by CraigR »
Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:29 pm
Regarding these Philco Changers:
The earliest version of these that I find is the M-22. Mine came out of a 1951 model. This one repeats the last record, and has the "tilt" cartridge. There is a lever sticking out of the top of the tone arm above the needle (cartridge). It is part of the cartridge. Tilt it forward for 78 rpm or back for 33-45 stylus. The controls for reject and speed do not have the arrows of the later M-38 and M-26.
The M-38 (which was shown above) is very similar to the M-22, except that it has a more conventional Ronette flipover cartridge (with conventional flipover lever at the tip of the arm). The one that I have came from a radio/phono combo from 1956 (not a high fidelity model). I assume that this was a cheaper cartridge for the lower end machines, since Philco was concurrently still using the tilt cartridge in Hi Fi models.
The M-26 was used in the high fidelity models - about 1954 - 56. (Mine from a 1955 model) It has some extra mechanisms under the record shelf that allow it to senses when there are no more records to play. When the device that presses the records down on the shelf drops fully, it senses that there are no more records, and returns but does not shut off. This changer also uses the tilt cartridge.
I came across these units while gathering parts to restore an old 1956 hi fi from my childhood. It used the M-26. These changers are almost always a green/gold color, with black record shelf, black controls and black tone arm. The M-26 from my childhood (lost) had a brick red base and all parts mentioned as black above were white. I have never been able to find one like this. Oh well - keep looking on ebay!
Craig