RCA Victor Model 612 V3

[Eugene]

https://www.ebth.com/items/2490049-rca- ... odel-612v3

One of my winter projects. The one in link is not mine.

My aunt mailed me and said that she had a record player that I asked for years ago. My daughter picked up the "record player" and delivered it to me. The "record player" filled the back of daughter's SUV.

Mahogany case is in excellent condition, all electrical components are in place, doesn't work. The record player in mine is slightly different.

Should be a fun project getting the "record player" working again. I haven't worked on any tube type receivers since the late 1970s.

[Slim140]

I saw some vinyl at goodwill the other day, $.49 each and some were people I actually heard of before.

Keep us posted on your project!

[Eugene]

Probably won't actually start on repairs until this winter.

Been on line looking up manuals and how to remove the works from the case. Found the electrical service manual, elementary tube testing, and tube sources. Had son photograph the tube location sticker and model sticker.

A stack of records came with the radio/phonograph. Top record on the stack is Grand Funk Railroad.

The quality of tube type radios is usually of top notch. Had been wanting one for some time. The ones available at auction have been in terrible condition.

One of my Army duty stations was with a 2 man, my boss and I, radio operations unit. The unit had equipment for tube type radios. I would pick up old radios from the thrift store for a dollar and in my goof off time repair them.

[Stanton]

Like Shane said, keep us informed of your progress when you get started.

[mozer71]

This RCA Victor is really appealing. The styling and quality of construction is early classic which went out of favor in the '50's and '60's. It was "old" then but it has all the expensive features of its time. I remember walking past one or two similar models and thinking "what a neat cabinet", I gotta check this out. When I saw what it was; I wasn't in the mind to "gut it" , just hoped somebody else would restore it/them.
The newer/wider ones ended up junked or fallen apart but that compact one is a piece of furniture. I too, hope the restoration goes well.

[mcwinter]

My son in high school got this old Magnavox radio/phono console working just for fun. I think he just wanted to hear some of the old LP's we had laying around! If I remember right, he said the parts that typically go bad in these old radios are the capacitors, and he was able to order replacements and solder them in. Works like a charm now.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

If the record player is setting on springs, There is usually 3 or 4 screws that clamp the springs down for shipping. Then there is a t-bar on the bottom of some of the screws that can be slid to one end and flipped in line with the screw, and let the record changer be lifted out. It has been many years since I worked on one, but that is the basics.

[mozer71]

John. You have a grand memory of how it was. Reasons behind that. In transport it would shake the turntable so much and what if the arm came loose. Those tips and really everything about them were pretty special. I hadn't thought about the lock down screws or how they can release the turntable for a long time. There is a certain throaty sound from tube amps and it seems in rhythm to the turntable because it is.

[Jim Becker]

The tone arm will have some sort of retainer to keep it on the post while in transit too. Some are a clip that rotates up over some part of the arm. Others have a spring clip sort of thing the tone arm pushes down into/onto.

[mozer71]

Another thing I should never say is one deal is too long or anything. Sure enough, mcwinter shows a part of his. Looks to me as long grain maple and that is really good wood. Unfortunately maple suffers when cut. It Is the time to use it indoors and it lasts ages. A tree gift and otherwise rotted or burned.
Oh, I hear you Jim. Yes the clip for the arm. They used to call them needles and pretty important to be suspended.

[radioguy41]

Great find. A 12 tuber with push-pull audio via a pair of 6F6's thru a 12 inch speaker. Once recapped it should sound real good. If you're not already a member come on over and join ARF (Antique Radio Forum), lots of help available there. It's free to join. I've been a member since 2010 (rocketeer).

https://antiqueradios.com/forums/index.php

Some info plus schematic here:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/rca_rk121_612v3.html

[Eugene]

Rainy day project, I pulled the components out and set them on the bench. Visual inspection, nothing obviously damaged. Record player is not original. Bunch of electrical contact cleaner. Soldered/repaired some damaged/broken wires. Plugged in, turned on, warmed up, AM worked, Short Wave worked (well sort of in basement with no outside antenna), no FM. Actually sounded pretty good.

Complete NOS retubing, around $87-. Get the radio retubed, then see if there are any capacitors to replace and perhaps the band switch.

I found and down loaded the service manual for the radio.

Spent some time on https://antiqueradios.com/forums/index.php. Looks like a neat site.

Will spend more time on the radio after taxes, dental payments, snow and very cold weather.

[Eugene]

The unit reassemble and set up in the bed room. Sounds great. Retubed, most of the capacitors replaced. AM, Short Wave work. Band switch faulty, not functioning on FM.

Mechanical turntable junked. Not even close to original, cost to much to repair, mounting/base looks like someone cut with a torch to come close to the replacement turn table.

Plan. Purchase another turntable, $100- or so. 117V AC output and RCA input connector available on back of unit for new turn table.

[radioguy41]

When shopping for a turntable keep in mind the original player used a crystal catridge putting out about 3 volts while the newer players put out less than 1 volt (usually .5) so you'll have to add a pre-amp to attain any volume. The original player was 78 only but it is possible to find slightly newer 3 speed turntables that use the high output cartridge. Are you looking to go with a more modern (1960s-1980s) turntable or stay period correct (1948-1958)? I have about a 8-10 turntables downstairs and might have something that would work for you. They all worked when I put them on the shelf but they've been there 2-3 years so might need a good cleaning and relubing of the chassis. If I have something it would be for the cost of shipping.

By the way, I run all my 117v stuff through a bucking transformer at 110v. It reduces stress on the chassis and also lowers the heat thereby extending the life of components. There is no reduction in performance.

[Eugene]

Taking a break from working on the radio. Still have a dozen capacitors or so to replace. Looking at turntables with built in speakers, amp, and radio.

Currently have a huge slab of black walnut wood on the basement work bench. It's going to be son's coffee table. Will probably take two or 3 days to plane off both sides of the slab.

Set up a slab wood router planning table in the acreage shop. Trial, planed both sides of a much smaller piece, to be wife's reading lamp and magazine stand. Probably took us 4 hours to plane both sides level.

And dog gone it. Can't find my wood/cabinet scrapers.