Phonoland

hello,

i am new to old record players and i am having trouble with mine.

would anyone be able to help?

Hello! What seems to be the problem?? Please be specific in describing the problems with the model number of record changer.

well first off, the record player will not play newer 180g vinyl.

the needle either slides across the record or skips all together

but the most important thing now is, is that the tone arm weight seems to be off and will not fully hit the grooves on the record. i can hear sound coming from the record but it's buried in a sea of static.

i do not have weights on the tone arm, nor an anti-skating knob of any sort. i am not sure what the deal is.

It could be a matter of a faulty needle or cartridge; or perhaps the base of the tonearm is out of whack and needs some adjustment.

The Silvertone brand was sold exclusively by Sears and there were hundreds of models throughout the years, starting with wind-up phonographs in the teens, and going on to stereo systems, throughout the 1960s/1970s/1980s... It would help if you can provide a model number. Better yet, if you can post a few clear photos of your stereo showing turntable, and a few close-ups showing the tonearm lowered onto a record.

The best option, of course, would be to have it looked over and serviced by someone who specializes in old sound systems, especially if this has not been done in several years or decades. I know there are a few in the Sacramento areas, for instance -- http://www.paradyme.com/paradyme-servic ... eo-repair/

JDS

First and foremost, replace the needle. If the tonearm wont even lower all the way to the record, see what's binding up the tonearm. There is a adjustment on the tonearm for heights, but this should be your last resort. Sounds more like you have a bad needle. Pictures posted here would help pin point the troubles.

here is the tone arm

another picture from a different angle...

Looks like a typical butcher-job of a 1940's radio/phono with a more modern 1960's record changer of some sort... lord knows what else is amiss.

Yep, a 60's changer installed in a 40's console. You didn't show much of the changer but it looks like an
Admiral Ensign or the one sold by Allied that was made by Admiral Ensign.

Looks to me like that's an even cheaper changer.
A Maestro brand "replacement" changer that sold for $19.95 back then.
Horrible thing it was, and still is.