Record player newbie question - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

george1960 · 8th Jun 2018, 8:03 pm

Hi guys
What is a good starting book to learn about old record players. I know a bit but want to learn more.

RojDW48 · 8th Jun 2018, 8:23 pm

'Reviving your old record player' in the 'stickies' above is a good place to start.

AC/HL · 8th Jun 2018, 8:28 pm

You're posting in it!
I don't know of a book as such, unless Haynes did one

but there's a wealth of knowledge here if you search. Most makes and models have had mentions, and joining the dots can extend this to most situations.
If not, ask. A good starting point is: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=75401

george1960 · 8th Jun 2018, 8:30 pm

I thought there may have been a book published

dave walsh · 8th Jun 2018, 8:57 pm

You asked this question in a different way when you joined the forum George and you've been working on them since. Even a "how too" book won't be better than what you are already doing [ie picking up experience] but that stickie is indeed very good. There aren't really any short cuts as you will know. The Forum experts are always there to help when you get stuck though. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone bring out a book of the type you mention but I would be concerned to see one on general sale as some individuals who join the Forum seem unaware of the possible dangers when dealing with mains electricity and want an instant fix

Dave

Nuvistor · 8th Jun 2018, 9:07 pm

There are books about repairing vintage radios but with the stickies and posts in this forum there is probably a lot more information than a book including information about record players.
If you want to learn about the electronics in a record player then this link gives lots of information about radios that can be used to repair the amplifiers in record players.
https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...ion/index.html

george1960 · 8th Jun 2018, 10:31 pm

ok then guys many thanks for information. I got 2 record players to repair so I'll post soon I'm sure of that

Studio263 · 11th Jun 2018, 12:02 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by george1960

I thought there may have been a book published

Chas Miller's 'Practical Handbook of Valve Radio Repair' will tell you everything you need to know about the electronic aspects. The mechanics are simple and obvious by inspection, just turn the wheel and see what happens.

PsychMan · 12th Jun 2018, 9:17 am

Service manuals for the decks in question do help, especially if exploded diagrams are present. The problem however is they were clearly not written with the intention of someone rebuilding them 50 years later when all the grease had gummed up!

vidjoman · 12th Jun 2018, 9:26 am

Also they were mostly written for repair persons that worked for radio/TV shops who probably went on manufacturer's training courses.

AC/HL · 12th Jun 2018, 11:06 am

Back then routine servicing was mainly changing the stylus and cleaning the jockey wheel and inner turntable rim with meths or similar, so there was little incentive to write a detailed manual. Most people only had the Trader/ERT sheets, really just notes written for experienced Engineers. No-one expected them to be resurrected decades later!

qualityten · 13th Jun 2018, 5:16 pm

While this site is excellent and helpful, there are other specialist turntable-related websites which also have a wealth of information. Notably, theanaloguedept and LencoHeaven. Both of those have a similar spirit of welcome and helpfulness to this one.

Edward Huggins · 13th Jun 2018, 5:49 pm

By some kind of vague deduction, I really suspect that the OP is actually enquiring as to "Record Players" (aka those things in a box with a carrying handle) and maybe not quite yet at the Lenco Heaven stage....

qualityten · 13th Jun 2018, 8:29 pm

Edward, yes, I wondered if I was way off the mark. No harm in raising aspirations though!

David

dave walsh · 13th Jun 2018, 11:00 pm

Well probaly not way off David but it depends what the OP is really after? I would have thought Bill covered it all very well back at post 3*

.

Dave

Techman · 13th Jun 2018, 11:07 pm

I agree. It's all in the link in post #3.

In fact, it's all on this forum. If George really does want to learn more, then it's up to him to look on the forum every day and follow the latest record player threads, also search back through past threads and read them thoroughly - there's no magic short cuts.

qualityten · 14th Jun 2018, 2:42 pm

It may be helpful, George, to print off the excellent step by step guidance in the link in post #3 and put it in a folder for regular reference. As you find other useful threads, print and file these too.

I know this sounds completely obvious, but it helps to have the information beside you as you work. And it's sometimes hard to find other 'helpful stuff you read a few days ago' just when you need it.

8th Jun 2018, 8:03 pm	#1
george1960 Pentode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 103	Record player newbie question Hi guys What is a good starting book to learn about old record players. I know a bit but want to learn more.

8th Jun 2018, 8:23 pm	#2
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: Record player newbie question 'Reviving your old record player' in the 'stickies' above is a good place to start. __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

8th Jun 2018, 8:30 pm	#4
george1960 Pentode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: Record player newbie question I thought there may have been a book published

8th Jun 2018, 8:57 pm	#5
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Record player newbie question You asked this question in a different way when you joined the forum George and you've been working on them since. Even a "how too" book won't be better than what you are already doing [ie picking up experience] but that stickie is indeed very good. There aren't really any short cuts as you will know. The Forum experts are always there to help when you get stuck though. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone bring out a book of the type you mention but I would be concerned to see one on general sale as some individuals who join the Forum seem unaware of the possible dangers when dealing with mains electricity and want an instant fix Dave

8th Jun 2018, 9:07 pm	#6
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Record player newbie question There are books about repairing vintage radios but with the stickies and posts in this forum there is probably a lot more information than a book including information about record players. If you want to learn about the electronics in a record player then this link gives lots of information about radios that can be used to repair the amplifiers in record players. https://www.vintage-radio.com/repair...ion/index.html __________________ Frank

8th Jun 2018, 8:28 pm	#3
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Record player newbie question You're posting in it! I don't know of a book as such, unless Haynes did one but there's a wealth of knowledge here if you search. Most makes and models have had mentions, and joining the dots can extend this to most situations. If not, ask. A good starting point is: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=75401

8th Jun 2018, 10:31 pm	#7
george1960 Pentode Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 103	Re: Record player newbie question ok then guys many thanks for information. I got 2 record players to repair so I'll post soon I'm sure of that

12th Jun 2018, 9:17 am	#9
PsychMan Octode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Fleet, Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,765	Re: Record player newbie question Service manuals for the decks in question do help, especially if exploded diagrams are present. The problem however is they were clearly not written with the intention of someone rebuilding them 50 years later when all the grease had gummed up!

12th Jun 2018, 9:26 am	#10
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,326	Re: Record player newbie question Also they were mostly written for repair persons that worked for radio/TV shops who probably went on manufacturer's training courses.

12th Jun 2018, 11:06 am	#11
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: Record player newbie question Back then routine servicing was mainly changing the stylus and cleaning the jockey wheel and inner turntable rim with meths or similar, so there was little incentive to write a detailed manual. Most people only had the Trader/ERT sheets, really just notes written for experienced Engineers. No-one expected them to be resurrected decades later!

13th Jun 2018, 5:16 pm	#12
qualityten Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wallasey, UK. Posts: 1,314	Re: Record player newbie question While this site is excellent and helpful, there are other specialist turntable-related websites which also have a wealth of information. Notably, theanaloguedept and LencoHeaven. Both of those have a similar spirit of welcome and helpfulness to this one.

13th Jun 2018, 5:49 pm	#13
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,335	Re: Record player newbie question By some kind of vague deduction, I really suspect that the OP is actually enquiring as to "Record Players" (aka those things in a box with a carrying handle) and maybe not quite yet at the Lenco Heaven stage.... __________________ Edward.

13th Jun 2018, 8:29 pm	#14
qualityten Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wallasey, UK. Posts: 1,314	Re: Record player newbie question Edward, yes, I wondered if I was way off the mark. No harm in raising aspirations though! David

13th Jun 2018, 11:00 pm	#15
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: Record player newbie question Well probaly not way off David but it depends what the OP is really after? I would have thought Bill covered it all very well back at post 3* . Dave

13th Jun 2018, 11:07 pm	#16
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Record player newbie question I agree. It's all in the link in post #3. In fact, it's all on this forum. If George really does want to learn more, then it's up to him to look on the forum every day and follow the latest record player threads, also search back through past threads and read them thoroughly - there's no magic short cuts.

14th Jun 2018, 2:42 pm	#17
qualityten Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wallasey, UK. Posts: 1,314	Re: Record player newbie question It may be helpful, George, to print off the excellent step by step guidance in the link in post #3 and put it in a folder for regular reference. As you find other useful threads, print and file these too. I know this sounds completely obvious, but it helps to have the information beside you as you work. And it's sometimes hard to find other 'helpful stuff you read a few days ago' just when you need it.