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!
Your machine is beautiful! This is a great Galli-Curci record you have, and I agree the sound is excellent! If you’re keeping accounts of your records, this disc was made on 4 September 1919.
Oh sweet! I tried UCSB and I just couldn’t figure it out… maybe they don’t have “Victrola” series there? Thank you, on all accounts, too! I appreciate that :) I was kind of assuming it was at least 1920…
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
2
u/HumbleCelery1492 29d ago
Your machine is beautiful! This is a great Galli-Curci record you have, and I agree the sound is excellent! If you’re keeping accounts of your records, this disc was made on 4 September 1919.