Help with 1950's Bush record player. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

MurphyNut · 30th Oct 2019, 2:45 pm

With my ongoing loft sort-out I came across this record player.
It's been up there for well over 20 years and to honest I'd forgotten about it.
I plugged it in and it actually works, been playing 78's and they sound really good. The amplifier seemed to working fine but I have a problem with the rubber wheel that drives the platter. (see double picture)
It wasn't left in the 'off' position (my fault) so the wheel has a indentation from it being pressing against the drive shaft for countless years.
So it's rather noisy in operation, I suspect the rubber has hardened anyway over the years.
My question is, are these wheels still available? or is there any other way to improve matters, I would be rather nice to get this player working better as it's rather a nice thing.
Thanks.

RojDW48 · 30th Oct 2019, 3:12 pm

I have a 'donor' Garrard deck from the same era - I think it still has an idler wheel - I'll check it for dents and pop it in the post if you like. Send me a PM.

Tractorfan · 30th Oct 2019, 6:37 pm

Hi,
I've read somewhere on this forum that boiling can sometimes improve matters by softening the rubber. (It'll make the spuds taste funny, though.

)
Otherwise, they can be gently sanded to remove the flat spot as its diameter isn't important to the speed of the turntable.
Hope this is useful
Cheers, Pete.

Ekcoman · 30th Oct 2019, 7:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tractorfan

Hi,
I've read somewhere on this forum that boiling can sometimes improve matters by softening the rubber. (It'll make the spuds taste funny, though.

)
Otherwise, they can be gently sanded to remove the flat spot as its diameter isn't important to the speed of the turntable.
Hope this is useful
Cheers, Pete.

Fascinating suggestion. as back in the 60s when hard up, I used to do with my guitar strings.

Edward Huggins · 30th Oct 2019, 7:33 pm

MurphyNut, the rubber wheel you mention is more usually known as the Idler wheel. These can be skimmed on a metal machinist's or a wood turner's lathe. Only a few microns will need to be removed and it will only cost you the price of a pint! It will then be as good as when new.

I can see that the tone arm still has the original Mono only cartridge in-situ, so do not attempt to play any Stereo LP's on this. Your player has a 2 stage amplifier which is suitable for a new Stereo ceramic cartridge should you decide to upgrade it.

Station X · 30th Oct 2019, 10:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Only a few microns will need to be removed

I'm lucky if I can work to 0.01mm or half a thou!

MurphyNut · 31st Oct 2019, 5:04 pm

Thanks to the suggestions I've got it working a lot better, I put the Idler wheel into hot (almost boiling) water for a while and it did soften the rubber quite a bit.
I gently sanded out the dent and now there is a lot less physical noise.
Unfortunately there is another problem, I'll post up a new thread regarding this later.
Thanks again

Heatercathodeshort · 31st Oct 2019, 6:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tractorfan

Hi,
I've read somewhere on this forum that boiling can sometimes improve matters by softening the rubber. Cheers, Pete.

I remember Steve Beeching of PT fame suggesting this cure for video belts and earned himself a lot of flack! J.

30th Oct 2019, 2:45 pm	#1
MurphyNut Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 979	Help with 1950's Bush record player. With my ongoing loft sort-out I came across this record player. It's been up there for well over 20 years and to honest I'd forgotten about it. I plugged it in and it actually works, been playing 78's and they sound really good. The amplifier seemed to working fine but I have a problem with the rubber wheel that drives the platter. (see double picture) It wasn't left in the 'off' position (my fault) so the wheel has a indentation from it being pressing against the drive shaft for countless years. So it's rather noisy in operation, I suspect the rubber has hardened anyway over the years. My question is, are these wheels still available? or is there any other way to improve matters, I would be rather nice to get this player working better as it's rather a nice thing. Thanks. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Clive

30th Oct 2019, 3:12 pm	#2
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: Help with 1950's Bush record player. I have a 'donor' Garrard deck from the same era - I think it still has an idler wheel - I'll check it for dents and pop it in the post if you like. Send me a PM. __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

30th Oct 2019, 6:37 pm	#3
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,183	Re: Help with 1950's Bush record player. Hi, I've read somewhere on this forum that boiling can sometimes improve matters by softening the rubber. (It'll make the spuds taste funny, though. ) Otherwise, they can be gently sanded to remove the flat spot as its diameter isn't important to the speed of the turntable. Hope this is useful Cheers, Pete. __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

30th Oct 2019, 7:33 pm	#5
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,328	Re: Help with 1950's Bush record player. MurphyNut, the rubber wheel you mention is more usually known as the Idler wheel. These can be skimmed on a metal machinist's or a wood turner's lathe. Only a few microns will need to be removed and it will only cost you the price of a pint! It will then be as good as when new. I can see that the tone arm still has the original Mono only cartridge in-situ, so do not attempt to play any Stereo LP's on this. Your player has a 2 stage amplifier which is suitable for a new Stereo ceramic cartridge should you decide to upgrade it. __________________ Edward.

31st Oct 2019, 5:04 pm	#7
MurphyNut Heptode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Croxley Green, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 979	Re: Help with 1950's Bush record player. Thanks to the suggestions I've got it working a lot better, I put the Idler wheel into hot (almost boiling) water for a while and it did soften the rubber quite a bit. I gently sanded out the dent and now there is a lot less physical noise. Unfortunately there is another problem, I'll post up a new thread regarding this later. Thanks again __________________ Clive