The Victor-Victrola Page
Mechanical Repair Services
Victor motors were designed to last for many years, but over time, many problems can develop:
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The spring grease can become hardened, causing sluggish or noisy operation, thumping or "banging" while spinning, or the motor can stop working altogether
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Springs can break due to being over-wound
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The speed governor springs can come loose or the governor pads can dry out, causing a loss of speed control or a "machine gun" sound while operating
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Gears can be damaged due to abuse
Victor soundboxes can deteriorate, causing low volume, distortion, or no sound at all:
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Gaskets can harden, restricting proper diaphragm operation
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The diaphragm can fracture or become loose
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The soundbox housing can become distorted or broken
Other mechanical issues can develop:
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Tonearm support brackets (some made of pot-metal) can fracture
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Controls and brake assemblies can wear or become misaligned
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Turntables can be damaged via children or pets
These repairs can be done through many qualified sources, or by the competent home-handyman. Step by step instructions can be found in some of the books listed in the RESOURCES section of this website. However, the process of cleaning 100 year-old hardened grease off the springs and attempting to remove and replace the large steel spring assemblies can be very messy, difficult and even treacherous unless extreme care is taken.
We regret that we are unable to answer "how do I fix it?" questions, or to provide individual repair/servicing instructions for each type of motor. This is due to the fact that we receive over 100 inquiries daily on this topic, and that our operations are related to historical research and not mechanical repairs. Please refer to our RESOURCES section for books and information on repair of phonographs.
We confidently recommend the following repair services:
George Vollema
Great Lakes Antique Phonograph
9496 N. Woodbridge Ave
Bitely MI 49309
(231) 745-7175
email: victrola@triton.net
Website:
www.victroladoctor.com
George is a fantastic resource for all kinds of Victrola parts, cabinets, etc...and he does first-class repairs
Antique Phonograph Supply Company (APSCO)
P.O.Box 123
Route 23
Davenport Center, New York 13751
(607) 278-6218
(Top quality repairs and many parts too!!)
Wyatts Musical Americana
P.O.Box 601
Lakeport, California 95453
(707) 263-5013
(Great resource on the west coast)
Brian Nix
709 Amesbury Court
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
N7V 2P9
(519) 466-2169
Due to health issues "Dr. Bob" is transitioning the business over to his son
Brian to maintain the same level of quality and trust that has been provided
since 1996.
