Repair of Zenith record player - portable1958

[@mrob75]

Hi Atco...Super nice video. I like the way you went step-by-step and the use of the red arrows are extremely helpful. This video is an inspiration to reluctant repair novices. I wonder what the $15 guy would say if he saw it up and running as smoothly as it is now ? :--)

[@atco21117]

Colin - I'll tell ya, there are some really smart people with electronic knowledge that have given classes on KZbin. But, if you have little experience with vintage electronics, some of these guys can go too deep into theory and make you loose interest. I would advise to look for videos about repairing old tube radios (40s-early 60s). They're relatively simple, and can be bought cheap at a hamfest $5-$25 depending condition. Give it a shot man, what can you loose? See ya -- Atco .

[@johnm893]

very nice.....i always like to watch the 45 adapter being used instead of those cheapy plastic yellow inserts, that is no fun to watch.....great job.

[@atco21117]

Thanks Glen - yeah, everything just fell in place on this repair. Wish my kitchen/dining room remodel would go as smooth (ha ha). I might just go for that cartridge. Can you give me an address or website of who you use as a supplier for your parts? -- Atco

[@frangiul13]

Nice machine, and great description of your repair!!

[@johnm893]

yes i find it really spine tingling...the record drops the platter stops then the tone arm drops on the record then it starts...and also it will play any size same speed record in a stack.

[@tough213]

what a great video there is nothing that in my opinion that comes close to the quality and reliability of vintage audio electronics that era was a time when companies cared and took great pride in there goods and wanted people to enjoy them and be happy now it is all throw away .what a shame . thank you for the great video and keep them coming

[@atco21117]

Yes, at least in my area 1970s stereo electronic is on demand. In Europe, even more demand there. For me, I like that 70s stuff the best, but it seems that anything with tubes can be sold within hours once posted on Craigslist. I don't think today's electronics will be very collectable in 30 years, do you? Thanks for your comment, Tough. See ya -- Atco

[@tough213]

well the vintage gear will always be more superior to the crap like crosley for example . Garrard and fisher and webcor as well as motorola and zenith and b/o and teac as well as akai and many others are the best nothing can compare to the vintage sound and quality .the only other stuff that is good is hafler and mmcintosh but who can affor them not many but they are great .you really have a great amount of great stuff there and I will be digging into your videos to see them all and I am sure I will enjoy them . Keep them coming

[@johnm893]

thaks for the reply.....i have a wonderful glasser steers 77 and i love it i bought from a real nice guy markcomer....i play it everyday for hrs and hrs especially 45s this adapter is made out of metal......i truly want to be able to have a tabletop rca 4spd.50s lght blu.and white i have found memories of my aunt having one.

[@gregoryclemen1870]

I would not worry about the money that you have in this unit, it is well worth it!!!. you have something that will last another 50+ years. back in the day when zenith built this, it was designed to be repaired, not thrown away, unlike what we get from china today. I got into electronic repair back in the mid 1970's. I got a hold of an R.C.A. mod. 45EY2( 1950) 45 R.P.M. record player( feb. 2018), it turned into a total rebuild. the record changer had to be torn all the way down, both idler/ record change cycle wheels had to be rebuilt( 35 dollars each). the record stacker assy. had to be rebuilt, the motor mount grommets were "DUST", and everything was re- lubricated( oil on the motor , and lithium grease where required on other sliding parts). on the amp side, I did a re- cap, and most resistors had to be replaced( drifted up in value- this is common for carbon resistors with age to do that) all the tubes were original( tested good). to top things off , the pickup cartridge was dead, that had to be replaced, now it operates like it was "taken out of the box". this has a bakelite case with no cracks in it. bakelite gives off a wonderful scent when it gets warm from the tubes( same tube compliment as your zenith) I have 170 dollars wrapped up in this unit that has been brought back to its former glory!!!! have a great day!!!!, do everything you can from letting this "VINTAGE STUFF" from going to the "LAND FILLS"!!!!! (they do not belong there).

[@atco21117]

Hi Frangiul13 - thanks for your nice comment. -- Atco

[@DamusicianReturns]

Great job fixing it up!

[@larryshaver3568]

i recently bought a Magnavox stereo portable with a hum.

[@frangiul13]

Quite Welcome. You've got a great channel. Love your vids!! Regards, Frank ;)

[@larryshaver3568]

which tube did you replace ,the 35w4? that seems quite logical as bad rectifier can cause alot of hum

[@larryshaver3568]

Magnavox used that same changer for a while

[@atco21117]

Thanks Damusician! -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

which tube did you replace?

[@markcovington8159]

Hey Atco. Other than things like old record players, tape players, radios, etc., do you also fix things like old computers?

[@atco21117]

Mark Covington Hi Mark - I started my KZbin channel from uploading videos of my vintage computer museum. Look for those in my channel (the oldest ones out there). In the 90s I had a job to maintain the computers of a 200 person company. Maybe the most fun job I've ever had. See ya -- Atco

[@Musicradio77Network]

Nice record player, this was one of the Zenith record player that did not have an in-house Zenith record changer with the Cobramatic, it uses a VM changer instead of the Cobramatic one. There was also the same record player that had a Cobramatic changer.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

been watching E repair vids for a couple years now, and just now saw this. not 3 minutes in ... pretty impressed, and wish I could function as well as a drunken person. :) this drunken person.. a pirate in my own mind.

[@atco21117]

I just wanted to see if I could repair a 50s record player. Not much to it, and used it for a couple years. Then put it on Craigslist. Within 2 days I had an offer for it. Guy drove 75 miles to my house to pick it up. It was for his 13 year old daughter for her birthday. She wanted one! See ya -- Atco

[@billodonnell7975]

did you have any problem getting the large gear on the bottom to rotate cleanly? I have the same record player. mine spins smoothly for about half way, then it seems like it's a little more stuck. Thanks for the video.

[@atco21117]

Hi Bill - It's been awhile since I worked with it, and I have sold it. I know it did something similar when I bought it. Everything was gummed up. But, cleaned and properly oiled it seemed to work OK. I know some have flat spots that will stall the turntable. Mine had been working enough that I didn't have that issue after I cleaned everything. I don't know much about these things, just like to tinker with 'em as I do with many of my items. See ya -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

there's one like it on ebay now

[@larryshaver3568]

I'm thinking about getting an Airline record plyer with a similar changer and wiring it for stereo to use as a stopgap while I'm fixing my micromatic

[@atco21117]

Sounds like a good project! All the best to ya on it Larry. See ya -- Atco

[@j.pablop.1998]

Absolutely wonderful job!! Congrats! 😉😉

[@atco21117]

Thanks JP! -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

i have a vm changer with a tubular tonearm that i cleaned the underside of by spraying liquid wrench on but i don't know if that will make a difference

[@atco21117]

Hi Larry - it sounds like your charger has is a lot of old oil on it. After awhile it turns into glue. Strong spray seems to help, but just a while. I have had to pull out all the mechanism and clear it by hand to really clean the old stuff out. A pain for sure. -- Atco

[@spencerbergquist781]

That's a VM turntable inside of a Zenith product. I wonder if they were interchangable, or was that not original ?

[@lizkrinsky5209]

That's original. I got my brother a tabletop Zenith hi-fi from the same year with a similar set-up that uses the same VM turntable mechanism. They were not all Cobramatics. That is original to the unit.

[@mjanovec]

Go to the Voice of Music website. The guys there are really helpful and have all the right cartridges for these record players. (While your record player is branded as a Zenith, the actual record changer is a VM model...stands for Voice of Music.) Nice video by the way!

[@larryshaver3568]

I just replaced the caps in my astro sonic receiver[audio driver board only] it sounds SO much better

[@atco21117]

Super! -- Atco

[@atco21117]

John, aren't those the ones that the turntable doesn't move until the tonearm hits the record? I saw one of those once before. What a great idea. Wonder why they don't all do that? -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

that sounds amazing

[@atco21117]

Hi John - Yeah, not only was that Zenith in good shape on the outside, but when I saw the original 45 adapter with it, I had to grab it. So many of the original adapters are gone. Thanks for your comment! -- Atco

[@fredroper398]

found the exact turntable its a voice of music they where famous for not jamming like the BSR zenith bought the rights to use these that turntable inspired me to look for it she is a nice machine dont let it go

[@atco21117]

Steve, for me the hardest of a restoration is the outside cabinet. I have know knowledge of how to get those cabinets back in shape. So when I saw this Zenith looking so clean, I had to grab it and bring that one back to working condition again. See ya -- Atco

[@1530FDR]

sounds good i have a cobra matic and i outfitted it with a shure magnetic cartridge and use a preamp for it will be looking for and old junk suitecase so i can take the tube amp out but hang on to the zenith as there hard to find

[@seeburgsrock]

Nice feeling when it all comes together, eh?! One last improvement....change the cartridge. Quality of sound will improve even more! Good job!

[@tylerellis7574]

I have one that works. What's it worth approximately?

[@atco21117]

Hi Tyler - It's funny, with old electronics the value jumps up and down every couple years or so. When I sold mine, I wanted to sell it quick and put $50 on Craigslist. 2 days later I guy drove down 75 miles to buy it for his daughter. I keep an eye on the market often. A nice 50s/early 60s like my Zenith will go $75-$125 in my area. 1970s stereo equipment is hot too. And IBM PC, an Apple 2 or early Mac are hot and sell twice what they were even 5 years ago. On the other side though, Commodores and Atari PCs, or Atari video games are down. I used to pick up an old Commodore or Atari 2600 for a fast resell. Right now, no demand so value is low. See ya -- Atco

[@atco21117]

Hi Eddie - Afraid I don't know whether the Cobra tone arm was used with the Zenith. Thanks for watching! -- Atco

[@Beatlecat1]

You're a genius, Atco. If not for you, that record player would have probably been thrown in the garbage can.

[@fredroper398]

who built the record player that record player was built for zenith its the record player i love

[@atco21117]

+Fred Roper Hi Fred - Hmm.. I don't know. Actually, I would have thought Zenith did it by their own manufacture, but I never looked into it before. Sorry. -- Atco

[@jerickzane]

+Fred Roper It's a voice of music record changer. they used them in alot of different brands, Westinghouse, Bradford, etc... j~

[@tectalabyss]

Hello Atco. I had no ideal you did videos. Very well done. I subscribed,shared and liked. I hope the see more videos from your channel. All the best. Bobby

[@atco21117]

***** Glad to have you in my channel Bobby! See ya -- Atco

[@atco21117]

Yeah, I'd like to show him that too! Thanks for your nice comment. -- Atco

[@atco21117]

Thank you Mjanovec for giving me that info. I'll check it out! -- Atco

[@dh1ao]

thanks for sharing your repair work on this classic piece of mechanics and electronics. Nice work Peter

[@SunsetGraffiti]

THANKYOU for walking through that the way you did, and the pics were really helpful. Your channel might be my new time vacuum.

[@atco21117]

Hi David - Sometimes it's good to see something shot live, but the video often get's just too long. I try to get the info out using pics and info when I can so I can keep the video as short as possible. I appreciate your comment! Thanks -- Atco

[@gerryroberts662]

I watch all your videos.. I love the things you work on...i have the same things you got for stereos.. I have a record cutter.. but having trouble making the cutter work ?? any ideas..

[@atco21117]

Wow, a record cutter? Cool! No, I never did any work on those. But, it would be fun to try to get one working! I've got a KZbin friend that bought one a year or two ago. Not sure how far he got with his, but might have some help with ya or at least know who else you can get some help from. His name is Benjamin. His email is [e-mail]. Tell him you're a subscriber of Atco and got your name from me. He's a great guy. Good luck -- Atco

[@1530FDR]

Turntable what a excellent smooth operation, The mechanical of these is so good even after this many years even the amp how much work the tubes did do in some cases volume and tone can be done using 1 tube

[@atco21117]

1530FDR Hi 1530 - You can always here better sound coming out of a tube amp as opposed a transistor. See ya -- Atco

[@impala966]

I like it, if you change the 50C5 tube for a 50EH5 its a best sound fidelity

[@atco21117]

BelAir966 Hi Bel - I've bought a couple boxes of tubes over the last summer hamfests. Wouldn't be surprised that I've got one. I'll keep an eye on that. Thanks for the tip. -- Atco

[@Anyone553]

Very nice video!!!! Somebody's junk, your treasure!!! Nice little record player!!

[@atco21117]

Hi Jimmy - It's cool to get something running again that would have gone to the dump. I kept this for a couple years and just lately sold it on Craigslist. The buyer drove 85 miles to pick it up. Said it was for his 13 year old daughter. She was there in the car waiting for it. I felt good selling it to them. They will use it! See ya -- Atco

[@1530FDR]

the tweed on the outside speaker covering great shape reduing and RCA had to remove old covering was torn and riped but got cloth that matches hang on to that not many zeniths left

[@atco21117]

Any of the Zenith electronics of the 50s and 60s are always worth restoring! See ya -- Atco

[@atco21117]

I appreciate that Peter, thanks! -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

Did you check under the platter,there may be issues there.

[@atco21117]

Hi Larry - I took the platter out and cleaned it. Things looked good other then cleaning. I enjoyed the repair and used the record player in my game room for awhile, then packed it into the basement to make space for some other things in the game room. I rarely store things, and when I saw the player still being stored, I realized it's time for someone else to enjoy it. I put it out on Craigslist for $50 and a guy drove 75 miles from his home to mine to buy it. I had my fun with it, and it looks like just what he needed for his game room. See ya -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

sometimes the idler shaft might need cleaning

[@williamhelms9942]

1960 BP7F I'm looking for, I had one when I was 10 years old.

[@atco21117]

Hi William - It's fun as we get older to bring back some things we enjoyed much earlier in our lives. I sure remember my sister and I playing our 45s off our portable record player in the early 60s. Went I started collecting things in my game room (began in 2006), a portable record player similar to what I had is one that I needed, and had fun getting it back in shape as well. I had fun with that Zenith but have sold it since. Funny, I put that on Craigslist for $50 and a guy drove down from NJ (about 3 hour drive) to pick it up. His 13 year old daughter wanted it and the local ones on sale all needed to be fixed. Mine was ready to play, so it turned out to be a birthday gift to his daughter. Felt good that it was going to a good home and being used. I do have another portable in my game room that I use at times. It's fun remembering old stuff! See ya -- Atco

[@andreweaton5598]

Hey +atco21117! I have this exact record player! i am trying to convert it into a guitar amp and i was wondering if you could send me the schematic for this thing. Thanks!!

[@atco21117]

Andrew Eaton Hi Andrew - Sure, I can send you a copy of the schematic. I looked at Google+ and there are quite a few Andrew Eatons on there. I believe based on the picture I have the right guy. So I sent it out to ya private message. Let me know if you got it. See ya -- Atco

[@andreweaton5598]

atco21117 i dont think i got it. just send it to my email: [e-mail] Thanks!

[@larryshaver3568]

Nice job!i wish I had one like that

[@atco21117]

Larry Shaver Hi Larry - I see a lot of people as a hobby repair old phonographs and was waiting for a portable 45 player come by to try one myself. This one was perfect and was fun to repair. I've kept it in my collection since. Thanks for your comment. See ya -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

atco21117 Magnavox made a few very similar to this,except their cabimet was bigger

[@THOMMGB]

Thanks for showing your repair of the Zenith Voice of Music record changer. I'm currently doing one myself- mine is an Airline with an AM radio and a Voice of Music changer. It has five tubes. I went over to the Voice of Music website and did some reading. I bought their phonograph servicing and lubrication instructions and specific service notes for my changer. I also got a rebuilt idler wheel, new motor mounts and a replacement cartridge. It''ll be like new when I'm done with it. The one thing all the notes stressed, in big capital letters was NOT to use WD-40. Super Lube synthetic grease (I got mine at Harbor Freight) and special 3 in 1 oil for motors is what they recommend. I found and am using Zoom Spout oil for motors at Lowes which is recommended by others who overhaul phonographs. I did use carburetor cleaner to get some of the old, dried grease cleaned off. That's a good idea. I also replaced all the electrolytic and paper capacitors as well. I did find two bad resisters. One was so bad, it made the phonograph speakers completely silent. A 27 ohm resister measured out to 500,000 ohms! That was a wire wound resister full of corrosion. As you've recommended, Voiceofmusic.com is a great place to go for Voice of Music parts. Thanks for all you do. Regards, Tom

[@atco21117]

Hi Tom - You sure looked into your machine, I'm impressed. I have used WD40. Thanks for your info. I'll go back to 3 in 1 oil. See ya -- Atco

[@gregoryclemen1870]

AMEN!!!! brother, "W-D 40" is NOT A LUBRICANT" it is a water displacer!!!! I have been working on electronic equipment dating back to the mid 1970's

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@atco21117 , if you are going to use "3 in 1 oil" make sure that you use the "BLUE CAN" not the "RED CAN"!!!! for re- lubrication

[@steveomusicman6645]

Atco...good deal....you did well!

[@atco21117]

Hi Steveo - Thanks man. Yeh, I love these old record players. Easy to fix and once working people want 'em. It's fun to collect things, but I only have so much space to display (I don't store things and hate putting things into boxes) and had to let the Zenith go. Consider what I payed for it, and parts, I probably only made $10 out of it. I put it out on Craigslist and a guy drove 85 miles to my place to pick it up. Said he was giving it to his 13 year old daughter (she was in the car). It felt good selling it to them. See ya -- Atco

[@steveomusicman6645]

thanks Atco for your response! Cool story about the record player!

[@jerickzane]

hey Atco! love the record player, I just got a Westinghouse that looks alot like this one. It was an ebay buy and supposed to be working great says the seller. Well I got it the other day and everything seems to be working ok mechanically except there is no sound coming outta the speaker. No humming or anything. Do you have any ideas as to what could be causing this? I know it needs a new needle, I think the 33/45 side of the needle was broken off or wore down completely it just skates across the record, I flip it to the 78 side of the needle and it plays, but still no sound coming outta the speaker. Help me if you can please? it is a Westinghouse model 44AC2.

[@atco21117]

+jerickzane Man, I get mad when Ebay sellers aren't true on their post. Used to be a big problem with Ebay. Now, with PayPal, if you don't get what they showed, you can complain to PayPal and can get your money back if you wish. I've been burned on 4 or 5 things over the years. I always try to work out a deal with the seller first. Usually the seller will give me some money back. In most cases, I still want the item but I had to do some work to get it working correctly and they had said on their post that it was working fine. Only once I had to go thru PayPal. I never got a response from the seller about an item that did not work. It took me about 2 months thru PayPal, but PayPal eventually sent all my money back. Now regarding your player... To not hear anything at all, not even a hum with the volume full high makes me think of a broken wire. Pull out all the tubes and put them back into the sockets. Look close to the wires going to the tonearm. With the record player unplugged, run the volume and tone controls back and forth 10 times from left and right full turn. You'd be surprised how often a dirty control can make it sound like an electronic part had gone bad but only dirt had broken contact in the volume controls. After all that, then maybe you do have a problem. Find someone that can run a tube tester to see if you have a bad tube. When you get to the point to replacing the needle/cartridtge... this is a great place to get a replacement. The website is www.thevoiceofmusic.com Good luck -- Atco

[@jerickzane]

+atco21117 thanks atco! the seller is shipping me a new needle for it. He seems to want to help. Wish me luck. j~

[@gregoryclemen1870]

you may have a "DEAD" cartridge, ceramic cartridges tend to go silent when they age!!!!

[@st.apollonius5758]

That sounds great...real clear and bright.

[@atco21117]

It was fun getting it running again! -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

beautiful sounding

[@atco21117]

Thanks Larry! -- Atco

[@larryshaver3568]

that 20 mfd capacitor doesn't seem to matter being that much less

[@galagatron5319]

Hi Atco. Need big time help. My new girlfriend entrusted me to repair her old record player that's pretty similar to the one in video. The amp part of it is nearly identical to yours. Mechanically good condition. Electronically, no signal from needle to speaker. Tube glows, (don't know how to test though using multi meter) speaker hums faintly, when I touch the contacts or the soldering at the two wires that meet the needle I get a louder Humm. Speaker good. When I touch the needle I get nothing. The components in the amp.. the big capacitor and other stuff looks original. Maybe fifty or more years older. What can I do? Thank you!

[@atco21117]

Hi Bill - With any electronics more than 50 years old, you should replace the capacitors, at least the electrolytics. Find someone to test your tubes. One could easily be bad. Fortunately, those tubes are rather cheap and available. Good luck -- Atco

[@galagatron5319]

Footnote.. There's no numbers on the pins of the tube do I don't know how to test.. Maybe it's the capacitors anyways. Regarding the capacitors I might have to install two capacitors like you did for the big one if I can't find the big one online. Question is how do you connect two capacitors?

[@galagatron5319]

It's only one tube

[@galagatron5319]

Thanks for the fast response. Really cool. Don't mean to keep asking questions. When I test the tube I get continuity on two pins. Nothing else on other pins. If I have to get two capacitors, do I connect in series or parallel? Is there an easy way to tell which lead is positive or negative?

[@atco21117]

Bill, you're learning fast. To answer you question as well as others about capacitors... my advise is to get on google and do a search asking how using caps in parallel. Also seach for capactor types. Very quickly you'll see pictures. With just a few pages you'll learn alot about capactors. Very good info for you to use. Worth an hour to read. See ya -- Atco

[@-OPPORTUNITYBARN-]

Nice job!

[@atco21117]

Thanks Cyl - Atco

[@VictrolaJazz]

Nice little machine! I thought Zenith was still using the Cobra tone arm in '58?

[@gregoryclemen1870]

zenith did use both arms, the higher dollar units got the "COBRA TONE ARMS"

[@jazzvictrola7104]

@@gregoryclemen1870 (I'm now JazzVictrola) Thanks, Atco! Just wondered about that! How have you been getting along?

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@jazzvictrola7104 thanks for the "HEADS UP"!!!!, I do not know if you know this but it is worth sharing. back in the 50's/ 60's wurlitzer was using zenith tone arms in their juke boxes( 45 R.P.M. records) that played records in the vertical plane( not flat) these tone arms looked a lot like the "COBRA ARMS" . it was a very classy look, this is back in the day when the record that was being played was in "FULL VIEW"!!!, you could watch the the juke box perform its "MAGIC"!!!!, from the scanning the record magazine, loading, playing the single, to unloading then scan the next record, if that was the last record to be played , then the juke box would go into sleep mode( cutting the "B+" voltage in the amp, but keeping the tube heater circuit active --- no warm up time) to answer your question, I have been doing "FINE", still working on the vintage electronics( I have been working on this stuff since the mid 1970's) I just completed rebuilding a 1946 "MOTOROLA" 6 tube A.M. radio thanks for asking!!!! ( I did "SUBSCRIBE" to your channel) have a great day!!!!! if you need any help, do not be "SHY" about it, I held on to all of my "SAMS PHOTOFACTS", parts, new/old tube stock ect.

[@jazzvictrola7104]

@@gregoryclemen1870 I have always been a fan of the Cobra tone arm with its beady little eyes, have several machines using it, even in the late 50's when Zenith began using the VM changer and converted the Cobra to metal. The Cobra was the first attempt to get away from the heavy early electric clodhopper tone arms in use up through the mid-40's, to be more adaptable to the vinyl LPs and lower the wear on records. They were so successful that a particular Cobra arm was licensed to Wurlitzer for use in their 78 RPM machines between 1948 and 1952. My parents square danced with their friends out at the country club in the late 40's and early 50's where they had free use of a Wurlitzer juke box. The group had to take their own records and it was my first exposure to the Cobra tone arm as a youngster while watching them load it up and I loved it from then on. My late friend in West repaired and restored many of those machines during the 45 years before he passed away in 2020. Here's a machine from 1956: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6u9f2pmg6mEb7s

[@gregoryclemen1870]

@@jazzvictrola7104 thanks for the information on the 78 R.P.M. wurlitzer juke boxes that used the zenith tone arm, I worked on the 45 R.P.M. juke boxes. I did not know that the wurlitzer mod. 1015 used the zenith tone arm, those juke boxes are a work of art!!!!. rockola juke box company has gone back to the 45 R.P.M. record format, using the wurlitzer mod. 1015 juke box style. using a hybrid tube/ F.E.T. amp., they look and sound great!!!!!