By Leland Faber C - All Unique



By Leland Faber C.E.T

Servicing 1950’s “One Tube Wonders” Portable Record Players

In the 1950’s, everyone carried or owned a small portable record player..Much like today everyone who is anyone has an I-Pod for personal music.

In the 1950’s though, the record player was a social outlet. They would be moved from party to party or just to use for background to learn how to play a guitar. Whatever the case, they were the center of Social Networking.

Using this as a basis, the manufacturers needed to provide bright and small record players in great numbers. This meant using a lot of creative thinking. Only several companies made the mechanics for the turning of the turntable. Another manufactured the Tone arm and several others made the cartridges and needles and another, the electronics. The primary assembler sometimes made the case.

All of this was manufactured “en Mass” to be sold to whomever wanted to include a portable in their Lineup. All that was necessary was an assembly line to meld all of these parts into a creation that would sell. Thusly, all of these units, though looking special, had the same basic turntables and electronics.

I will cover some of the more popular mechanisms and electronics, which will give you a solid background to branch out into some of the more sophisticated players.

We will ignore the cabinetry, which ranged from heavy cardboard to solid plywood with a covering ranging from paper to heavy vinyl. The cabinet made the statement and profit for the company. The mechanics and electronics were all basically the same.

First is the “Alliance” mechanism, which consisted of a synchronized motor that ran at the same speed as dictated by the 60HZ line frequency at 110 to 117 volts. Speed change was accomplished by a mechanism that lifted the main drive wheel from one step on the spindle of the motor to the next.

As the lever on the left was moved from speed to speed, the mechanism above the drive wheel slid it from the speed derived from the diameter of the stepped spindle to the next larger or smaller diameter.

The larger spindle in the upper right of the picture is where the platter sits.

This is held in place by a clip underneath. It must be removed, cleaned and lubed with “Phonolube” which is white grease in a tube. A list of where these items can be procured is at the end of this article.

The clip on the drive wheel should be removed and put in a container along with the spacer washers and the drive wheel. This will expose the rubber motor mounts held in place with either clips or ¼” nuts. The motor mounts should be removed and replaced with new replacement rubber mounts. The spring seen in the lower center of the picture is held in place with a clip. This also is the pivot point for the speed mechanism. Remove the clip and place all parts together for later assembly.

The motor has been removed and now the rubber mounts should be removed, the retainer clip, drive tension spring and the entire shifting mechanism. The one retainer clip is holding all. Be careful because when you start to lift the shift bar up, there is a small ball bearing and a spring clip that forces it into the small holes in the plate for a solid “lock in place” feel. Do not lose the bearing. Pay careful attention as to how the shifter slides back out from under the shaft holding the sliding brass coupling that rides in the stamped plate in the upper center. All parts removed should be cleaned with a good grease remover and dried. It is OK to spray the plate a flat black after everything is removed.

After cleaning, lube all contact points (metal to metal) with phono lube. Do not go crazy, this is just a phonograph and all the extra grease will attract dust and jam up earlier than if you just use a little. Be sure the Brass collar slides up and down on the metal shaft easily. If you got paint on the shaft, remove the paint and re-lube. Check the pinion to be sure it moves easily. It’s best to take it apart and clean and lube it because it is important in the proper operation of the drive wheel.

Assemble the mechanism being careful that all parts move freely. Attach the tension spring and retainer and the move through the shifting a number of times to be sure the lubriplate is thoroughly distributed and every thing is smooth in operation.

(Please note) It is NOT necessary to remove the mechanism plate from the turntable board. Everything can be done with it attached. Most mechanisms are held to the board with rivets. There is no point in disturbing them unless they are loose, in which case place one side on a solid steel vise and peen them over with a hammer to tighten them up.

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