Capehart Amperion Record Changer (1930) A Detailed Look

[@2574mcu]

I love these old record changers. Its amazing how much mechanics are involved just to change or flip a record

[@kfl611]

Designed for the wealthy having parties or dinner parties, load up your records and play music for a few hours with out having to get up and touch a thing. Or I suppose you could have the butler or maid do it manually.......

[@Muswell]

Absolutely wonderful. . A nice slow record-delivery glide & I love that little arm that comes across just to push the record back into place in the stack. A brilliant piece of engineering..

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you liked it! This is such a reliable changer that it hasn't mishandled a single record since restoration. Thanks for the comments!

[@Muswell]

GracevilleMN So the underside of the record & label don't get marked as it slides over the point of the spindle?

[@Muswell]

Do you know - were any in operation in the UK?

[@GracevilleMN]

I've seen advertisements in French, but don't know if these ever made it to the UK. Maybe someone can comment. Thanks for the question!

[@GracevilleMN]

I never thought of that, so I went back just now to look. The record stays horizontal clearing the spindle until the last inch or so, where the spindle makes slight contact with the record as it drops into place. There's no sign of spindle marks or wear around the label hole, so it handles them pretty well. Thanks for the question!

[@WAYNENYC100]

A world without Plastic. A true work of art. Great job on the video.

[@GracevilleMN]

@@WAYNENYC100 I so glad you enjoyed it! Thank very much!

[@robbiecrosbie4506]

the fact it's still going strong all these years is testament to how well built it is. not like these plastic things today

[@gracevillemn3445]

Very true, although with this changer the pot metal housing of the turntable motor needed servicing before it would run again. Fortunately I found an electric motor company that was able to fix it like new! Thanks for your comment!

[@kfl611]

I think people who invent things like this that actually work - are pure genius........I want one.

[@maximotadlas1316]

Oh! What a genius of a man inventing this beautiful piece of musical equipment

[@GracevilleMN]

I agree! Thanks for your nice comment!

[@stanleycostello9610]

Many husbands were impressed with the sound and the wives were impressed with the beautiful cabinetry. Beautiful machine, beautiful videograpy. Once again, my congratulations.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you very much! I enjoyed restoring this phonograph and making the video!

[@JohnnyMarsden]

Started off slow..Was afraid it was going to be another KZbin Slide Show. Then it got in gear (figuratively & literally) and turned into one masterpiece of a video. Many thanks, it's stunning.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks for the nice comments! It's a fun machine and I enjoyed making the video!

[@calderarecords]

MERCURY Switch? Man this things a beast!

[@GracevilleMN]

Sure! Something you'd never see in any modern equipment! Thanks for the comment!

[@thrillscience]

Beautiful machine and great video! Thanks for showing us how this 30s technology worked.

[@robertanzalone5853]

A work of art! So many components working together perfectly.

[@GracevilleMN]

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

[@alanspagnolia9474]

How awesome ! How beautiful !! Being a depression-era phonograph, couldn't have sold too many of these !! Probably didn't make alot of them, either. Bet'cha this was a VERY expensive piece of machinery, back in the day. Thank you for sharing your tutorial, and getting to watch this in action !!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

+alan spagnolia I'm so glad you enjoyed it! It's my pleasure! Thanks for the nice comments!

[@alzamonart]

I just had to run the prices (across the 2:55 mark) through an inflation calculator. For example, the Model 7's asking $330 price is roughly equivalent to almost $5,000 today! Even with the simplified mechanism, the Capehart was hardly a popular choice for music reproduction, and with the Great Depression kicking in, it definitely became a sales failure. One can just imagine what amounts of engineering and craftsmanship went into each of these, and it's great to see some of these machines withstand the test of time. Thanks!

[@robfriedrich2822]

The first long play disc failed in 1931. But 1948, when light weight pickups with gemstone stylus exists, it was different

[@makyhsmakyhs6766]

1930 wow.. wow.. fantastic 👍👏

[@GracevilleMN]

Yay. I'm glad you liked it! Thanks!

[@makyhsmakyhs6766]

@@GracevilleMN I could not imagine that such technology of the record changer was invented that early at 1930 by infamous brand like Capehart, even zineth and philco and the other famous brands did not invent such technology as far as I know at 1930 ! its also wonderfully restored as new set, thanks 👍

[@AudioMobil]

Beautiful! The way it flips the record over and plays the next one looks so simple but it is a masterpiece of engineering for sure!

[@GracevilleMN]

+AudioMobil Yes, it's quite a marvel! Built like a tank too! Thanks for your comments!

[@lookoutleo]

beautifully made informitive video that needs no voiceovers . the shots of the mechanism are fascinating , the audio is brilliant, cant get the tunes out of my head, im going to find and download the tunes on this and your video on the rca victor machine to play in my car :) your videos should have millions of hits

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks for the very nice comments! I enjoy putting these up.

[@marthalyonsknityourselfhap9147]

Just amazing technology! From 1930! Genius.

[@GracevilleMN]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@madmanmechanic8847]

I do Marine repair and I am a cert Auto Tech the mechanics of this went way over my head . My jaw literly dropped watching the whole video I was shocked astonished and they did it the design my hand some draftsman drew this all with out a computer WOW !

[@jtcarrey]

I didn’t know these existed until yesterday and I am just in awe of them, all the many beautiful designs, I would love to own one, I have so many records that need to be played!

[@gunnarthefeisty]

And yet, very gentle!

[@swingsc]

What a fabulous machine a joy to see and hear.

[@GracevilleMN]

+Phil Binstead Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it! I had a good time restoring it and doing the demo video.

[@pcallas66]

An engineering masterpiece.

[@GracevilleMN]

It really is! Thanks for your comment!

[@pcallas66]

GracevilleMN You're welcome.

[@alanspagnolia9474]

Overwhelmingly a phonograph of great beauty and brains !! Ahead of it's time for 1930 !! This must have cost, brand new, MORE than a brand new car !!

[@philipchretienkarlsson8157]

Incredible: compared to other, later record changers, it looks quite easy to operate ! 1930...

[@GracevilleMN]

It's quite nicely-designed! Thanks for your comment!

[@sell196]

fantastic !!!!!!! thanks for this film !!!!!!!! collector from Belgium !!

[@GracevilleMN]

+marcel van wauwe Thank you very much! I hope you check out my other videos, including this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWTCdIR3m7aChJo

[@nestor8369]

That is very beautiful record player cabinet im surprised it's in Good shape very nice item Also a lot of stuff was metal and wood and brass around that time

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@RaymondTVinyl]

Just Beautiful!!! Thank you for sharing!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@mrjason9382]

Beautiful engineering

[@TerryMcKean]

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

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you!

[@Idelia412]

Bob, nice video, never knew you had gotten this Capehart. I just searched your screen name and found this along with several other interesting videos! Nice Job!

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

So cool. Thanks for the good video and captions.

[@GracevilleMN]

You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@vinyladict8264]

Simply...BEAUTIFUL!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@michaelhudecek2778]

Unbelievable, amazing and stupendous!!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

Glad you liked it! It's fun to watch, and hasn't mishandled a record yet!

[@magnapearl9506]

Brilliantly made!

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@cenzurauva]

Wow! How nice, really beautiful, you are lucky owner this Masterpiece. Thanks for video. :)

[@GracevilleMN]

+cenzurauva Thank you very much! I hope you check out my other videos, including this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWTCdIR3m7aChJo

[@evanstj5]

Real neat.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@mystiksc]

lovely.

[@GracevilleMN]

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

[@CamhiRichard]

Fascinating. Looks like it can only deal with one size record, probably 10". Or perhaps other sizes can be played manually?

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, it only plays ten- inch records. Thanks for the comment!

[@CamhiRichard]

@@GracevilleMN And thanks for the answer! Interesting, in that it means the changer was primarily designed to play pop music on 10" discs, not classical, which usually was recorded on 12" discs.

[@springmotor70]

Another great one! - Very good job! - thanks for posting.

[@GracevilleMN]

My pleasure! Thanks!

[@muffs55mercury61]

Being a DJ in 1930 was still a relatively new thing. Not all of these were bought by radio stations I'm sure but it made their job easier rather than handling records all the time and risking breakage.

[@mikekeech9718]

Plays wonderful.

[@GracevilleMN]

+mike keech Thank you! I just listened to it this morning!

[@neilmansfield8329]

This is a great jukebox

[@GracevilleMN]

It's a lot of fun to operate! Thanks for the nice comment!

[@rocketaroo]

Very cool, seems a more gentle changer mechanism

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you like it! It's never damaged a record in all the time I've had it. Thanks for your comment!

[@johntyjp]

very well presented!!!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@musicglobal5908]

this is ray noble and his orchestra with the freshmen on vocals [not al bowly] victor no 25070A

[@gravityissues5210]

What triggers the automatic trip when the tone-arm is in the lead-out? These old changers seem to circle the locked groove a few times before the cycle starts, which makes me think it's not positional, but something about the back-and-forth movement of the tonearm. But I can't visualize how that would work.

[@GracevilleMN]

That's a good question! The back-and-forth motion of the tone arm does indeed trigger the changer as you've figured. There's a knife-blade and toothed ratchet underneath that catches when the needle is in its outward swing-usually the first time around, but sometimes needing an extra revolution or two. This changer, like many other types, will also trip when the the lead-out groove moves rapidly towards the fixed groove near the label. This is to accommodate non-Victor records lacking the eccentric leadout groove. You'll find some detail in another of my videos at timeline 2:12 here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bmizaKuvnKmWqZI Thanks for your question!

[@jacquylenoir9097]

Magnifique appareil, dommage qu'i y manque un sérieux entretien

[@DandyDon1]

Does the Bodine turntable motor have brushes?

[@wgrantha4438]

Beautiful piece of USA made goodness

[@GracevilleMN]

It really is! Thanks for your comment!

[@robfriedrich2822]

It plays one sides of the stack and the other sides after, so your compilation could be created the way, that it doesn't have a boring second part.

[@VictorPhonographs]

Awesome, as usual!

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidisabella6750]

A lot of people believe the erroneous rumor that the 33 1/3 debuted in 1948. That's not true. Another thing that's essential about your 1931 RCA and 1930 Capehart units is that they can play the 33 1/3's which were new tech at the time. A lot of people had 78rpm only players then. Your Capehart is a component type which was more like the PRO audio phonographs of that time. Rather than having its own onboard amplifier, it connects to a separate amplifier... Which is more high end. I remember learning that stereo recievers evolved from radios in the 1930's that came with an "audio in" aux input that a phonograph or other audio device could be connected to for the sake of utilizing the radio's amplifier. This was the infancy of what would eventually turn out to be a "stereo receiver." You own some serious audiophile units from the golden age of high end audio.

[@ds99]

The only time I’ve seen a mercury switch in use is in those old thermostats. Quite interesting. I’m amazed at how perfectly aligned everything is. Even if it was off by a second there’d be an issue. There had to be several people doing the analysis on the creation of this. The machine still works, but the brains that gave life to the machine are all gone which makes it creepy but mystifying.

[@GracevilleMN]

Thanks for your comments! It's a pleasure to be able to restore these old changers and watch how they operate. They're really quite remarkable!

[@michaelmckenna6464]

Thank you for the post. I Absolutely love watching old changers playing. Is that a horseshoe magnetic pickup? How often does it need to be magnetized? Have a great day.

[@GracevilleMN]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Yes, it's a horseshoe pickup. I don't know the practical time limitations on the magnet, but don't expect to have to re-magnetize it for many years ahead! Thanks for the comments!

[@cricketrecords]

Does this use regular steel needles or a special type of needle?

[@GracevilleMN]

+cricketrecords Back in the day Capehart recommended a tungten-tipped needle. I use a new old stock Permo-point coin needle currently in this. Thanks for the question!

[@musicglobal5908]

do you know what the title of the first record is ? thanks.

[@GracevilleMN]

The first tune is an excerpt from Victor Record #22444-B: "My Future Just Passed," performed by the Victor in-house orchestra "The High-Hatters." Thanks for the question!

[@robfriedrich2822]

Does this also require the Victor lead out groove?

[@GracevilleMN]

This changer can handle a spiral or eccentric Victor leadout groove, so most most record brands will work. Thanks for the question!

[@sundayanalog589]

Sweet

[@Narayan_1996]

Name of the first song playing here?

[@GracevilleMN]

The song title is "My Future Just Passed" played by The High Hatters on the Victor label. Here's a KZbin link to the full recording. Thanks for the question! kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2nIamp8ZtempLM

[@Narayan_1996]

@@GracevilleMN OMG, Thank you so much! You've made my day!

[@robfriedrich2822]

When a album of shellac records follows the order, that side one has side eight on the back, side two side seven, side three side six and side four side five, this unit cannot play the records in the suggested order.

[@GracevilleMN]

You're right about that! Another limitation was that this unit could only play ten-inch records. Thanks for your comment!

[@robfriedrich2822]

12" is almost classic and so it wouldn't fit the needs for people who buy classic albums. But for popular music it's fine. Especially when you want the music itself without any interruption. By assembling the stack, you can decide, what A sides comes first.

[@mrob75]

I think this is awesome! I'm wondering about the needle...Some vintage audiophiles claim that the needle should be switched out after ever play. This "Amperion" seems to dispel this idea. Can anyone confirm, please? (Thanks GracevillMN for this fascinating upload!)

[@GracevilleMN]

Glad you liked it ! Capehart recommended using a tungsten needle (marketed by RCA Victor as "Tungs-Tone"). Under the best conditions several dozen record sides could supposedly be played with no more wear than a one-time steel needle. A "Permo Point" osmium-tipped needle is what is used in the demo video. It's designed for coin jukeboxes of the era, and while it does a good job, there's more record wear than with lighter pickups. Records with harder shellac surfaces (1925-1935) stand up best. It's not for playing treasured records! :)

[@springmotor70]

Mrob, As mentioned above the needles used for this demo and what as intended for use in changers were multi-play styli. The tungs-tone stylus actually has a small tungsten wire mounted at its tip. The wire is the same width of the groove so it will wear away or down rather than get wider... What you have heard from others about changing needles are steel needles. These indeed are single play needles and should be changed each time. The steel tip wears quickly and will quickly wear out shellac records is continued to be used let alone will create poor sound reproduction as well. Graceville, Will the Capehart pick up set down gentle enough for a cactus needle? But that might wear too much before that large of a stack makes it though....

[@GracevilleMN]

springmotor70 The set down is gentle enough, but you're right about the cactus needle not wearing long enough through a stack of records. Also, the output volume is less than the metal coin needle. Treble is quite muffled too.

[@brandonmackey5209]

A marvel of engineering! I, too, love the way the metal finger quickly and efficiently moves the just played record into its place. I have always known that America doesn't seem to appreciate its thousands on engineering marvels, but I just really thought about what junk is manufactured today compared to the engineering of ages past, usually. Thank you for posting this well made and thought provoking video.

[@bobskie321]

The mechanisms of early record changer are extremely complex and very expensive until somebody had an ingenious idea by dropping one record on top of the other rather than literally changed them.

[@julianthecollector8604]

Were did you get this from

[@GracevilleMN]

This came from Ohio, sold on Ebay about three years ago. Thanks for the question!

[@robfriedrich2822]

Scratching the records included?

[@GracevilleMN]

No extra charge! ;-) Thanks for commenting!

[@luisreyes1963]

The long gone days of American-Made home entertainment devices.

[@GracevilleMN]

Yes, too bad to have given so much away! Thanks for your comment!

[@julianthecollector8604]

I want to buy this

[@julianthecollector8604]

can this play 12 inch records

[@GracevilleMN]

I only just came across your question! Sorry for the delay! No, this player/changer only handles 10-inch records. Thanks for the question!

[@zack4382]

It's one of the most great mechanic design, GOD, what kind of brains are they? but, the only thing that I realized is that record player can work on the sizes 10 and 12 only and it doesn't work on the records of seven inches size.

[@GracevilleMN]

Actually this changer will only play 10-inch records! This changer was more often installed in jukeboxes. Thanks for your comments!

[@LNeFormas]

Isso é da época em que os homens faziam invenções extraordinárias. E que os homens de hoje simplesmente descartaram e trocaram por porcarias de pouca duração.

[@Nico93]

alot of victor label titles there.

[@jodysmith7934]

This is a very nice record player the thing that I would be worried about is if that mercury switch the bottle was to bust because mercury is very dangerous!!!!

[@spacemissing]

Mercury isn't anywhere near as dangerous as some people want you to believe. Think of how many people have briefly played with it and suffered No effects. Plus, in normal use of the turntable, breakage of the capsule should Never happen.

[@JumbleTasteSpinning]

Remarkable machine! Today they just can not make this anymore. People were more smart back then. Today they are all lazy.

[@GracevilleMN]

The old technology is fascinating! Thanks for your comment!