The first RCA "45" player

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

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.

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.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

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.

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.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

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.

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.





jr

[jr_tech]

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?



Thanks,
jr

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

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?



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.