Thanks for info regarding the Capehart & various types of needles. I shall seek some Victor tungstone needles - anyone have some for sale? Wear on 78rpm records (mainly those made in USA, especially Victor) from mid 1930s on is exascerbated by extreme treble pre-emphasis and a higher frequency rollover in bass in the recording curve which made possible a large increase in dynamic range. The accellerations of the loudest higher frequencys were awsome. By the early 1940s when a less radical recording curve was used together with various electronic limiters in the recording process, record wear decreased but at the cost of dynamic range - piano fortissimi & symphonic tuttis become an undifferentiated roar without the clarifying spikes of peak sounds. These practises continued at RCA into the early LP era. I think pre-1935 78s & post 1942 78s will be best to play on the Capehart.
Jim Cartwright Immortal Performances jim...@earthlink.net > [Original Message] > From: jim...@earthlink.net <jim...@earthlink.net> > To: <Phono-L@oldcrank.org> > Date: 14-Jul-2009 12:34:58 PM > Subject: [Phono-L] Capehart > > After many years, my 1937 Capehart 404G (serial number 10627E) is now functioning & sounds great & is fun to watch as it changes > records. I have noticed quite a bit of "needle noise" in the magnetic pickup when the volume is turned down even though the pickup > has been restored. Is this endemic to a properly performing Capehart as I suspect because all the doors to the record playing > compartment are sealed with rubber gaskets, presumable to contain mechanical noise or does the pickup need further work? Also, > where can one obtain needles for playing large numbers of 78s without being changed in the Capehart or Orthophonic Victrola 1050? > I have Mr. Baumbach's excellent book on the Capeharts without which the repairman who usually works on 1950s & 1960s hifi gear > would have been completely at sea in working on the Capehart changer but would like to obtain copies of the owner's manual & > schematics of the tuner & amplifiers. > Jim Cartwright > Immortal Performances > > > jim...@earthlink.net > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org _______________________________________________ Phono-L mailing list http://phono-l.oldcrank.org