1951 RCA Victor 45RPM Electrola Record Changer Service

[@kaa522]

The little changers are fully automatic and will play 15 records unattended when they are right. Reportedly they have the quickest record change of any changer making a complete cycle in two revolutions of the turntable. The only thing they won't do is shut off after the last record, they will play the last record over and over. There are kits available on ebay to replace just the rubber tire on the cycling cam. I have six of these units two like yours, one with a single output tube and three stand alones including the one I've had since age 6, I"m 68 now...

[@lizkrinsky5209]

That is the later version of the mechanism that cycles in one and a half rotations. The earlier ones had a gold metal arm and those are the fast ones that cycle in one rotation.

[@richardcline1337]

I have a stand alone version of this classic 45 rpm turntable. NO amp or anything but has to be plugged into an external amp. I just had it professionally restored a few years back (quite expensive) to as close to it's original condition as could be done by Joel Thorner of the Turntable Factory in Columbia, South Carolina, who has sadly since passed away (too young!). He did an awesome job on it and now I have something from my high school days to remind me of how great we had it back then but didn't realize it.

[@donaldwallace7934]

Hello! I just restored a 45-HY-4 which is the one that came after this model. They are basically the same, just different tube layout. The parts are not cheap, that's for sure! I did use "plasti-dip" on the cam wheel, which brought it to pretty much like new. I also installed a new pfanstiehl p-188D cartridge, and idler wheel. The player sounds great now. I have one like yours waiting in the wings to restore. As for the tonearm not setting down on the lead in to play....It should, so there is an adjustment out of position.....Quite possibly the tonearm itself on its post. If you're really not into these players, I agree the expense can be prohibitive. But, when properly restored, they do bring the money, no question! I am a collector myself, so I am doing it for the enjoyment. :)

[@briankelly8971]

Had that 45 and others from Peter Pan Records when I was a kid. Thanks for sharing your cool stuff.

[@petersimmons1360]

Was really surprised that you didn't consider SOAKING the rubber idler wheel in alcohol at least OVERNIGHT to soften it up and get it working much better! Just giving it a FEW QUICK WIPES with a Q-tip dipped briefly in alcohol aint gonna do much, since the ENTIRE WHEEL has HARDENED over the years! Soaking is how I do it, and have gotten EXCELLENT results!

[@gregoryclemen1870]

replacing caps is a good start, replacing resistors is also a good idea , resistors drift up in ohms value as they age, I repair old amps/ radios ect. this record player is a 1951 model, the amp in this unit is a two stage amp with a push-pull output (2-35L6 power pentode tubes), the chassis number is a "rs140" , the"62" on the chassis is a inspectors number

[@KDoyle4]

This is an RCA RP-190 record changer. It'd designed to play up to 15 records without user intervention, at which point it will play the last record over and over again until you stop it. You can get the both the idler wheel and the cycling cam properly re-surfaced by sending them to the Voice of Music website.

[@TheGuitologist]

I'm aware I can send them off. Just didn't want to outlay more cash on this one. The real puzzle is how the cycle mechanism is supposed to work. Both wheels are working, so I'm not sure. I'll get back in there someday. Too many projects right now.

[@ikonix360]

The Guitologist there is an adjustment to determine where the tonearm sets down.

[@bluegrasscharlie]

If the cam is not in too bad a shape, you can resurface it with plasti-dip. Just apply it around the edge and let it dry. There is an adjustment to make the tonearm come down at the right place.

[@miltowntubes4142]

Hey Brad & Happy Late Thanksgiving to you and your family from mine... i have 2 of these. 1 i got from my grandpa and 1 i got at a estate sale last week.

[@TheGuitologist]

Cool. I'm guessing both of them probably work better than mine. :)

[@miltowntubes4142]

one of them work an sound great, the other one needs alot of help

[@dhelton40]

A wonderful example of the format war between RCA and Columbia. RCA wanted to sell albums as a 7 inch box of 45's and Columbia LP's. Unlike other format wars, both won...The 45 replaced the 78 single and the LP replace a box of 78's. The box of 45's never really caught on, although many were made. One of the problems with the RCA 45 only changers is that the hole in 45's got slightly smaller and newer records do not drop on the spindle. It functions well with 45's from the 1950's though.

[@vtjmproductionsusa2390]

Did you check all of the resistors? I always replace all resistors with new flame proof ones. Nice neat work, great video 👍

[@glenitauriarte8726]

You can get the rubber wheel you need to fix from ebay - 2 for $10 from William Bosco

[@JimArmstrong-w6k]

I have a 45 RPM Crescent record player. The tone arm isn’t working. Do you do repairs on on these things and where are you?

[@tyschmidt5609]

Love the record you chose

[@edwardbleau9936]

If you look on You tube you can find some good videos on the eject mech. That model did have eject and automated tone arm activation. It does auto play. The cog gear you showed in the beginning of your video showed the cog for the auto eject and tone arm placement. hope this helps!

[@martinda7446]

Sandpaper the idler if all else fails, and a standard 5 or 6mm width belt of slightly smaller diameter can be placed around idler and can work very well - again if all else fails. Superglue will make it noisy? Should be louder, amp probably still has issues.

[@Zickcermacity]

36:27 - The mechanism controlling the lead-in placement, and lead-out departure of the tonearm, resides roughly in the upper-right- hand quadrant of the image, under the base end of the arm. It's a black, shiny greasy metal item with multiple points and curved edges on it

[@ExploringwithJaye]

You who are so wise in the ways of science, lend me your ears (that's disgusting!). I have this same model - everything works well except for the automatic tone arm... It lifts when a record drops, but then moves AWAY from the platter, hesitates, and then drops the stylus down on the plinth. What the heck?

[@jameswest8280]

Try Rawn Re-grip for rubber idlers. Clean other drive surfaces with anhydrous isopropyl alcohol.

[@pcno2832]

That's got to be near the top of the line for 45-only players; RCA was hoping that would become the standard so they put some effort into these things. With a push-pull amplifier, it almost seems as if they had some classroom use in mind. That was a steal at $5.

[@ikonix360]

No Name the top of the line 45 player was the RP-168 mechanism which used the four pole motor and a magnetic cartridge.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

the lack of volume indicates resistors that have drifted up in ohms value, the record changer is fully automatic, the pickup cartridge (made by "electrovoice" for "RCA)should be replaced . record players like this one bring good money if working correctly, so don't be afraid to spend a little money on it.

[@jimrick6632]

I AM 79 SO REMEMBER HAVING A EARLY FIFTIES 45 RCA RECORD PLAYER.....THOUGHT I WAS IN HEAVEN...BUT LOUSY SOUND...NOT BAD FOR THAT PERIOD....

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Nobody knew a thing about digital or multi-track recording then. That has its good and bad points.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

Model and serial numbers were much easier to see back then. I wish that hadn't changed.

[@ikonix360]

it is totally worth it to have the drive wheels redone.

[@vtjmproductionsusa2390]

You can get those replacement cam wheel rather inexpensive on e bay. I buy them all the time.

[@theodorelisa2462]

hi you can buy the rubber tire for it very cheap on ebay i buy them all the time and make them work, they are all automatic. the system works with the rubber wheel, there is a adjustment on the arm there is a center screw when you lift the arm up you will see it loosen it very slightly and then push the arm to the record where you want it to drop on and then tighten the screw and it should work correctly after that, but you need to do it with no power on turn it by hand to get it right. good luck. i have done 3 of these already very simple record changer. ted

[@audiotechlabs4650]

If you don't get the level of performance after servicing the RCA, only one thing to do! Turn it into a guitar amp! Happy Holidays! Thankz

[@TheGuitologist]

The thing about this one is, the circuit is designed for a 3V cartridge, which is high output. Plugging a guitar in yields very little sound without an extra preamp stage or boost pedal. It would have to be redesigned.

[@justsumguy2u]

Turning a classic record player like this into a guitar amp would be reprehensible. I always tell people "Quit tearing up vintage electronics---if you want a guitar amp, BUY a guitar amp".

[@SeeburgMusic]

Audio Tech labs, We could turn it into a high voltage torture device and hook your guitar-playing balls up to it. If you want a guitar amp, go buy a fucking GUITAR AMP.

[@davemassie3726]

glue wheel repair, you could have worked at firestone in akron. nice job!

[@TheGuitologist]

Yeah, I remember way back, must have been in the 90s, Firestone had a big scandal with their SUV tires blowing out.

[@farrellmcnulty909]

@@TheGuitologist Holy crap, I'm glad I hardly ever go to Firestone.

[@kennethfossett8184]

He doesnt know much about these rca.mechanisms He got it backwards. Ive been repairing these units for 50 years Its a push pull amp. The amps do sound good with a cartridge replacement

[@MartinSBrown-tp9ji]

This guy is a hack job. Don't believe a word he says. He has no experience of what he knows or what he is doing. I have been servicing these changers for 50 years. They are repairable and still are working fine.

[@neilforbes416]

"Electrola" was EMI's German division from just after WW2, Electrola Schallplatten GmbH, to give the company its name in German, Schallplatten, by the way, is German for Records(plural).

[@bootasinghwarring1109]

ਵੈਰੀ ਗੁਡ ਜੀ

[@neilforbes416]

1962 would be the year this set was last serviced, it is a 1951/52 vintage.

[@chrisa2735-h3z]

Youre lucky you got one for so cheap wow 😍

[@markuskienastberger4096]

Hi, I have a RCA 7-EP-45! Includes the RP 190 B5 record changer and a rs152D amplifier chassis. I completely restored this Elvis record player and it works fine, accept one thing. I have a humming, like the same in this video. If i turn up the volume or i touch the pick up arm, the humming becomes louder. Maybe someone have a solution for me to remove this ugly humming! Markus from Vienna

[@kennethfossett8184]

Its not grounded correctly

[@hugginduff]

i noticed that when I turn it on and when the record was about to drop, the turntable stopped turning until i gave it a push, but after about 10 minutes it worked fine..it seemed like this had happened before and the fix was something very simple. I seem to remember that there was a screw underneath that you had to turn a certain way and that solved the problem...do you know how i would fix that problem.

[@gustavefrankfurter6462]

I have the stand alone version that plugs into an old radio, and mine just needs to be oiled.

[@jhonwask]

I have the same one too. Just haven't worked on it yet.

[@sonofednawelthorpe8609]

The paper and wax suggests early 1950’s

[@117025]

There is a you tuber by the name of seeburgsrock who has a lot of videos of that type of player so you can see how they work. There's also a place called V M Enthusiasts or thevoiceofmusic dot com where you can buy parts or send in parts and had them rebuilt.

[@TheGuitologist]

Thanks for the comment. I'm aware of VM, and I've become aware of seeburgsrock after making this video and having it pop up as a youtube suggestion. The cost of rebuilding that wheel is prohibitive unless I do it myself. Fortunately, that part is now working, but for some reason, the arm won't sit down on the lead in of the record still. I might dig back into it again later. By the end of filming this one, I was ready to move on. The cartridge is weak also, so it really needs a new cart and needle. Just a lot wrong with something that isn't worth much to begin with.

[@117025]

Cool, just so you know. I've seen those things go between 350 to 500 on Ebay restored.

[@TheGuitologist]

I looked at some of the auctions where similar models had sold for that, those look like anomalous prices far above anything others being sold. It appears one seller has found a niche, but they are putting in a lot of work on them to get them to that state and they are modifying them to include switches and jacks not on the originals. Odd thing to do, but it seems they're doing good work. More power to them! That's not something I'll be doing though.

[@TheFRiNgEguitars]

It's a lot of detail work Brad, You'd have to completely dismantle the unit to the bakelite cabinet, rub and polish the cabinet to like new, have the idler wheel rebuilt, etc, a first class "frame up" resto. The unit would then be assembled as it was from the factory. As you probably know after making this video, all the RCA 45 players are fully automatic, as all other record changers are from this era.

[@gdavisloop]

39 minutes watching this video and yours still isn't working as well as mine! Replace the 33 ohm resistor in the power supply for sure! (And the cartridge)

[@jimrick6632]

WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN SELLING THIS PLAYER???

[@TheGuitologist]

Yep. Email me: bradlinzy at gmail

[@glenitauriarte8726]

You can get the cartridges from ebay for a couple of dollars if you don't mind getting them from China

[@alanbuck9237]

It’s definitely not 1962. The style is totally early 50s.

[@justsumguy2u]

There's no need to go with another crystal cartridge---this amp has plenty enough gain to use any ceramic cartridge that uses the standard 1/2" mounting pattern. In fact, this amp may have a resistor bridged across the input from the factory to reduce the 3 v output---you would have to remove that to use a ceramic cartridge.

[@goldenboy5500]

fully restored worth $250.00 - $350.00

[@davidhigginbotham5451]

Nothing manual about this RP-190. Do the simple homework before you tackle a job like this. So simple to do.

[@andrewscrazy]

If you have nothing nice to say then say nothing at all.

[@neilforbes416]

The brand-name, "Electrola" is registered to EMI's German division, EMI-Electrola GmbH. RCA should NOT be using this name on ANY of its products!

[@petemiksich5760]

I think the stamp was misaligned and should read "Selectrola".

[@neilforbes416]

That Dog & Gramophone trademark SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN on that player. By rights the HMV trademark should've VANISHED from the USA in 1929 when RCA bought the Victor plant and name. RCA should've been using its own circular trademark with the lightning bolt trailing off the 'A'. The Dog & Gramophone trademark should've only reappeared in the USA in 1955 with Capitol using it under licence from their owner, EMI(The Gramophone Company) Ltd., Hayes Middlesex England.

[@butcharmstrong9645]

A bit off-subject but are Americans the only people who pronounce the word "solder" as "sah-der"? The rest of the world seems to pronounce it as "sahl-der"

[@neilforbes416]

The name "Electrola" belongs to EMI's German division, EMI-Electrola GmbH, and has done so since the end of the Second World War. RCA has no business using the name, just as RCA should NOT be using EMI's flagship His Master's Voice trademark, the dog & gramophone.

[@barrykasindorf3765]

Dont use 3in1 oil!!!!!

[@1AEROSOL.1PUFF]

Wrong, your giving up.

[@StacyDeVille]

36:40 Most racist song ever! haha

[@ghsgtnayhmd4792]

How.. it's an old nursery rhyme about counting not exactly exciting hatred

[@farrellmcnulty909]

@@ghsgtnayhmd4792 About that next track, how homophobic can they get? "Lazy Mary...." WHOA!!!! Okay, so he likes to sleep in, I mean......(just kidding)

[@Muswell]

Wow. So cheap !

[@tjfreak]

You sound just like the guy from RamblinAround