Wanted to add this to the thread... :)

http://videokarma.org/attachment.php...1&d=1519313311

Nice ad. That's the "attachment" model without an amp that needs to be plugged into a radio. They're slightly smaller than the 9EY3.

I know...we had one that we plugged into our Hallicrafters TV back then.

After restoration, what tracking force is used with the Chinese ceramic cartridges? Is tripping at the end of the records reliable? How many records can be stacked?
I got less than satisfactory tripping at 4 grams... how high do I need to go? Perhaps I have missed a lubrication point somewhere :scratch2:
I can only stack 12 records presently, I think that the spec is 14, but not sure where I read that.

jr

Those carts are happy at 5 grams. Is your styli jumping out of the runout groove or is the change cycle simply not kicking in?

There are a few adjustments on the 168 and 190 mechs for change trip point and setdown point, among other things...If those are off it may not work as expected. If your styli stays in the groove I'd look at the adjustments.

I had a little larger RCA 45 player that had an 8" speaker and a push-pull amplifier using 2 35L6s, a 35Z5 and a 12SC7. It also had a tone control.
Built around the same era!

Does that thing have the original tone arm on it?
Usually, the tone arm color matched the top cap of the spindle. :scratch2:

E/M... Thanks for the tips, 5 to 6 grams did the trick, it is no longer skipping on the lead out groove. I also re-adjusted the pick-up point and installed a diamond stylus... played through several boxed sets of classical music and broadway tunes last night with no skipping. :thmbsp:

dj... Yes that is the original tone arm, the cap is not the usual red, but rather more coral in color, but indeed a poor match to the tone arm. I don't think that it has faded either, my wife remembers that it was a poor match when brand new. Several pictures found on line also exhibit a poor match... somebody color blind at RCA?

jr

The last model that I repaired was similar to the one pictured, with the crazy colors, was a black base with a gray speaker grill, tone arm and spindle top cap.
The cartridge was bad and the only one the RCA distributor had was the low output one. This phono had the one tube amp, 25L6 in series with the motor and the output was low. The owner wanted it back as-is. :thumbsdn:

I have a Columbia branded RP-190 like that. I didn't want to spring for a high output cart so I added IIRC a 6AT6 to the mix...Takes a long time to warm up, but has more respectable volume.

Interesting! I have a similar model (7-EY-1DJ) that is black and grey with a white cap and tone arm....also a cheap o model with only a 4 inch speaker and a 50L6 amp with 35W4 rectifier. May have to follow E/M s lead and add a pre-amp tube, if I ever restore the thing.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4622/...e0b2cd_z_d.jpg



jr

Paint suggestions?
 

I now have on the bench a 45 EY, which is very similar to the player shown in the first post. One very visible difference is the gold painted top surface of the player, which has a couple of scratches. Any recommendations for a decent spray paint that matches color and texture and is durable?

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4795/...d39d66_z_d.jpg

Thanks,
jr

Maybe others can chime-in about a particular color and brand paint, but I would definitely say a brass-tone rather than gold. I would also recommend putting a few coats of semi-gloss clear for protection.
I believe your unit is the 1950 model by the way.

Interesting facts. RCA had first conceived this format and was just ready to consider it when World War II happened. Referred to as "Project X". RCA again considered launching the 45 RPM format again post WW II, and held off due to brisk 78 RPM disc sales and phono sales. Then Columbia announced the LP in 1948, offered David Sarnoff at RCA a peek, General Sarnoff was livid. And then RCA Victor embarked on a crash program to launch the 45 RPM format and the RCA Victor 45 RPM changer in 1949, a temporary war of the speeds was in full force. RCA finally gave in and announced the RCA Victor introduction of the LP Record in 1950, when Arturo Toscanini, then with his contract up for renewal, threatened to jump ship to Columbia so his recordings would not be interrupted so often for disc changes. In turn, Columbia announced their decision to issue 45 RPM discs, and the rest was history. Both formats complemented each other, and served different budgets, listening tastes, and desires. I am also an ardent admirer of the RCA 45 RPM changers, a really nifty changer design innovation, and nicely thought out and engineered.

Very interesting info. Thanks. leave it to RCA to want to be the first in everything electronic. Competition is good in business, but what the company did with Armstrong with his FM system shows it's ugly side. One thing I found with these early RCA units is the early 45's (pre-1955) sound so much better on them than the later rock and roll ones. The quality really went down on 45's by then.