View Full Version : RCA Victor V-100 radio/phonograph from '39


radiotvnut
06-26-2014, 10:20 AM
I picked up this RCA radio/phonograph at the flea market for $10. On the outside, the case looks decent except for one veneer chip on the lid. On the inside, the motorboard took a beating. As you can see, someone removed the original tonearm, drilled a new hole, and mounted another tonearm. I'd like to find the correct tonearm for this model and then I'll have to come up with a way to patch the unnecessary holes and make the motorboard look decent.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/RCA1_zpscf3a98a8.jpg (http://s538.photobucket.com/user/radiotvnut/media/RCA1_zpscf3a98a8.jpg.html)

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/RCA2_zpsa6240094.jpg (http://s538.photobucket.com/user/radiotvnut/media/RCA2_zpsa6240094.jpg.html)

Here is a link to a picture of this unit with the correct tonearm.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/rca_rc517_v100.html

truetone36
06-26-2014, 08:32 PM
An old-timer taught me years ago that you can fill the hole with a cork of the right size. It looks like you are missing the little chrome cup for holding needles as well.

dieseljeep
06-26-2014, 08:53 PM
I picked up this RCA radio/phonograph at the flea market for $10. On the outside, the case looks decent except for one veneer chip on the lid. On the inside, the motorboard took a beating. As you can see, someone removed the original tonearm, drilled a new hole, and mounted another tonearm. I'd like to find the correct tonearm for this model and then I'll have to come up with a way to patch the unnecessary holes and make the motorboard look decent.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/RCA1_zpscf3a98a8.jpg (http://s538.photobucket.com/user/radiotvnut/media/RCA1_zpscf3a98a8.jpg.html)

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/RCA2_zpsa6240094.jpg (http://s538.photobucket.com/user/radiotvnut/media/RCA2_zpsa6240094.jpg.html)

Here is a link to a picture of this unit with the correct tonearm.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/rca_rc517_v100.html
The original tone arm was the biggest, clumsiest tone arm in the business.
I converted one of those, years ago, with a three speed turntable and a tone arm from a kiddie-type phono. :thmbsp:

radiotvnut
06-26-2014, 11:18 PM
I may end up doing that with this one, if I can't find the right tonearm. It was cheap, has already been hacked, and it won't hurt to hack it a little more.

dieseljeep
06-27-2014, 09:15 AM
I may end up doing that with this one, if I can't find the right tonearm. It was cheap, has already been hacked, and it won't hurt to hack it a little more.

That is a self starting motor, isn't it?
Some of those RCA phonos of the day, had to be manually started, by giving them a spin. They would also start in the wrong direction. :D

radiotvnut
06-27-2014, 11:57 AM
Yes, it uses a standard idler driven phono drive. I like those older direct driven RCA's with the manual start motor.

truetone36
06-27-2014, 12:51 PM
If the original tonearm is anything like the one on my '39 RCA console, it's gonna be a big heavy thing. The tonearm on my console has a horseshoe pick-up on it.

maxhifi
06-27-2014, 01:10 PM
I know it's a total anachronism but being able to play LP records would be a huge advantage in terms of actually using that record player.

radiotvnut
06-27-2014, 06:34 PM
It would also make it easier to sell, should I ever decide to do so. It would certainly sound better than a current crosley.