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Victrola No. 4 Gaskets


Auxetophone

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Auxetophone

Over the years, I have heard different opinions on the best combination of gasket material for rebuilding the Victrola No. 4. Some say to use 2 No. 4 gaskets, some say to use 1 No. 4 gaskets in back of the diaphragm and use white Exhibition gasket tubing in front. I rebuilt this a few years ago using method 2. It performs "OK" but I think it could be better. I'd love to hear opinions on this method. Perhaps @Wyatt-Markus would like to weigh in?

 

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As a side note, you may notice that this No. 4 looks a bit odd. It has been identified as one of the early prototype units designed by Harry O. Sooy in Camden. This was a 1914 design called the "Neutral Reproducing Box" that he had abandoned, then later resurrected in 1925 with the advent of the electric recording process.

 

Below are some excerpts from his diary where he discusses this soundbox:

 

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Well, I'll chime in, having overhauled a number of HMV #4s for the mid 1920s HMV machines such as my saxophone horn gramophones models 162, 192 & 211, and others (models 32, 101, 103, 112, 261 and 511).

 

I have used 3 approaches:

  • 2 homemade gaskets made from thin craft foam sheets available at Michael's stores.
  • Reproduction single piece, soft red rubber gasket with groove for diaphragm,  These were available years ago from the late Barry Williamson of Phonoservice in the UK.
  • Fresh, supple Exhibition tubing on both sides of the diaphragm, installed much like an Exhibition.

Of the three, the Exhibition tubing seems to sound best to my ears on both electrically and acoustically recorded disks, but Barry's repros sound almost as good.  Michael's foam is OK, and has worked well enough in a couple of soundboxes that I haven't bothered to change them.

 

The thing that made the biggest difference to me was using a new mica diaphragm.  The Grafonola diaphragms sold by Ron Sitko are a perfect fit for the #4 soundbox.

 

You asked for opinions.  This is mine.?

Edited by AZ_
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  • 4 weeks later...

I just went and looked at mine.  I used flat black rubber gaskets and your mention of the Grafonola diaphragm makes me think they are Grafonola reproducer gaskets that I used.  I think it sounds fine.   I also made sure I lubricated the bearings.

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Percy_Dovetonsils

Maybe I is an idiot, but Walt's black soft supple felt- like Victrola/ HMV No. 4 gaskets have gotten no complaints for me in redoing about 25 of these over the years.

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