Posted 2010-11-16 4:39 AM (#249702 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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After cleaning all the parts with citric acid, I coated them with a light coat of silver paint. I couldn't risk to send all the parts away for proper threatment due to the BIG risk of loosing parts.
Posted 2010-11-16 1:26 PM (#249736 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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The progress goes slowly, here's some more parts ready for assembly. I think that I've got a lead on the stylus now - the Pfanstiehl 911-D7 should fit, according to the rumor - I'll find out in good time. The rubber bellows with the spring inside is the worst challenge yet - I have no leads for them yet, sent a couple of mails, but still no reply's.
Posted 2010-11-17 10:05 AM (#249860 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Today I built a stand for the player, so that I can get good access from all sides. The stand has a swivel function, using the original transportation safety brackets and bolts. So far so good, the kinetics is really nice, ingenious and lightweight. Now all the tripping function works again mechanically.
Posted 2010-11-17 6:09 PM (#249935 - in reply to #249701) Subject: RE: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 781 Location: Montreal, Canada
Wiz,
As always very well done and informative. You will always amaze me.
But...................
I have one sugestion for you.
You should use an old Johnny Cash 45's from the fifties or some rockabilly instead of the one you are using.
You are lucky your car is not Christine, otherwise you'd be in trouble.......
Posted 2010-11-18 10:08 PM (#250090 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 369 Location: buchanan,Ga.
hey Wiz looking good on that repair!Have to got a lead on those rubber bellows-buchings yet?If not I'm pretty sure i have found a supplier off e bay.They are being sold in a set of nine.
Posted 2010-11-19 2:48 AM (#250112 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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No Teffany, I only have JC-Auto and they do not have the "correct" ones, theirs are made from foam rubber and should use the original springs. I could make foamrubber ones by myself, so I'm interested to know about your lead.
Posted 2010-11-20 2:44 PM (#250289 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thanks Teffany, I'll check it up with him. The ones he shows are motor grommets, but I'm also search for the rubber (balloon) cushions with a spring inside them.
Posted 2010-11-24 10:40 AM (#250649 - in reply to #250289) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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wizard - 2010-11-20 8:44 PM
Thanks Teffany, I'll check it up with him. The ones he shows are motor grommets, but I'm also search for the rubber (balloon) cushions with a spring inside them.
Those motor grommets does not fit the automotive record changers. They have a external diameter of 0,500", while the ones in "our" record changers is 0,380". I guess it will be home made motor grommets then.
Posted 2010-12-04 1:48 PM (#251870 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Nice to have you back posting on the forum Bengt! Thank's - I have not been able to do so much lately, I've been working with translation of the manual, so that I could fully understand how everything should be adjusted. I made some new motorgrommets out of cable grommets. Now the recordchanger works just fine. Only thing left is to renovate the switches.
Posted 2010-12-06 3:09 PM (#252134 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thank's Denis - now I have the record changer in working condition! The switches works as they should and all connections are ready. Now mechanically, remains only to fabricate a new idler roller and the rubber/ballon/spring cushions. Electrically remains to solve how to get the record player hooked up to a modern radio/CD/MP3 player, but they never seems to have any aux input?!
Posted 2010-12-10 12:35 PM (#252697 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Today I managed to mount the casing in car on foamrubber and wood pieces, so that I could take measurements for to make the support brackets. The brackets are made out of stainless steel.
Posted 2010-12-12 1:33 PM (#253000 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Today I test mounted the record changer in the car. The brackets came out nicely, with a snug fit to clear the ash receiver and the glove compartment door. I'll try to post some measurements when I do the final mounting.
Posted 2010-12-14 1:48 AM (#253183 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Yesterday, I fabricated a new idler roller out of a block of plastic. i tried to match the orginal weight as close as possible. The idler has a groove for an ordinary O-ring, the O-ring is carefully grinded to a more square profile for better grip.
Posted 2010-12-15 4:43 PM (#253403 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Great progress tonight friends! I finally hooked up the record changer mechanism to my stereo - first nothing, then I discovered that the NOS pickup hade some verdigris and oxidation on the contacts. Some silver polish cured that. Then I got sound, but with heavy hum due to no screened cables. Found some TV antenna cable on the attic, and..... after who knows how many years, 20, 30 or more - there was sound again from the record changer. It's totally cool to play the old singles on the bench set-up and watch the movements of the slide during the tripping cycle. I'm very tired but happy - I'm gonna crash in bed now.
Posted 2010-12-30 12:47 PM (#255049 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thank's Greg!
Today I fabricated my prototype rubber cushions out of 1/4" special foam rubber (no, I don't know yet, but it's almost like silicone, but it's possible to glue). All the parts are glued together on a teflon dime (also used for to grind them round). I made my cushions hollow for to try to get a good softness but at the same time good sideway support agains the centrifugal forces and brake forces while driving.
Posted 2011-01-01 11:11 AM (#255330 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Here is more progress on my prototype rubber cushions. First picture shows the sad remains of the original ones. Note the small hole on the top washer - this is the original air escape.
Now I need to understand the differences between the original cushions. It seems like that the same spring was used for all three, but the springs where stretched out on the front one and the left rear one, while the one close to the motor was left unstretched.
My cushions could have been more cosmeticall done, but they're prototypes and I want to test my idea in practical use first of all.
Posted 2011-01-16 9:55 AM (#257185 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Update and new progress, due to using NOS ceramic cartridges, I misunderstood everything and the preamplifier is not needed at all!!! The new Pfansteihl cartridges has an output of up to 1,5 volts and does not need anything. Today I played for hours on my record changer with very good sound.
Posted 2011-01-16 11:24 AM (#257199 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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I actually don't know how to do it Bart?! I'll be out working this week, I'll try to inform myself how its done and eventually try to upload something next weekend.
Posted 2011-01-27 9:55 PM (#258692 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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So Wiz am i understanding you right that you can get this unit to produce sound by just hooking up a 12 volt hot and a good known ground then simply out to speakers and it plays???If so i misunderstood too i allways thought that they had to be hooked up to the radio so that the low voltage signal from the player needle cart. to be amplfied, then out to the speakers.In fact just to keep the radio and record player apart i bought a preamp to run it apart from the radio....
Posted 2011-01-28 12:35 AM (#258709 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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No Teff, you dont need a preamplifier for to connect the recordchanger to a modern (no phono) input. Modern CD/radio/mp3 units dont have a phono in, some have an AUX in and I thought that the ouput from the record changer would be too low (based on bad NOS needles).
Posted 2011-02-05 10:31 PM (#259742 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 369 Location: buchanan,Ga.
Wiz you got that player working just like new...way to go! I was really looking at the photos that you have posted here of your car ,geez your car is simply gorgeous!! I could only hope that mine comes out looking half as good as yours!!! How are those bushing working out that you made for the player? I made some out of a more hard setting up rtv with the springs inpreganted into them...these have a very slight give to them made this way but but still seem to have enough holding power not to have a whole lotta bounce to them either...kinda like a shock works....
Posted 2011-02-06 3:17 AM (#259761 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thank's Teff, well I still have to test the homemade foamrubber cushions in the car. When I carry around the recordchanger while it plays, they work very well - the player never skips a groove. Mine are soft and giving, so the chassi can "float" around inside the casing.
Posted 2011-02-06 5:13 AM (#259764 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Finally, today I mounted the record changer mechanism inside the casing and tested it with proper music. This has been a really interesting project and I've learned a lot about the record changers.
Posted 2011-02-06 2:32 PM (#259855 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 2824 Location: Snohomish, WA.
Wiz man,
I thought the main job of the pre-amp was to maintain RIAA equalization. It is different for Records VS taped recordings, for example. The roll-off per octave is different. Won't you loose this without a pre-amp (actually should be called an equalized buffer amplifier)?
You do very good work Wiz. It's nice to see real craftsman at work.
Posted 2011-02-06 2:48 PM (#259862 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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That's what I thought too Mike, but as the record changers has a ceramic pick-up they dont need anything at all. If you have a magnetic pick-up, then you need the RIAA equalization. I have a preamplifier for sale
Posted 2011-02-21 6:11 AM (#261798 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Finally the RCA AP-1 is mounted in JoseFin - this was indeed the most demanding and interesting renovation so far for me. Sorry for the bad clip quality
Posted 2011-03-05 6:42 PM (#263598 - in reply to #249701) Subject: RE: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Location: hartsville sc
Hey Wizard, I want to compliment you on this excellent article, you really have gotten all of us excited about restoring our players. My first question is have thought about making the bushings/ idler wheel for resale?
It looks like there area number of us that are in need of the same parts due to age of course.Also can you give me the number for the stylus that you used and how you hooked it up.I would like to also do this to my mondern system.
Thanks as much Ron
Posted 2011-03-06 5:33 AM (#263634 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thanks Ron. The idler wheel takes me several hours to make and I tried to sell one, but it seems like my price was too high (close to the renovated ones which you can buy in America).
The stylus is a Pfanstiehl ceramic cartridge diamont 911-D7, it's a new stylus made in Japan. The stylus has an output of up to 1,2 volt, so there's no need for a preamplifier.
The hook up is simple - you solder a RCA female on a short cable and connect it to the pick-up cables. You connect it to an RCA input on a modern stereo with a "T" connection for to have the sound in both speakers.
Posted 2011-03-29 8:07 AM (#266364 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 1295 Location: Nasco , SWEDEN
WIZARD, you are amazing! the most people open their "ebay-package" and find something looking like this will emidiate light a cigarette and think " why in the hell..............." then put it in a corner deep in to the garage! But not you o no, that´s far too easy! just digg in to the problem and solv it! congratulation to a very nice job done! Morgan
Posted 2011-03-29 8:41 AM (#266370 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thanks Morgan, one must be really stubborn and half crazy to do all the work and research behind this project. Now when the record changer is working and mounted, I use it very often - it's a time machine you know, like back to the past.
Posted 2011-03-29 10:51 AM (#266386 - in reply to #266370) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 693 Location: Kangasala, Finland
Really nice work! Looks awesome and sounds great - as does rest of your interior.
That thing is cool. I would love to have one as well. It sure beats the '56-59(?) Highway HiFi in everyday use. The 16rpm record selection kinda sucks...
Not trying to steal your thread here, but is that front rubber mat original or repro? I had one like it in my '60 DeSoto but it fell apart. Only difference was that it was white with black diamonds.
Posted 2011-03-29 11:09 AM (#266393 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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There might be one Phono Matic 500 record changer for sale Jan. The rubber mats are old aftermarket items - not from Mother MoPar, but kind of nice still.
PM me if you're interested in a record changer.
Posted 2011-08-14 2:29 PM (#284634 - in reply to #249701) Subject: RE: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Location: hartsville sc
I have sold my player (no room in my new ride) but I would like to comment on the GREAT information that Sven/Wizard provided my during my restoration.He is without a doubt the man to contact if you are working on or have a car record player. His knowledge and schematics enabled me to rework my player to play thru my radio using the FM modulator or 8 tape/cassette player or Ipod connection.
Posted 2014-05-09 3:08 AM (#440014 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Thanks' for the kind feedback guys! You know the procedure; fix one thing and three other "problems" occur?
I had my 7-button self seeking radio converted and with that, the possibility to use a mobile phone or other auxiliary sources for music - worked just fine, BUT - the output of the pickup was too low, so the radio took over when I used my RCA AP-1 record changer. This forced me to investigate how to increase the output signal of the pickup, as well as solve that the mono output from the record changer couldn't make a "short circuit" for the other auxiliary units. I had some great hints from Serge in this matter - thanks' my friend!
The first test was with a simple pre-amplifier and that worked out just fine - the output is now approximately 2 volts between the peaks and the record changer output is hence stronger than the radio signal, which makes the record changer the "master" as long as it's on.
Posted 2014-05-09 8:15 AM (#440029 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Here is a picture of the test circuit with the signal relay mounted. It has been tested and it works very nice. Now I must tidy up the cables and the soldering somewhat.
I'll try to make a drawing and a component list later on.
Posted 2016-10-26 4:42 PM (#524481 - in reply to #249701) Subject: RE: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 16
Location: Germany
Although this is an old topic I'm glad I found it. You really did a great job on this amazing restoration.
I've seen your video on Youtube earlier but never knew what you actually started with. That thing
was really crusty! After many years I finally found a nice looking ARC 2500 that was still in working
order but unfortunately the seller's wife was not too careful when boxing it so it arrived damaged and
is not working anymore. I'm looking for an owner and service manual and will need some parts like
the "cushions" for the springs, the motor mount grommets and have the idler wheel rebuild because
it's dented. The needle is missing as well, I'm not sure if those are still available or if it would be better
to look for a modern replacement? I got the mechanism working but the arm is not moving towards
the record. The seller said it did move when he tested it so something must have happened during
shipping. The ARC2500 has a small, tar filled box which is a small AM transmitter. It broke during
shipping but probably won't be needed since I like to use an auxilary input on my hidden aftermarket
radio. Apart from this the motor mount got bent, the seller did not secure the mechanism before
shipping, even left some records inside the unit, which made it worse.
Posted 2021-07-28 11:47 AM (#613847 - in reply to #252134) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 2
Hi,
First time posting here.
This is an incredible restoration. Bravo!
I have a similar record player in front of me. Unfortunately, someone has messed around with the wiring to the ON/OFF and START/REJECT switches. Would anyone have any reference photos of the correct wiring or otherwise shed some light on how this is supposed to be connected to the plug? Thanks in advance.
Posted 2021-07-28 4:08 PM (#613855 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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I have mine connected like this.
The schematic from the manual is the second attachment.
Good luck with the restauration, those record changers are very impressive and works very good. A show-stopper, when people see them and hear them working they are amazed.
Posted 2021-11-07 9:46 AM (#616616 - in reply to #249701) Subject: Re: RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
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Posts: 148
I acquired an AP-1 recently that needed the attention of a knowledgeable technician. Through some online forum I located Lee Faber in California, who has been working on the AP-1s since he was 15 years old installing them through the local RCA repair shop where he grew up. The result is amazing. The black portion of the case looks 100% times better than went I sent it to him. A real master of his craft. He sent me a video but it won't load here for some reason. I'll post some pics when I get the unit back and before I mount it in my DeSoto.
Now I need to use Wizard's measurements to create some mounting brackets and get it installed.
RCA AP-1 Record Changer Renovation
