Exhibition reproducer for rebuilding 

You can insert them all the way. For a softer sound, you can insert 3/4 in.

Mica is good until it's not, the only way to know for sure is to rebuild the reproducer with the original mica and test it. The risk is you might have to do the rebuild over, this is why I wax seal the bar screw only after I test them because new diaphragms can be bad also.

@@Rockisland1903 thank you for your reply. I being reading about it and I found a website talking about "fatigue" mica. I will definitely test it before applying bees wax. Any recommendations on how clean the mica without damaging it?

Same way you would clean eyeglasses, or expensive sunglasses. Very gently with a soft damp cloth and maybe some mild soap if something sticky got on it.

@@Rockisland1903 thank you for your advice!

Oil it with some good penetrating oil, don't get any on the rest of the reproducer, then gently turn it off. If it hits a tight spot gently back off and tighten it over and over until it starts to move. These screws can easily snap, when that happens the needle bar is done unless you have the watchmakers size drills to drill it out, and the tap set to rethread it. If you don't think you can do it then send it to Walt Sommers or George Vollema who have the tools and parts to repair it. waltsommers.com/ www.victroladoctor.com/ If the reproducer has not been rebuilt then I suggest sending it to either one for a full overhaul. Sound quality will improve, and record's will be preserved. The cost is around $50-$100 depending on parts needed for Exhibition, Victrola No2, No4, and orthophonics.

Ty

Walt is who i have been buying my parts from on E bay

Sorry, no, these are not very common in the states. These reproducers are for the vertical cut records as used by Edison diamond disc and Pathe among a few others. Victor and HMV along with most other makes play horizontal cut records. I have no experiance rebuilding Pathe reproducers, but the basic design is likely similar.

The angle is different due to the sapphire ball stylus used in the Pathe reproducers.

I don't know what that is, there are hundreds of phonograph/Gramophone manufacturers who made, or marketed some form of machine in just the first 30 years of the 20th century. Europe, and the the rest of the world have likely hundreds more. Some made the whole machine, others used generic parts to assemble a machine, still others just put their name on another manufacturers machine. Best is to take pictures and send them to the email rockisland1903victrola@gmail.com

Many factors, use new needles, and use them one needle for one play of a record, needles are available by the hundred pack. Have you rebuilt the reproducer or had it rebuilt? Stone hard original gaskets will restrict the needlebar's freedom of movement. Are you using records that are correct for the phonographs time of production? Older machines with reproducers like the Exhibition should only be played with records made during the 1920's and earlier. Newer records made after 1935 do not use the same material composition as the older records, the heavy reproducers can damage these records. Newer 78's were made to play on electric machines that use very light tonearms. Are you playing records with vertical or lateral cut grooves? Edison records or Pathe for instance should never be played on machines that use Victor reproducers as Victor machines play only lateral cut records. What type of machine do you have and what kind of records are you trying to play?

I am not familiar with a Beverly, there are many different styles of reproducers used. Walt Sommers at Gettysburg Antique Phonograph may be able to help, Google him. I often rebuild off brand reproducers using tube gasket material, and other improvised materials as sometimes there is no alternative. Great Lakes Antique Phonograph also, he has a lot of parts, and does repairs.

No. there are many different types of reproducers spanning some 50 years. Sometimes you have to experiment with different materials to repair them, some are not repairable due to potmetal swelling issues. I am not familiar with the Beverly, but that could just be a name attached to a generic reproducer used by many manufacturers. Even the Exhibition I show in the video has unlicensed variations that are similar, but just different enough that rebuilding them can be a challenge.

@@Rockisland1903 thanks for the info. What site do you buy your Supplies from?

I buy from Walt Sommers , he's on eBay as cyber_tigger, or George Vollema at Great Lakes Antique Phonograph. I just bought a bunch of stuff from Ron Siska at the Wayne NJ show, he seems to mostly do shows, but has great price and selection. This is for things like reproducer gaskets, diaphragms, turntable felt and needles. Parts like springs I call George, he will have most motor parts, and cabinet parts you may need. I also buy from random eBay sellers who find some parts and list them, whole reproducers mostly.

@@Rockisland1903 thanks again. Question, I have the spring motor for this Beverly taken partially apart, any idea where I could get parts for it? One side of the spring motor won't hold tension when I crank it up. If I send you pics do you think you could help me?

Not at this time, the machines I play with are all 1911-1932, they wouldn't use that reproducer. Be careful, I think it's being reproduced in India.

Me too. Work and nasty weather have been getting in the way of my leisure time activities.