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I'm not saying that it's impossible to get parts for record players, I'm just saying that it's nearly impossible to get parts for _this_ record player, and others of this vintage. The early electric machines, such as this one, play only 78RPM records. They typically use steel needles (or something similar) and a crystal pickup. The drive motor drives the turntable by way of a very specific rubber wheel that would normally be unique to the model of phonograph. These 78RPM machines are now over 50 years old, and the rubber is almost certainally going to be bad. I don't think I've ever seen one in serviceable condition. And I can't imagine that there would have survived any NOS parts in useable condition after all these years. On top of that, the pickup will typically be dead - the crystal pickups tend to absorb moisture from the air, and then no longer are able to function - they won't be able to convert the vibrations from the needle into electrical signals. They'll literally go 'dead' and produce no signal at all. Also, the needles for these are pretty hard to find. Aside from being hard on the records, they wear out pretty quickly, and are only really good for maybe 20-40 plays. One step up from the wind-up Victrola type needles. The arms also track at a couple ounces, compare that to the couple of grams that a more modern magnetic pickup uses.
It's just that the crucial parts of these types of machines, the 40's vintage 78RPM phonographs, don't age well due to the materials involved. The affects of the air and atmosphere on rubber and the crystal pickup is going to be nearly unavoidable. Even if you find a working pickup and a rubber idler that hasn't dried out, I wouldn't imagine that either would last very long. I have many of these types of machines, and have never seen a rubber idler in serviceable condition, and I've only come across one crystal cartridge that still produced a signal - although it was pretty weak.
But, I am not saying that it's going to be totally impossible to make one of these work, I'm sure that there's an AK'er with a working, electric, 40's era 78RPM only machine, but I'm also sure that there are a lot more AK'ers with non-working ones. I'm also sure that if you search long enough, you could probably turn up some NOS idler wheels and pickups - but it'll be hit-or-miss finding parts still in useable condition - a lot of never-used crystal cartridges have failed, right in the box, and are no longer useable, simply because of the effects of time and the atmosphere.
All this being said, these phographs are still pretty primitive. Narrow frequency response, poor speed control, heavy tracking force and damaging needles all contribute to pretty mediocre performace. 78's can sound pretty good when played on the proper equipment. This isn't the proper equipment. The more modern, 50's vintage machines will work much better, magnetic pickups, quieter and smoother motors, etc. I've found that just about the best thing to play 78's on is an old portable classroom style phonograph such as a Newcomb or an old Audiotronics (preferably the tube models). These things were made _very_ well, and work reliably and easily. The Powerpoint type needles are still fairly available and are also very easy on the records. Now, I wouldn't suggest playing modern LP's or 45's a lot on these machines, the tracking force is a little much for those, but it won't phase a 78.
Meh. I'm rambling again. Never post to AK at 1AM when you can't sleep...
-Ian
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