UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Powered By Google Custom Search Vintage Radio and TV Service Data

Go Back   UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum > Specific Vintage Equipment > Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc)

Notices

Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment.

Closed Thread
 
Thread Tools
Old 18th Sep 2019, 3:29 pm   #1
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default HMV 1950s Record Player

Good afternoon
Please can anyone help me
I have a 1950s three speed record player
Whilst this is in perfect working order, sadly it was made long before the days of Stereophonic Reproduction and is only fitted with a Mono Pickup Head
Is there any way I can fit a stereo compatible Pickup Cartridge in the Pickup head
Failing that is it possible to fit a replacement Tone Arm
Sharon
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	HMV Record Player.jpg
Views:	824
Size:	32.0 KB
ID:	190434  
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 5:39 pm   #2
Heatercathodeshort
Dekatron
 
Heatercathodeshort's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING.
Posts: 9,145
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Hello Sharon, Difficult one. This record player uses the double C cartridge. It is not easily replaced by a conventional cartridge. No doubt it can be done but will require a certain amount of ingenuity and even then the weight of the arm may not be kind to modern LP records. Good luck with it. Regards, John.
Heatercathodeshort is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 5:44 pm   #3
Edward Huggins
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

If it were not for the make of the turntable in this player - i.e. had it been a Garrard, a BSR or a Collaro - unit it would be realtively easy to do this. But I regret not on this one.
Nor would I try to advise a method of doing it, let alone replace the arm/head asembly. I think you have 3 options:
1: Leave the player as is and use for Mono LPs,45s and 78s which it was designed for.

2: Fit an alternative 3 or 4 speed single record deck, which will destroy its originality, but which will still sound good. You will need to source he replacement deck c. £30, a stereo rcartridge, fitting it in and the wiring of it.

3: Buy a more appropriate stereo-compatible player. When you consider the cost between buying a new stereo cartridge (c. £35-40) and another record player (say from an online auction) you may find there is not that much difference in overall cost.
This will mean you have a moe suitable record player with the nice HMV left as is.
__________________
Edward.
Edward Huggins is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 5:50 pm   #4
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Hi John
Thanks very much
I've just seen one for sale on Ebay fitted with a BSR UA8 Tone Arm
Goodness only knows how it was fitted
Shaz

Last edited by Newgirl2013; 18th Sep 2019 at 5:51 pm. Reason: to ad some text
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 6:02 pm   #5
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Here is a picture of the modified HMV Record Player complete with BSR UA8 Tonearm goodness only knows how it was fitted or if it actully works
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	HMV Modified.jpg
Views:	345
Size:	91.5 KB
ID:	190445  
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 6:20 pm   #6
Audio1950
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Posts: 3,758
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

It may well work after a fashion, but the arm is way too long, which means that the tracking angle as the arm goes across the records will soon wreck them!
Audio1950 is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 6:27 pm   #7
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

You could well be right there
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 6:33 pm   #8
Edward Huggins
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

What a bodge and what a way to ruin a record - whether Stereo or Mono!
A better option would be to use the (relatively) short Tone Arm from a BSR TU9 4 speed single play turntable unit.
__________________
Edward.
Edward Huggins is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 6:53 pm   #9
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Hi Edward
Yes I know the one you mean
Ok I'll see if I can find one
Sharon

Last edited by Newgirl2013; 18th Sep 2019 at 7:04 pm. Reason: To add text
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2019, 11:47 pm   #10
RojDW48
Nonode
 
RojDW48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,074
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Nice record player - I also have one. The replacement cartridge for the Double C, fitted by retailers was apparently an EV (Electrovoice). Mine has the replacement. Look at the pics and see if you can see how the modification might be achieved with yours and/or post a close up of the business end of the tonearm and I will see if I can advise.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	P1290522.jpg
Views:	193
Size:	91.5 KB
ID:	190468   Click image for larger version

Name:	P1290524.jpg
Views:	185
Size:	77.6 KB
ID:	190469  
__________________
'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)
RojDW48 is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 7:03 am   #11
Ekcoman
Heptode
 
Ekcoman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Southend, Essex, UK
Posts: 657
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Personally if it works I'd leave as it is as have one myself exactly as RojDW48. Easy to find a decent player that will play stereo.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	HMV 2001 (b).jpg
Views:	226
Size:	33.8 KB
ID:	190472  
__________________
"I really am seriously downsizing "
Ekcoman is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 9:07 am   #12
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

When I got the player it had the replacement as a spare head
unfortunately it's empty
Could I fit a stereo compatable cartridge in it
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 10:33 am   #13
Michael Maurice
Moderator
 
Michael Maurice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Wembley, Middlesex
Posts: 7,219
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Can you post a picture of the underside of the empty head?
__________________
Forum Moderator

http://www.michaelmauricerepairs.co.uk/
Michael Maurice is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 10:42 am   #14
RojDW48
Nonode
 
RojDW48's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Bristol, UK.
Posts: 2,074
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Quote:
Originally Posted by Newgirl2013 View Post
When I got the player it had the replacement as a spare head
unfortunately it's empty
Could I fit a stereo compatable cartridge in it
Same head as in my photo? If so I'll take a look and see how simple it might be to fit cart with stereo compatible stylus.
__________________
'....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)
RojDW48 is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 11:03 am   #15
Herald1360
Dekatron
 
Herald1360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,527
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

It's not just the stylus that makes for stereo compatibility- the cartridge itself has to have the requisite vertical compliance......
__________________
....__________
....|____||__|__\_____
.=.| _---\__|__|_---_|.
.........O..Chris....O
Herald1360 is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 11:14 am   #16
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Here are three pics f the pickup head
Found it rattling about in the bottom of the cabinet
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	003.jpg
Views:	159
Size:	47.7 KB
ID:	190479   Click image for larger version

Name:	002.jpg
Views:	168
Size:	44.8 KB
ID:	190480   Click image for larger version

Name:	001.jpg
Views:	160
Size:	42.7 KB
ID:	190481  

Last edited by Newgirl2013; 19th Sep 2019 at 11:36 am. Reason: to add text
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 3:07 pm   #17
Herald1360
Dekatron
 
Herald1360's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK.
Posts: 16,527
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

How good are you at a bit of machining? If you took those threaded(?) bosses down flat and drilled and tapped two holes half an inch spacing into the new flat rib, I reckon a standard half inch mounting cartridge could be fitted.


A cruder job could be done by simply cutting away all of the lower section of the head to leave just the arm mount and the top plate. Then a couple of half inch spaced countersunk holes through the remaining plate woiuld similarly allow a standard cartridge mount.


Further options would be to get a suitable new headshell with the correct arm interface 3D printed or modify a typical detachable headshell to fit the arm.
__________________
....__________
....|____||__|__\_____
.=.| _---\__|__|_---_|.
.........O..Chris....O
Herald1360 is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 4:13 pm   #18
Edward Huggins
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

And you are going to be able to counterbalance that HMV tone arm down to about 5 grams. Because it was made for their unique original cartridge only, I don't know if the tracking weight is adjustable.
__________________
Edward.
Edward Huggins is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 4:46 pm   #19
Edward Huggins
Dekatron
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,302
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

There is currently on sale a BSR 3 speed single player unit (Online Auction) with a small diameter 8" turtnable, shortish tone and with what looks like a stereo-compatible cartridge. This is the BSR TU4? unit which preceeded the TU9 and comes from late 1955/early 1956.
__________________
Edward.
Edward Huggins is offline  
Old 19th Sep 2019, 4:53 pm   #20
Newgirl2013
Hexode
 
Newgirl2013's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Hayle, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 375
Default Re: HMV 1950s Record Player

Hi Chris
I think we could manage something there
Would it be a good idea to do away with the connections between the pickup head and the tone arm and wire the Cartridge direct to the amp
Thanks very much
Sharon

Last edited by Newgirl2013; 19th Sep 2019 at 5:14 pm.
Newgirl2013 is offline  
Closed Thread

Thread Tools



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:36 pm.


All information and advice on this forum is subject to the WARNING AND DISCLAIMER located at https://www.vintage-radio.net/rules.html.
Failure to heed this warning may result in death or serious injury to yourself and/or others.


Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2002 - 2023, Paul Stenning.