Voice Of Music Record Player (circa 1936?)

[ehc68]

I have an OLD Voice Of Music record player which I believe must be around 1936
because there is a part that is stamped with this year (I think it is on the drive motor for the turntable). It's been around 15 or 20 years since I powered this thing on, but it worked great the last time I did. I've been thinking about pulling this out of hibernation, cleaning it up and seeing if it still works. I'm kinda thinking it's probably not a good idea to turn this old geezer on since it IS 71 years old now until I recap the power supply since (I guess) they were just made of paper and wax, but my thought behind it is that it worked GREAT when it was 51 years old so what's another 20 years. I figured 20 years ago that they would have been dried up, but as I said it worked perfect back then.
I thought it would be cool to be able to keep it 100% vintage and keep the old caps in as long as they still worked. Which brings me to this question...if I did this and the caps eventually went out on me, would/could this cause any damage to other components. If not I thought I'd just keep them in for as long as they worked then if they eventually go out, then do a recap at that point.

What are your thoughts on this??

Attachment 48580Here are a couple of pics........

[Mysteryed]

In the lid of the record player there appears to be a 45 adapter. Since 45's were introduce in 1949 by RCA that would seem to make your player a bit younger, perhaps 13 years... Voice of Music (the company) started in 1944. I believe that you are a proud owner of a Model 560 (1954).

Info and part for Voice of Music products can be found at this site:

http://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/

Wish I knew a how to answer your question... I will be curious to see the expert replies... best of luck in your efforts!

[ehc68]

You know...sometimes I have a bad habit of overlooking the obvious. Of course if I would have researched when 45's came out, that would have told me that 1936 wasn't correct

Anyway, you are absolutely right! It is a V-M Tri-O-Matic Model 560A.

I'm getting ready to check out thevoiceofmusic.com now.

Thank you for the info!!

[Eric H]

It wouldn't hurt to recap it now, there are probably only a half dozen caps in it anyway. Install a fuse too if it doesn't have one.

[Chad Hauris]

I would definitely replace all caps...you should get better performance even if it is working, and it is just a matter of time till those old caps short out or have excessive leakage and damage something else. If it is a transformerless amp, a power line isolation cap could short out and leave the chassis "live" with 110 volts. Paper and electrolytic capacitors degrade over time.

[blue_lateral]

My dad had that model, in that color. It really was amazing for it's size.

It's a model 560, from 1954. http://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/images/560.jpg

John

[blue_lateral]

The caps should be replaced, but if you're not going to, well yes, they can and will cause damage. The most likely things to get destroyed are the output tubes, and the power transformer. Both of those things are *way* more expensive than capacitors.

There are two kinds of caps you should be concerned about, electrolytic and paper. You should take the amp out and see if there are paper caps in there. If they are original from 1954, thats what they will be. They have to go.

Electrolytics that old can sometimes still work, but it is a little risky. If your going to try to save them, after all the paper ones are changed, hang a DVM across the first filter cap, and bring the voltage up slowly with a variac. Pay attention to the voltage across the capacitor. It needs to come up slowly, and it will start coming up fast when you get around 70 volts line voltage.

The idea is to not "shock" a good capacitor that has been sitting for years with full voltage, causing it to fail during startup. If the capacitor is already bad, this wont help.

After they have been brought up slowly, If you have hum, they are probably bad. Also the capacitors should not be running hot. If they are, they need to be replaced, immediately.

The only reason I can imagine you might want to do this, is if there is no clean way to replace them (no room). The new ones are not that expensive. I should also mention that if one fails by shorting, it can ruin the power transformer.


John

[Tom Bavis]

I think one of those passed through here a few years ago, and there was a schematic pasted inside. But if not, I have a scan of the Sams folder with parts list...

[willyrover]

The styling is also a good clue. Definitely 50's styling. I might have even guessed very early 60's. Definitely NOT 30's styling.

[ehc68]

I'm only 38, this was out long before I was even born. I'm not too up on what the styles were back then, or at least NOT enough to be able to associate a particular style to a certain era. My mom, maybe......but not me.

This VOM I have now is the oldest I currently have....I mainly collect 70's era audio....you probably guessed that by my avatar though .

Tom Bavis.....I have a schematic pasted on the inside of mine, but as you could imagine it's really brittle so if you wouldn't mind to send me that scan, I would really appreciate it....especially for the parts list.

Thanks EVERYONE for all the info!!!!

[ehc68]

Ooh and since all of the replies are basically saying to recap....I'm recapping every one of them......paper and electrolytic. I'm glad I asked about this before I powered it up.

Thanks again everyone!!

[hewlew1]

I have one that appears to have a maple finish. SWEET!

[ehc68]

I was looking up replacement caps and there are several different kinds on Mouser's web page....

Polyester Orange Drop, Polypropylene Orange Drop, DC Film, Polypropylene Film, Sub-Miniature Metallized
Polyester Film, Boxed Metal Film, Radial Metallized Polypropylene Film.......the list seems to just go on and on!!

The original are Gudeman .047MFD 400V and are the wax type. These, I've heard, do not have a long shelf life so I guess getting the exact originals are pretty much out of the picture (even IF I could find them). I would like to have the closest to the originals as possible, or at least in terms of sound quality....one's that aren't going to compromise the original vintage sound qualities of the V-M.

Would the big silver can type filter cap still be safe to use, or should this be replaced as well?

[Celt]

Originally Posted by ehc68

Would the big silver can type filter cap still be safe to use, or should this be replaced as well?

Definately replace it as well. If Mouser doesn't have what you're looking for, give Antique Radio Supply a look see. They have several can caps and multi-caps. http://www.tubesandmore.com

[Tube Radio]

While you're at Antique Electronic Supply check out Solen Fast capacitors. They should work for your application.