / polish. Came out great!
It's T-Cut metal polish. Just happened to be what the shop I was in stocked. Works well on nickel plate too. Thanks 😀 👍
Why does that look like a Thorens Sonata reproducer?
Because it's basically a copy of one. I noticed this, too, and have compared them in this video:
th-cam.com/video/C9FyvIl6VD4/w-d-xo.html
Thanks 😀 👍
Would it have made a difference do you think if you hadn’t have gone through the diaphragm with the screws? I use a similar circle cutter to cut out Aluminium circles for diaphragms. Good work.
It's a very good point. To be fair to it, it's just copying the original Thorens design which also has this issue. Having said that I could make the gaskets much wider and the diaphragm smaller which would allow the diaphragm to be suspended entirely by the gaskets and not touch the screws 🤔. The other area I really don't like about this design is the pivot. I'm sure that could be improved and should help the sound too. It does work surprising well as it is though. Thanks 😀 👍
Good job!
Will be damaged the record playing it on a fake gramophone, even changing the needle regularly?
It is important to change the needle. However, the main problem with fake gramophones is that they are not built to play records. The tonearm is often not the right shape or length, and the soundbox usually sits at a poor angle. The tracking weight is also usually quite high, and all these lead to poor tracking and excess record wear. You might find this video interesting: th-cam.com/video/2RIN0DZmTKw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ri6ZP--H1JfC3JU2
The platter also usually wobbles, which can cause record wear. It can be improved, though:
th-cam.com/video/a_echDb_Hdg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=cly6OXriM-WoQK7e
Thanks 😀 👍
@@mrrgstuff Thanks. I whatched your videos before. In the next days I will own a fake gramophone. I will try to follow your indications to improve the sound and the healthy of my records. Regards.
@microbi46 Thanks 😀👍. Yes, they are fun to play with, and with a little work, they play much better than initially 😀
@@mrrgstuff sure!! Thanks for your inputs 🤗
Recently I have a little bit problem with the needle screw. It is overpassed and I need to put teflon tape to screw it. I do not know if you know what I mean. Did you have this issue? How can I solve it? Thanks
Great job.Another great video. Thanks for sharing. 👍
Thanks 😀 👍. Glad you enjoyed it. The video I think was more work than the repair itself! 😅
You are enlightened.
Glad you liked it. Thanks 👍 😀
Wow I'm thorghly impressed at this
Thanks 😀 👍. Glad you enjoyed it
Impressive!
Thanks 😀 👍. Glad you enjoyed it
Ooo, pretty
It is very shiny isn't it! 😉😅. Thanks 😀 👍
My job was making phonographs, my name is Guido Claerhout, I live in Belgium? I am an expert in repairing those machines?
Reply
عالی بود
Thanks 😀 👍