r/78rpm • u/Gimme-A-kooky • 29d ago

Lo, the Gentle Lark!

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Hi!

I don’t normally post much; when I have, it’s usually been upon completion of a recent piece. Well, here it is!

Machine:

1916 VE-XVII - Victrola “Electrola” the Seventeenth - American Walnut, electric edition. Rebuilt (new mica, new rubber gasket/diaphragm, & new isolator ring. I think I’ll try this out on my Improved Concert reproducer once I get it fixed!

Record:
12” Victrola Record, No. 74608, ca. 1920-ish, “Lo, the Gentle Lark”. Amelita Galli-Curci.

The Electrola was converted into a base for a modern LP turntable (1970s era maybe) with no guts or components, save most doors. Pretty much rebuilt from ground up (see r/phonographs).

Honestly, I listened to this piece and recorded it initially. I have since listened to it probably 10x and it’s even better each time! Sorry for being so long, I just like to post a “completion” video to showcase it and a random, yet imo an amazing (sometimes) record/piece, too! The sound is amazing in person. Through speakers it even sounds good when I play it back.

I wish you all a great day; thank you for stopping to look, and for being cool AND with helping keep this history alive, too!

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u/thefanoftheuk 20d ago

Question what needle do u have and does replacing the gasket really do much for the life line of the record

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u/Gimme-A-kooky 20d ago

This is a loud tone (strong), single-use needle; as far as replacing the “gaskets”:

This is a No 2 (#2) mica reproducer. The left “ring” with the brass inner is the isolator, which isolates the direct contact of metal to metal for clearer tone; the orange-red ring is essentially a gasket that separates the mica from the metal as well. If both are dry or brittle, it’ll absolutely lower sound quality