Phonoland

Hi All,
I got into a discussion of the un-availability of suitable tonearm wire for post 1965 Seeburgs, and have come up with a "maybe". It's very expensive, and I will need to buy more than I can ever use, even if I live forever. I have been promised a sample so I can evaluate it, sometime in the next week. So, if there are any of you that think you will need some, let me know (PM me), so I can get the cost down (to a still, IMHO, high, but not outrageous) lower price. Ron Rich

Ron, describe this tonearm wire a bit more.
Gauge, conductors (3,4,5 wire) shielded?, twisted?, etc.
And any other facts.

I may be interested, not sure at the moment.
-Matt

Hi Matt,
What I am looking at is 4 (color)x33 gauge braided wire. These tone arms, if run at 1.5 grams pressure, need super flexible wire--I am "hoping"--Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Hi Matt,
What I am looking at is 4 (color)x33 gauge braided wire. These tone arms, if run at 1.5 grams pressure, need super flexible wire--I am "hoping"--Ron Rich

I could use some as well for phonograph repairs.
I usually buy small lengths from Gary at VM if I need some.

Let me know price/ft, and amounts you plan on aquiring.
I might be interested in getting some through you.

Hi Matt,
Gary sent me one--that's way to thick, and "stiff" for my purpose--
Will post my "findings" here--
Ron Rich

Keep me posted.

On some turntables, to aid in being "flexible", if there's enough slack in the wiring, I'll dress the wire in a small single-turn "loop" behind the arm pivot - this greatly increases "give" at that point.

Matt,
Yea--Seeburg dressed them with a big "U" shaped loop. The problem seems to arise, when the phono has not been used in years--the wire becomes a "spring"-and thus, the tone arm can not overcome the "spring pressure", to track correctly. There a couple of "cures", I have developed for this--one is to just "exercise" the tone arm--making sure it is properly oiled. The second one is to remove one of the cable clamps that hold the wire against the cradle frame. Success rate is approx. 60-75 % using these two "cures". Ron Rich

Ron Rich wrote:Matt,
Yea--Seeburg dressed them with a big "U" shaped loop. The problem seems to arise, when the phono has not been used in years--the wire becomes a "spring"-and thus, the tone arm can not overcome the "spring pressure", to track correctly. There a couple of "cures", I have developed for this--one is to just "exercise" the tone arm--making sure it is properly oiled. The second one is to remove one of the cable clamps that hold the wire against the cradle frame. Success rate is approx. 60-75 % using these two "cures". Ron Rich

I understand, yep.
Over the years, the plastic insulation outgasses, and loses it's flexibility.
Even heat from the electronics down below aids in stiffening the insulation.
Once the leads become brittle, it binds things up.

The United Audio "Dual" branded turntables of the 60's & 70's had two tiny shielded cables - silicone coated - and remain quite flexible, even today.

Matt,
You have now "done it" -- solved the mystery !
I now know how to answer my wife when she accuses me of "farting around" on some "honeydue" job.
I will just exclaim I am "outgassing" which has caused me to slow way down ---All true statements--I outgass quite a bit, lately, and have slowed down a lot--- Ron Rich

Ha! Ron!
You crack me up!
So sorry for your flatulence issues - I have them on occasion too....LOL!

But seriously, aging insulation, most old plastics in fact, lose resiliency and become brittle.
Some shrink, like the old 1930's/40's Philco and RCA Victor radio dial bezels - they warp terribly - luckily, repo replacements are available to some models.

Not getting too technical, but there's reading online somewhere about this issue.
On older RCA/Magnavox/Philco, etc. sets, the wires become gooey, sticky, from the chemicals leaching out of the insulation.
This can, fortunately be cleaned off with solvents.

If you can find a source of phono wire cable that is sheathed in silicone, it'll outlast anything, because it stays super flexible.