Capehart Orchestrope Model 28G: A Detailed Look

[@kfl611]

I want one so badly. This is such a fancy beautiful machine. It's just so pretty to look at. Thank you for posting this video.

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm so glad you liked it! It's an enjoyable machine. Thanks for your comments!

[@2574mcu]

Today in 2019 that would cost 18,258.00. This one seems like its gentle with the records. The mechanics involved is just amazing. Beautiful workmanship. Great video.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@gordonwoods4962]

Fantastic piece of engineering…..

[@arthurharrison1345]

Thank you for producing this marvelous video of impeccable quality! Note that 1,250 1930 U. S. dollars are worth about 17,000 2016 U.S. dollars.

[@GracevilleMN]

+Arthur Harrison Wow, think of how many nickels that would be today!! Glad you liked the video! Thanks!

[@sodality3970]

Gorgeous !! Absolutely fascinating !! Lovely machine and the best era in music !!

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm do very glad you liked it! Thanks for the nice comment!

[@erichanson3961]

Amazing...wow! Such engineering and artistry together.

[@GracevilleMN]

@@erichanson3961 I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for you nice comment.

[@rogerb5615]

Superb video production, right down to the machine-age subtitles. Thank you!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you for the nice comments! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@luismantaras6460]

These changers are very amusing to watch! Thanks for showing them as well as for the music.

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, these are a lot of fun! Thanks for your comment!

[@reeltapegone2823]

The design, craftsmanship and machining is awesome! thanks for posting this video-a tinkerers delight!

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@marthalyonsknityourselfhap9147]

Amazing videography! What a beautiful piece.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! :)

[@joereda5668]

Thanks for preserving and restoring a great piece of American workmanship. You're right up there with all the other greats who have worked to preserve our history!

[@GracevilleMN]

Wow, thanks! I just enjoy doing this. I appreciate the comments!

[@barnegatshoals]

Your videos are the best demonstration videos ever! They give the viewer a real lesson in antique technology, craftsmanship, with some beautiful dance music thrown in to demonstrate the high quality of sound available ninety years ago.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I'm so glad you enjoy them! I put quite a bit of planning into the videos during restoration while the mechanisms are on the workbench. The sound quality can be remarkable with proper setup and unworn records. Thanks again!

[@joacos-acosta1623]

A dream come true for the repair guy. :D. Kidding apart, gorgeous mechanical stuff.

[@GracevilleMN]

It took some doing to restore this beast but it was well worth the effort! Thanks for your comments!

[@roybo1930]

Love to see the Mechanics of these BEAUTIFUL Machines! I truly appreciate the Robbins & Myers motors, I also collect very Early Electric Fans! R&M is truly among the tops!

[@seywhut2985]

Well finally a video that shows the mechanism. Thank you so much! It really does handle the records very gently.

[@GracevilleMN]

+seywhut2985 Thank you very much! Hope you check out my other videos, including this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqXap4B6iq-ImdU

[@TerryMcKean]

Yup..that one's definitely awesome, too..and very gentle with the records. :)

[@Troupee-Lennon]

Hi Graceville Wow I never seen one these unbelievable it looks amazing all craftsmanship details it's like jukebox in 1900s you have fantastic collection fair play to ya keeping these wonderful machines alive .Troupee from Ireland.

[@RaymondTVinyl]

Just Fantastic!! I can watch a Capehart for hours. Such beautiful machines. Really excellent video!! Thank you so much for sharing with us!

[@GracevilleMN]

I glad you liked it! I enjoy these projects!

[@VictorPhonographs]

Your videos deserve an Academy Award. None better for detail and accuracy. Thanks!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank YOU!

[@123sheepdip]

Wow - lovely sound and what technology for 1930. Great post. Thanks.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@stanleycostello9610]

Once again, elegant videograpy of a superb machine. Thanks.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@Chicagocoinop]

Love your video. Well put together. Great machine!! Thanks for sharing.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I've enjoyed owning the machine and making the video!

[@proximace]

Wonderful machine. I´ve never seen one before in working condition. Many thanks für uploading and best wishes from Germany!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! It holds a special place in my collection. Danke sehr!!

[@proximace]

I come to your place and buy your whole collection. See you next week!

[@jorgeaboga1]

Fantastic!, Thanks a lot for your videos. The best production avalaible on youtube! Sequences, explications, music...All the best!

[@mrob75]

FANTASTIC! Great choice of music to accompany this fascinating record changer...Truly amazing!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much!

[@thrillscience]

Beautiful video! Thanks for showing us how this great mechanism worked.

[@ivyssauro123]

This one is even more incredible!! amazing!

[@GracevilleMN]

Yay! Glad you liked it! :)

[@amberola1b560]

My god, that has to be the most gentle record changer in the world. I'm working on restoring a capehart flip over record changer from the early 30's. Hope the cabinet comes out looking as good as yours does when it's done

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks for your comments! Your changer should handle records just fine when it's set up and completely adjusted. My project was delayed for about 3 years as I waited for my cabinet man to get to it. I had some good advice from 01Bubba2001 "Bob's Orchestrope"(on youtube) cautioning about not using records that had been stored under damp conditions. The shellac in these is softer and the rims are more inclined to break under the weight of the stacked records. This hasn't been a problem with mine, thanks to his help. Good luck with your project! Also, I've committed to buying an Amberola 1B this summer!

[@discerningmind]

Excellent video. Thank you!

[@GracevilleMN]

It's my pleasure! Thank you!

[@decap1218]

Very well done video. Thank you for the effort!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I enjoyed putting it together!

[@sobroed]

WOW! Awesome video. I would see phonographs & jukeboxes only in ads from old vintage magazines, but here, you're giving a great demonstration with an authentic jukebox. Sounds awesome with my Bose headphones. Thank you for sharing with us!👍

[@GracevilleMN]

I so glad you enjoyed it! It's a pleasure to restore these machines and present a nice demo video. Thanks for your comments!

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

Amazing. Thanks for the good quality video and the captions.

[@GracevilleMN]

You bet! Thanks for the nice comments!

[@MrKevinp0]

January 2021, 1,250.00 is now 19,478.22. You'd never see quality like that today. Absolutely gorgeous!

[@tamaracktom]

This is great! There is one just like it in the museum in Hanks, North Dakota.

[@GracevilleMN]

I looked up Hanks, North Dakota, and it's pretty far out there! Thanks for the comment!

[@amdubin]

Beautifully photograhed, Bob!

[@GracevilleMN]

+amdubin Thank you, Adam! C U at Union next month I hope! :)

[@mikec6822]

I really love your videos on the old phonos. I can tell that you put a lot of effort into what you do and what you're trying to convey. Quite an education with all the worded details.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks MIke! I don't post these very often; they do take a lot of time and planning to make them as interesting as possible. I'm glad you like them! Cheers!

[@PhilcoKid]

Awesome video and restoration...

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks PhilcoKid! I had some great help! :)

[@juancateigueluribe]

Beatiful,beatiful .thank you! Countri chile

[@TheDanno210]

Amazing machine, and as always your videos are top-notch. Thanks for sharing

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I enjoy making these.

[@oldschooldjernie]

thank you for that! That price was steep during that Depression era for one of those, however in 2003 I paid $5400 for a NSM wall mount juke box that I had installed at a bowling alley and in 2003 that wasn't cheap either.

[@roybo1930]

Say Yes! I WANT ONE OF THESE!!!

[@mariluleon7520]

Bellísimo reproductor de música! Una auténtica obra de arte.

[@rareblues78daddy]

1930: $1250.00 2016: $18,000.00 2018: $18,201.10 2020: $19,022.59 *Source- CPI Inflation Calculator

[@tarstarkusz]

Don't believe the hype. The inflation calculators badly understate inflation, especially over nearly 90 years.

[@leslielandberg5620]

@@tarstarkusz That's for sure. The dollar is worth approximately $.0275 of what it was worth in 1914. And falling fast. So we should probably add another zero to that inflation adjustment.

[@tarstarkusz]

@hawkturkey If it were made in China it wouldn't work and would probably catch fire. It is truly amazing how bad the quality of everything is today. There was always cheap stuff, but the floor of cheapness has gone way, way down.

[@hotsickle]

How old is it in dog-years ?

[@rareblues78daddy]

@@hotsickle It's _fuck you_ in dogs years.

[@justpassnthru]

Nothing short of amazing!

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, it's quite a piece of engineering! Thanks for your comment!

[@EthicRadioArchiveReels]

Wow! 😲 amazing machine 😀

[@desoto1961]

Just beautiful!!

[@Jukeboxmanuals]

What an awesome video!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks so much! I glad you enjoyed it!

[@TerryMcKean]

Awesome!...thank you, GracevilleMN :-)

[@GracevilleMN]

My pleasure! Glad you liked it!

[@TerryMcKean]

I'm also amazed at how incredibly gentle the changer is with the records all throughout the various steps. ..a true work of mechanical art, no doubt.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks again! I play it often! :)

[@wayneandresen3916]

LOVE your videos!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I enjoy putting them together!

[@ankar0]

Brilliant made video!!!

[@feebus1]

Thanks! How about a look at the amplifier and speaker? Please......!

[@dougg1075]

Who restores these things? He’s the genius.

[@frankmeier2459]

Binn, begeistert Mann kommt aus den staunen nicht raus, und ich dachte ich ich hatte schon alles in Sachen juke-box, Plattenspieler gesehen. Mach weiter so mei n unbekannter Freund.

[@GracevilleMN]

Ich bin froh, dass es Ihnen gefallen hat! Danke für die netten Kommentare!

[@AlbertBenajam-ww1db]

One strong point is that the records being played individually are all done so at correct angle. Another advàntage is the record on turntable it self, unlock drop changer where a warped record in the stack makes those slip and WOW and flutter unlistenable.

[@cenzurauva]

You are owner of Treasure. Thank you for sharing great video. :)

[@GracevilleMN]

+cenzurauva Thank you very much! It's my pleasure!

[@1fornone]

Astounding

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@benjaminhaass5470]

In the midst of restoring a basket case one of these with no manual. I got it all back together but getting the timing correct on the chains and the cams and the electrical contacts is really hard. This video helps a lot

[@GracevilleMN]

I hope this video helps you! I've had other people say it's been useful to them. Good luck with your restoration!

[@rocketaroo]

Love this 👏

[@dariowiter3078]

Wow, what a machine! 🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵 😀😀😀😀😀

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I continue to enjoy this machine almost daily!

[@dariowiter3078]

GracevilleMN Your videos prove it quite well, fellow KZbinr! 👍 😀

[@HarborGuy]

Awesome - it's like magic.............

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment!

[@Muswell]

Not really a jukebox - you put your money in & you get whatever record is next. Lol. A beautiful piece of engineering - far too clever & intricate for words. Wonderful.

[@GracevilleMN]

You're right in regards to terminology! I suppose the tradeoff was the fact it could play 56 sides rather than ten or so selected titles. Thanks for your comments!

[@xaenon]

I have a feeling there wasn't quite the wide variety of recorded music like there is today, nor the polar attitudes regarding musical genres that pervade the modern era. Doubtless the machine was kept stocked with the tunes that were popular. so when you dropped your nickel in, odds were you'd probably enjoy whatever it played.

[@jodysmith7934]

Seems Like an early version of a jukebox very nice!!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@superhet7281]

Wow! Thank you for the demo! The records are not selectable, correct? It just plays them over and over. But what an AMAZING machine for the time.

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, you're right that the tunes are not selectable, but it plays 56 sides before repeating. That's a lot of tunes! Thanks for the nice comment!

[@johncarpenter624]

Beyond cool.

[@maineboy1979]

Beautiful! And that would cost $18,463.25 in 2017 dollars... dang!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ingoknutschalex]

einfach nur grandios , an dieser Technik sollten sich manche mal ein Beispiel nehmen sie hat so viele Jahre auf dem Buckel und funktioniert immer noch tadellos ! Wenn ich dagegen manch andere Dinge sehe die schon nach der Garantiezeit gleich kaputt sind !

[@GracevilleMN]

Vielen Dank!

[@stevejohnson1321]

Hard to believe, there were no 45 RPM jukes prior to 1950. But those 45 systems were everywhere in the 1960s. 1 play for a dime, three songs for 25 cents.

[@GracevilleMN]

Right! RCA introduced the 45 RPM record format in 1949. Those smaller, lighter records quickly became the format of choice for later jukebox models. Thanks for your comment!

[@michaeloleary1867]

Awesome!

[@GracevilleMN]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@johnm893]

so beautiful.......

[@GracevilleMN]

Glad you liked it! Thank you!

[@coolbluelights]

Wow! Outstanding! I was never much into record changers being a radio guy myself, but your videos are warming me up to them. Can I suggest in future videos you show the amplifier and speaker? Thanks!

[@GracevilleMN]

That's a very good idea-including amplifier and speaker details. I'll try to do that in the future. I'm not a radio guy, but I wish I could do my own electronic restorations. There are a few details on this forum-scroll down about halfway to see amplifier pictures: forum.talkingmachine.info/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=16890&hilit=orchestrope&start=20 Thanks for the nice comments!

[@coolbluelights]

GracevilleMN Thanks for the link, that was interesting :) the phrase "talking machine" reminds me of my grandma, she used to call tape recorders "talking machines" she was born in 1906 so the 1920s and 30s were her youthful days. sadly she passed before my obsession with that time period really developed. man the conversations we could have if she was still around today...

[@shmily13]

I wanna come see it its amazing

[@GracevilleMN]

It's lots of fun! Thanks for your comment!

[@jebburress3805]

AWESOME!!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for your comment!

[@jacquylenoir9097]

C'est honteux de ne pas entretenir un tel appareil 😢

[@na3044]

Love that singing in the rain version... 1929 Gus Arnheim, isn't it?

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes it is! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment!

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

This is stunning, but what about the needles? Needles have to changed after every side, let alone 56.. How does it deal with that problem?

[@GracevilleMN]

Capehart instructions advised using tungsten needles (Victor Tungs-Tone name brand) which was classified as a semi-permanent needle, capable of playing 100-150 sides with little groove wear. The coin needles I use are a compromise, with a hard tip capable of playing several hundred sides, but with more record wear. You'd definitely not play your precious records on this, but 1940's era records stand up surprisingly well considering the weight of the pickup. Back in the day I figure the records would be changed out frequently and likely discarded! Thanks for your questions!

[@stephrdt2054]

Une merveille de technologie !

[@GracevilleMN]

C'est certainement! Merci pour le commentaire!

[@iamrichrocker]

where did you find this? and did you restore this beauty? another rare piece of history....

[@GracevilleMN]

This was bought in unrestored condition at an auction in Media, Pennsylvania, about ten years ago. The restoration occurred over 4 years, with some work by myself but mostly by electronic and cabinet specialists. Thanks!

[@tarstarkusz]

You have to wonder just how profitable this machine was. 25,000 plays. That would be about 1,700 hours of playing time. That doesn't include record costs, maintenance, electricity cost and floor space. Presumably it's in a public space and taking up room where a table could be. The timing of 1930 means it will spend its commercial life entirely during the Great Depression.

[@AudioMobil]

What an amazing machine! They really simplified the mechanics on the Amperion compared to this one. Okay, the Orchestrope holds up to 28 records, which was useful as a Jukebox but otherwise the Amperion does the same job?

[@GracevilleMN]

+AudioMobil You're exactly right! In fact, the Amperion changer is more commonly found in coin-up jukeboxes. The reduced record capacity was an easy trade-off in making such a simpler and cheaper changer. Thanks for your comments and question!

[@bornhoffer]

What type of needle were one supposed to use with this machine? Tungsten? Sapphire?

[@GracevilleMN]

The Capehart operator's manual specifies Tungsten needles. Thanks for your question!

[@tinpanally51_36]

Where was this amazing machine made. If you took care of this player how long did it last ,?

[@GracevilleMN]

This machine was made in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This machine should last for a very long time, as it was built with very strong components. Thanks for your comments!

[@dawnzephyr]

It truly is a beautiful and well built machine. So, what happens if someone tries to insert a nickel when the play counter is at 20?

[@GracevilleMN]

That's a very good question! The nickel would drop, the counter would click without advancing, and then in an hour or so later, if the patron was keeping exact count, could supposedly demand his/her nickel back from the proprietor! :-) I wonder how often this happened! This unit is down for service right now, but I'll give it try when it's up and running again! Thanks, this has me pondering!!

[@PhaQ2]

@@GracevilleMN So what was the verdict? Did it rob you of your nickel?

[@samuelfellows6923]

😁 ~ that it had no plays indicator ~ not knowing how many you needed to pay it,

[@neilmansfield8329]

A great jukebox

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaellennon13]

Just curious. How this process of flipping, sliding, reloading the record again and again can be made avoiding scratches on the record?

[@GracevilleMN]

Good question! There's no doubt that there's some amount of surface abrasion happening with hundreds of record-changing cycles, but the major wear happens with the heavy horseshoe magnet pickup. Any rare or treasured records shouldn't be played on this! That said, common records of the WW II era last a fairly long time before they're too worn to sound good. Keep in mind that back in the day the records would be changed out on a frequent schedule, so record wear was not as important an issue. Thanks for your comment!

[@michaellennon13]

@@GracevilleMN thanks for your reply 😉

[@jeffreyyoung4104]

The owner would have to get 25,000 nickles to cover the cost of the unit! That is a lot of plays on the unit, and if it broke and needed repairs, what a cost! But it is a beautiful machine!

[@HaggisCat1]

Just love this old mechanical stuff, it must weigh near 300 pounds or more ?

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, more!!😉 Thanks for comment!

[@superheterodi]

wow!!!!.🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@GracevilleMN]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment!

[@superheterodi]

@@GracevilleMN thanks to you...for this video!!! És fantàstic!!! Regards from Catalonia!!!!

[@Nico93]

the sound head looks heavy on the record but is not?

[@GracevilleMN]

The weight is pretty heavy, much more than modern tone arms. I use duplicate records from my collection, as the record wear is unavoidable. Thanks for the question!

[@Nico93]

+GracevilleMN the tone arm has a great sound quality, shame its heavy on them.

[@makyhsmakyhs6766]

Please is turntable turnover on both sides ?

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, the Orchestrope plays 28 single sides in sequence, flipping each record afterward and then plays the other sides. Thanks for your question!

[@makyhsmakyhs6766]

@@GracevilleMN thanks a lot , unfortunately, many people even the antique radiophils have no information about the turntable turnover changer on both sides ! 🤔

[@DaveTexas]

Geez, that’s, what, 25,000 plays at a nickel each just to recoup the cost of the thing? I wonder how many of these were sold.

[@dougg1075]

Nearly 20k in 2020

[@robfriedrich2822]

So you could stack the records that some of them plays in the second cycle the A side.

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, after the A sides the changer plays the B sides, and then the entire cycle repeats. Thanks for the question!

[@moow950]

Ah, the 1930s jukebox

[@cholofromperu]

how much does it cost ?

[@GracevilleMN]

+cholofromperu Non-working examples of this can range from about 1-2 thousand dollars. There's quite an additional expense restoring the mechanics, electronics and cabinetry. So I guess the answer would be "a tidy sum!"Thanks for your question!

[@themovietheatre]

4:26 $18,862.72 in today's money or 75 cents a play. This machine needed lots of volume to pay for its self. (a new pinball machine costs $8,000).

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, paying a nickel for a tune back in 1930 was quite a commitment! Thanks for the comment!

[@davidk6271]

Designed either by a maniac or a genius

[@dawnzephyr]

I was bored, and did the math. $1250 comes out to 25,000 nickels. That’s how many plays would recoup the cost. If you assume three minutes per play, the maximum length for the 10” 78rpm, that’s 75,000 minutes. Divide by 60 minutes in an hour, and you’re back to your initial 1250. So, playing nonstop, you’d pay off $1 per hour of use, and finally see a return after 1,250 hours of playtime.

[@GracevilleMN]

Yep, that's a lot of nickels, records and tunes! Thanks for the calculations!

[@robfriedrich2822]

Interesting to see, how different the units changed the records. The record changer from the 60's are pretty boring.

[@dougg1075]

26k nickels

[@jsl151850b]

Robotics!! 25,000 nickles. Playing 3 minutes per disk including loading and unloading each disk... 52 days of operation to earn back that $1250. It's getting paid $1.00 per hour.

[@GracevilleMN]

A dollar an hour back in 1930 would be considered very good! Thanks for your comments!

[@garymattscheck9066]

Just the thing for a millionaire's digs!

[@GracevilleMN]

You're right!😉 Thanks for the comment!

[@sopaman1234]

$1250.00 in 1930 vs 2024 would equal about $23,562.57 in 2024 today's dollars.. That is a lot of nickles..

[@GracevilleMN]

@@sopaman1234 Yes, this machine was pretty pricey back in the day! Thanks for your comment!

[@neilforbes416]

The discs predate RCA's buying the Victor Talking Machine company. Victor used the "Nipper"(Dog & Gramophone) trademark under licence from the trademark's owner, The Gramophone Company of England. When, in 1929 RCA bought Victor, they should've only got the pant in Camden, New Jersey, and the Victor name, no more. The Dog & Gramophone should've reverted to The Gramophone Co. RCA had it's own trademark(the button logo with the lightning bolt trailing off the 'A' and outside the circle. It is this button trademark, RCA's own that should've replaced the Dog & Gramophone when the label became RCA-Victor. The next time America and Canada saw the Dog & Gramophone trademark should've been 1955 when EMI(merger of The Gramophone Co., and Columbia Graphophone Co.) bought out all but a few percent of Capitol Industries to make it a US subsidiary - a VERY JUNIOR MEMBER of the EMI group, so that when the "British Invasion" hit in the early 1960s, EMI would have the His Master's Voice imprint to carry The Beatles, Lulu, Herman's Hermits, Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas, Manfred Mann, The Hollies and others all under one brand instead of them being "farmed out" to other lesser labels. As well as these acts, some great Aussie acts like The Easybeats, Johnny Farnham, Bev Harrell, Axiom, Ted Mulry, The Master's Apprentices and others could've given America and Canada lessons on how to make REAL rock music!