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RCA Victor bakelight 45 record player

vintage 5.0

vintage 5.0

vintage 5.0
I found a old RCA Victor 45 record player. It looks like it has 2 tubes in it. It powers up and the platter spins and the records will drop. When I power it up both tubes seem to glow. It hums real bad and that is all I can hear through the speaker. Any ideas what might cause the hum.
 
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Thanks Celt. I am not real sure where that is on the unit. Is that something a shop could fix easy. I collect RCA stuff I have not had one of these so I am pretty excited about it.
 
It looks real simple inside if I knew what part that is or where it is I bet my son could help me. he is 18 and helps me on the tube amps all the time.
 
Search AK for more info on your neat little TT. I found one a year or so ago and was surprised at how much info is available on them. Several AK members collect them and can answer just about any question that you have.

I will add a +1 to Celt's sage advice.
 
I recall reading where some fellow had taken his RCA 45 changer apart, cleaned and polished the heck out of the metal pieces and fitted the tonearm with a Shure magnetic cartridge (maybe a M-44) when he realized that it could track as low as 2.5 grams without issue.
 
I picked up one of those (see avitar) a few months ago too. :thmbsp: Love that thing. All of the mechanics in mine work great, just no sound yet. I guess Im going to have to break down and get it fixed soon. Im a little electronically challenged so I will need someone to do it for me, but I do want it fixed.
 
Essentially, it'll need all the capacitors replaced, the resistors checked against marked value and replaced if drifted more than ca 25%, the tubes checked and replaced if wanting, probably a cart & stylus, and a mechanical overhaul. The e-Bay kit would be a good time saver if not cheap-skating the project.
 
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Thanks all great info. Dobyman what did you use to shine yours up. Mine looks almost exactly like yours but not as clean looking.
 
I did a little web search and found out that toothpaste polishes up the bakelite really nice. I used regular Colgate because its not too abrasive. Clean off the residue with a glass cleaner. Then, use Pledge to buff to a nice finished shine. The base and platter I just used glass cleaner on that. :thmbsp:
IMG_9867Copy.jpg


IMG_9868Copy.jpg
 
I have one of the standalone 45 players from the early '50s, like the one below. I bought it cheap at a flea market and it's just being used for decoration right now.

45%20Player.jpg
 
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