So I will start this new Electric Machines category with the all electric reproduction machines in my present collection and invite other members to do the same.

Carlton Smith 

Indianapolis, IN

Victor Talking Machine Company:

VE12-1E                Electrola “Cromwell”                                               1925-26

VE8-60E             Orthophonic/Electrola                                            1927

VE9-25E              Electrola / Radiola 28                                              1927

VE10-70E             Automatic Electrola         (1st gen.)                     1927

VE7-26X               Electrola / Radiola 18                                              1928

VE9-16E                Electrola / Radiola 18                                              1928

VE10-69E             Automatic Electrola         (2nd gen.)                   1928

VE12-15E               Electrola                                                                    1928

Victor Division- RCA Victor Company:

RE-57                     Victor Micro-Synchronous Radio with Electrola   1930

RCA Victor Company:

RAE-26                  Radio /Automatic Electrola                                 1931

341 DUO              Radio / Automatic Electrola (3rd gen.)              1934

R-99                       Electrola                                                                   1936

V225                      Radio /  RP-151 record changer                           1941

Brunswick Corporation:

P-13                       Panatrope                                                                 1927

Model 42             Radio / Automatic Panatrope                              1930

Capehart:

114N                      Radio / 42E Changer                                              1947

Some of you probably already know who I am My name is Steve and Ive been collecting and restoring tube electronics for most of my life.
Ive always had an interest in antique radios but I have to blame the late Doug Houston from Ortonville Michigan as well as Art Miller from Jackson Michigan for my interest in electric machines. I was a teenager when I first met them at the AWA Conference in Canandaigua NY in 1986. Since then Ive collected a fair number of interesting ones even though they seriously take up space and weigh a ton.

This Continental Star-Raider RP-40 is the latest machine to come into my posession. Thanks to Carlton and Thomas.
It is an interesting beast as it has been modified from the original circuit. Especially in the power supply/amplifier chassis.

Originally it had a pair of 81 rectifiers and a pair of 50 output tubes. The 50s were actually specified to be Cardon 585s.
also missing are two current regulators to automatically adjust to line voltage fluctuations.

In their place, and marked accordingly is a 5Z3 rectifier and a pair of 45 output tubes. This is certainly a downgrade, but also makes tubing it up a bit easier.

Looking at the power transformer, it looks to be a factory job. All voltages present appear to be correct for the tubes this particular set uses.
The radio section still has the original seven Cardon 484 triodes. So this is quite a puzzle. The 5Z3 did not become available until 1933 along with the 2A3 output triodes, so why didn't they design this particular chassis to take 2A3s instead?

Also, what was left of Continental Radio Corp in 1933? I cannot seem to find evidence they went under, nor any activity until Continental Radio and Television in 1935 which used the name Admiral and was located in Chicago, not Fort Wayne Indiana.

Seriously a puzzle. The possibility does exist this was modified by a radio shop, but I would expect an aftermarket power transformer under the cover such as from Stancor. The tube labels and hole covers are so well done as is the wiring underneath. It does not look like a hack job, but very professionally done.

Anyhow, here are photos of this beautiful machine and I hope to someday soon get to restoring it to operation. But first I seriously need to get a Stromberg Carlson 744 off the bench and out of the way. Now THAT is a seriously HEAVY machine! Also a Capehart 406D is in the queue and that must be tackled soon 😄

-Steve

The original Sykes design was made for being used with a 1930s radio with a phono input. I tried  the Herrick replica through the phono input of my 1933 RCA Victor "All Wave" Model 140 tombstone radio and it sounds quite good for a vintage sound with some treble-bass adjustment available. The replica by Herrick works also  works on more modern audio equipment like a guitar amplifier on music amplifier. I acquired a small Fender guitar amp to try it out and it sounds quite good.  With the amp you have some treble-mid- bass adjustments possible. I also tried using the Fender as a pre-amp and put the signal through the radio input of my 1928 Victor Electrola VE12-15E and it too sounds good for a vintage sound. 

I wanted to share another Capehart, this time from my personal collection. I purchased this magnificent machine back in 2021 and wanted to share and document the restoration.  Pictured below is a circa 1942 Capehart 500M.  This is the last radio Capehart manufactured before switching over to WWII war time production.  This is the only known 1942 Capehart 500M example known to collectors at the time of this posting today.  A rather strange twist of events took place with this machine as it was originally purchased in 1937, then upgraded by Capehart in 1942.  Originally purchased by Nathan Miller in 1937 as a Capehart 500E, Nathan had the Capehart dealer upgrade this unit with then new  Capehart electronics and 16-E true tangent record changer in 1942.  Not only was the machine very expensive in 1937 at the cost of close to $5,000 dollars new, it was upgraded with the finest and latest Capehart electronic's for additional cost in 1942 right before WWII. 

A little back story:  Nathan Miller was a self made man whom immigrated from Russia back in the late 1800's.  He made his wealth in amusements and expositions, traveling around the US, eventually setting in Long beach California in the early 1930s.  Eventually becoming an owner/operator of the Pike arcade and other ventures in Longbeach, by the early 1940's he retired from work to settle down.  At this time Nathan was in his late 50's.  Nathan loved his Capehart and loved classical music.  He had a lot of wealthy friends which included Igor Stravinsky, movie stars, MGM studio big wigs, and others of wealth and fame.  Nate used to host dinner parties and other social gatherings within his luxury apartment thru the 1930s.  In 1937 Nathan or (Nate as he liked to be called by his friends) took wind of Capehart's finest offering, the 500.  I don't know how he came to purchase one, although likely influenced thru talk with friends or thru an advertisement seen within the many magazine and new's subscriptions Nathan had.  He loved his magazine subscriptions.  Either way, Nate purchased a brand new 1937 Capehart 500E and had it delivered to his then luxury apartment within the Villa Riviera.  The Villa Riviera was a luxury hotel/apartment co-op which was one of the finest places to live in Long Beach during the 1930's.  The building still stands today as a residence for many.  A fine place to live with a fine machine during the late 1930's Nathan coveted his Capehart and his music.  This machine likely entertained may prominent guests during it's heyday.

Displayed are pictures of the Capehart untouched since 1947, Nathan Miller in the 1920's, then later in the 1940's.  Also displayed is a picture of the Villa Riviera from the late 1930's and present day.

I am very excited to own this RAE-68! I drove around 7 1/2 hours each way to southeast MI to pick this up (I live near DC). This one came out of the Stanton's sale this fall and I was so lucky as to be able to purchase it from Bob P, who attended the sale. 

I have a strong interest in auto changers and have been learning electronic restoration, so this is a perfect project to check all the boxes. I previously restored a 10-35 as well as an RE-45. But this is obviously a different animal that I am excited to take on.

I plan on making sure that this gets the attention it deserves and getting it fully functional once again. I have already started doing a few small wood repairs, gluing down the loose veneer on the top and fixing the crack in the lid. I will keep the forum updated on progress as I go.

I recently picked up a Victor 9-54 and the Electric Horseshoe Pickup, Light Switch Embellishment Mount and Needle Cup were removed.  Also, I need to replace a couple of the Radiola Knobs.  The Needle Cup and knobs should be somewhat easy to find.

However, I will need help in finding the pickup.  I will take it working or not.  I can rewind the coil, rebuild it, etc.  I have included a picture attached from the internet. I will also need to find the light switch embellishment or if you have one, can I get a drawing of one so I can reproduce it?  So, if you have a pickup  and other parts that you can part with, please let me know.

TIA,

Mark

I also own an early Model 99 (1928) and the Model 101 (1929). Same electronics in those but very different record changers. I will put a video of my Model 235 in the video section of the forum.    

The second question I have is which records should I be playing on my machine? It is electric from around 1920. Are there records from certain time periods I shouldn't be playing or can all shellac 78s be played on this machine?

Thanks!

Carlton Smith

electrolaman

Indianapolis, IN  

I don't know much about this type of equipment, but my father just passed and I'm tasked with selling his estate. In it is a Victor VE9-54 that has been in the family home for as long as I can remember, and I'm 66. I have never heard it play, nor do I have a power cord for it. But it looks amazing from the outside. I'm looking to get a sense of it's value.

Thanks in Advance!!

I wanted to introduce myself for the first time and share a restoration on a machine I am servicing for a gentleman out of Alabama.  My name is Jon Ketron, several of you may already know me.  I love servicing early electric phonographs as well as radio/phono models produced by manufacturers which pre-date WWII.  My passion and specialization is Capehart.  This company offered the ultimate set up during the 1930's and early 1940's time period for all your radio and electrically produced record needs.  Several of you may already know Capehart.  This is my 20th Capehart restoration to date.  I have serviced both 400 series and top of the line 500 series Capehart's and I wanted to document this 400 series here showing just how great, and complex, these machines are.  I hope you enjoy.  I also have a YouTube channel and will be posting restoration videos as I go for those interested.

Within the realm of Phonographs and early changers, I wanted to share a recent restoration for a customer based out of Alabama.
This Gentleman had seen this very Capehart first play back in the 1970's and was hooked ever since.  Just recently after all those years, owning one became a reality for him.  Ionically it was the same one he had seen play and flip records back in the 1970's!

In for service is a circa 1937 Capehart 405E.  This the fancy early Chippendale cabinet.  The 400 model Capehart's were some of the most premier radio/phonograph models available to the consumer back in the 1930s/1940s era.  I would somewhat compare them the Victor electrola units of the late 1920's in terms of grandeur and innovation.  Capehart took it up several notches, radio/amplifier technology did advance quite a bit by the late 1930's.  Innovations such as superheterodyne tuners, bi-amplified circuits with two speakers, and more powerful tubes were available and utilized in the Capehart.  This machine likely received a wood cabinet refinish sometime in the 1950's.  It sports all of its original equipment including the famed one and only Capehart 16-E fully automatic record changer.  This record changer is a marvel to watch operate.  Fully restored and calibrated it will perform record playing and changing flawlessly.  These are precision machines and must be properly adjusted to work correctly or they will indeed crunch records.  This Capehart 405E was likely in a club or public area.  As you can see there are two sets of locks on the unit.  This is not a one-off feature as I have owned and seen other collector's Capehart's with the same feature.  This was likely a dealer addition at time of purchase.  The keys are missing, we are going to get new one's made.  One locks the front door for the radio tuner, and another inside the cabinet locks out the AC power from ever arriving the tuner.  This ensures no one could turn on the set without the master key.  Rather interesting set up indeed.

Scope of work:

Our main objective in this restoration for the customer is to complete a full electrical and mechanical restoration.  Cosmetics will also be attended to with great detail.  All electronics will receive a full electrical evaluation, restoration, and professional alignment post electrical restoration.  We will also check the speakers for damage, cable damage, and also check all radio tubes for defects.  We will be attending to cosmetics such as remanufacturing the missing keys for the locks, re-plate of the two-dial escutcheon's, re-painting black wrinkle finish metal items in need of re-paint, as well as polishing and remanufacturing of metal surfaces and hard rubber items on the changer mechanism surface.  The record changer and motor will receive a full disassembly, cleaning, new grease and oil applied, re-assembly, and testing of records post-restoration.  My official signoff will be once we send the changer thru a 100-record cycle with no hang-up's.  Lets dig in!!

Video 1:  

Thanks  

Don

AND THE WIRING HARNESS 
greetings atte-
CLAUDIO LUCIANI