Packard Bell RPC-39

I recently purchased a PB RPC-39 with a Garrard AT6 turntable. I'm having some trouble with playing albums.

Specifically, the unit came with what I believe to be the original cartridge, a Sonotone 22T (ceramic, I believe) and a needle (I have purchased a new needle, as well). When I place the stylus on the album it does not produce sound, and it also seems to be resting too much on the stylus, so much so that the front edge of the clip on the tone arm for the cartridge is scraping along the album. I believe the balance needs to be adjusted, but I'm not entirely sure how to do that and wanted to ask folks' opinions before messing with it. I have no real experience with older phonographs (except, of course, from when I was a kid and they were new!). Any ideas you might have would be most appreciated! I am posting the one photo I have of the unit, but can take more detailed pics of the arm, cartridge, etc., if that would be helpful.

THANK YOU!

More detailed photos should help greatly !
Ron Rich

Here are several views I took close up. You'll see how the head of the arm, with the cartridge is resting solidly on the album, scraping along it. Also, even if I tried to manually hold it up some so just the needle is in contact I don't get any sound coming out, although I can tell that the unit is picking up my hand movements on the tone arm itself. Again, I apologize, I have no idea what I'm doing and do not know all the proper names for the various parts. Thanks again!

That cartridge is SHOT - the elements and yoke are missing, gone, history.
Someone messed with it.

See Gary Stork at http://www.thevoiceofmusic.com for a replacement.
Observe WHICH color wire connects to each pin - 4 wires - you don't want to get them mixed up.
Left - hot wire / Right - hot wire / Left - ground / Right - ground.

His EV5595-D is a good replacement - comes with mounting bracket and should perform like the original.

Wow, thank you! I will look into it and report the results. I really appreciate you sharing your expertise.

We just picked up one of these in similar shape. Can someone tell what year(s) these were made? My son and I are newbies.

Thanks, Curt

curtrod58 wrote:We just picked up one of these in similar shape. Can someone tell what year(s) these were made? My son and I are newbies.

Thanks, Curt

Mid sixties.

That is a Garrard AT-5.

The cartridge innards may have broken out during moving or shipping if the arm was not secured.

The stylus force needs to be checked whenever a new cartridge is installed in a spring balanced arm.

Attachments

IMG_1959.JPG
This is the tone arm setdown position adjustment, so the stylus lands on the lead in groove of the record.

IMG_1951.JPG
This is the tonearm raising height adjustment.

There is another adjustment you did not photograph that is the stylus force adjustment. It is either at the back end of the white part of the arm pivot, or under the whit part.

Adjust the stylus force for the middle of the range specified on the cartridge.

Do NOT unscrew the tonearm horizontal bearing. You will have a very difficult time putting it back together again against the spring pressure.