RCA Victor RAE-68 (Restoration)

[GregVTLA]

Hello everyone!

 

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.

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by GregVTLA
added "Restoration" to the title as that seems to be the custom.

[GregVTLA]

Taking a look here, looks like all of the preset stations are in the Chicago area. I think it's kind of neat to know at least some of the backstory of the machine.

 

My electronic components (capacitors & resistors) are coming in tomorrow, so I should be able to power it up after replacing the 5 power caps in the SPU and check out the transformers. From there I should know how much more work will be required. I disconnected the caps from the amp to get everything ready.

 

I'll be BBQing this can tomorrow in order to mount the new caps inside the can. I know would surely be room to fit the caps under the amp, but I enjoy restuffing the cans.

[Dischoard]

Keep us updated, I'm following this one!

[GregVTLA]

The machine is coming along very nicely. I've completed the majority of the electronic work and have gotten the changer mostly dialed in. Some highlights include getting the pushbutton preset assembly to work, thanks to a donor remote control chassis. It's really a neat mechanism. I recorded a short video of it just in case anyone is interested. I'm just waiting on a few odds and ends to come in before it all goes into the cabinet. I've been taking lots of pictures, and I hope to be able to document a lot of this for anyone in the future working on one of these.
 

 

[CurtA]

I'm puzzled... what does "BBQing the can" mean?

[electrolaman]

"BBQing" means melting the tar or wax out of the can that was potting the components inside.

 

Carlton

[Henry]

“…and it’s mighty good with mustard” (apologies to W.C.Fields).

[GregVTLA]

Carlton had it exactly right, I heated up the capacitor can at around 400 degrees until the encasing tar began to bubble, then I was able to grab hold of the paper capacitor with needle nose pliers and “unwrap” it as seen in the picture here. It smelled… interesting.

 

I was able to get the set put all back together and playing, but I had to go back to school for now so I don’t have any high quality footage to share. But eventually I will get myself organized and shoot some good video footage. For now, here’s a brief video of it playing.

 

 

[marcapra]

Love the cabinet on this model.  I used to have a 34 RCA Victor model with that changer.  It has a pretty violent record throw, but I don't think it hurts the records.