45 spindle help

Does any one have any tips on getting the Magnavox spindles to perform any better? The one I have seems to have the metal tab/45 support will hang
and not retract and let the next 45 drop. Has any one dealt with this problem before?

Deash,

Oh crap, I can't see very well from the dark pic, but would that be one with the hole in the top that can hold about a dozen records and the spindle is really tall, partially protruding through the top, or is it just a black version of the popular ivory colored one? That is something that would fit on one of the older micromatics with the black curved tonearm i.e., W602 - W608 series. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona


This short, plastic adapter works with the W714-W716 series turntables found in 70's units, as pictured below. You can only load about 4-6 LP's max on that short spindle.



The flat, rectangular one on the left came with my W802 series turntable which looks exactly like a W620 but has square corners, but the more popular one on the right will also work and it was used on the W602-W608, W620-W622 series. The newer W700 -W800 series used a single idler wheel for speed and change cycles and had those brackets where you could turn 90 degrees and lift the turntable directly out instead of removing the back panel.

Bobby, the bottom photo you posted is what I have and having trouble with any help would be appreciated. I recently bought a 1963 Astro and I'm really
enjoying it, just wish it would play my 45's properly.

Deash,

No expert here by any means, but I have two identical turntables, the one with the taller spindle protruding through the top is labeled "Imperial" micromatic, while the other is just labeled micromatic and has a shorter spindle.

The metal tabs on the black one are slightly higher than the other and is about a quarter inch taller. I don't know what turntable you have, but you could possibly have the wrong one and the works inside are not aligning with your particular spindle. I did swap the adapters to see how they'd work, and that black one sorta "semi" worked, but the fit wasn't quite right.

Please note the different shapes of the two spindles in the last two pics, particularly the tall older style where it is offset to the left and then up, while the newer ones go straight up. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

here's what I have, and again what it does is when I put 3 or 4 45's it will drop the first one and then none of the rest. I tried mixing up the records to
see if it was just one 45 hanging up but it didn't matter what record was next....same problem.

If the 45 adapter spindle is the correct one for the changer, then I suspect a malfunction of the mechanism under the changer itself.
Possible the pusher adjustment is binding, spindle parts binding, etc etc, and the changer needs servicing.
There are specific critical adjustments for the pusher pawl inside the spindle, and these adjustments have to be carried out in a specific order.

Of course, I cannot nail down the exact cause, from hundreds of miles away.

Deash,

I had to shuffle a few 45's around, too, finding that the centers varied in thickness. How does your turntable handle LP's? If they drop perfectly everytime then I would expect the adapter, but on the other hand, the mechanics underneath may be enough to move an LP over to drop properly but not enough to fully push the insides of the adapter. Could go either way.

Is that adapter NOS (New Old Stock) that's been sitting around for years? I saw the box in your first pic.

Sorry, no help here, but unless you can eliminate a faulty adapter, then I agree with Matt that there may be issues underneath the turntable. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Thanks for the reply's guys, the turntable has no troubles with LP's only 45's this console was purchased from an elderly woman and she and her late husband bought it in 63 at the Magnavox store and it is like new, I don't think it was used much and I doubt it has even played a 45 until I purchase it. I will lube it lightly and see what that does.

Somewhere in the owner's manual, it suggests that you not lower the overarm onto the stack of 45's, adding weight/pressure to it. Just let the adapter support the weight of the records by itself. --BB

Magnavox Collaro changers have used three different 45 spindles in four configurations, and they are to be used differently. The tallest of the spindles was not designed to be used with the overarm resting on the stack.

1. The Collaro 3-size changers with the protruding drop feeler (54, 440, 456, 840, 99) and the tall offset spindle and the adaptor with the hole in the top require that you do not place the overarm on top of the records. Instead, you place the overarm against the edge of the stack when using the large hole spindle (see photo). Spring tension pulls it toward the spindle. it swings in and then drops when the last record drops, so the changer shuts off.



2. The pickup arm scan Collaros (340, 640, 740, 60, M400, M600, M800, M402, M602, M802) with the long offset spindle and the adaptor with the hole in the top also require that you do not put the overarm on large hole records. On the ones with the overarm with a hole in it or the overarm with a thumb instead of a semicircle end (see my avatar), put the overarm on top of the adaptor, not on the records. You may also leave it over the rest post, positioned so the pickup arm feeler does not hit it. If you have the overarm with the semicircle end, leave it over the rest post when using the large hole spindle. Since the overarm does not activate automatic shutoff, it needs to contact records only to hold small hole records level.

3. The changer with the straight spindle with the retractable ledge and the round 45 spindle will work with the overarm on the records or over the restpost. Since the overarm does not activate automatic shutoff, it needs to contact records only to hold small hole records level.

4. The changers with the straight spindle with retractable ledge and the flat 45 adaptor require the overarm to hold the records level.

Because my Collaro has been modified for automatic speed change, I have spiders in all of my 45s.

One other thing: I once added a turntable mat. The 45 spindle would not go down enough to work. And I have to remove the strobe disc shown in my avatar to use the 45 spindle.