Phonoland

Rob

I think Matt means well but fails to understand that "techs" are not readily available in all areas. In my area the nearest tech is 100 miles away and does not travel. So at 71 years of age I would need to load and unload a 300/425 pound unit twice to get it serviced. Or I could pay a tech to travel over 200 miles round trip plus his service call versus in this case I spent $15.00 bucks for a tweeter that I may be able to use at some point in the future and I now have 2 extra caps that cost me a couple of bucks.

The moral of this post is that yes I did spend money that I may not have spent if a tech would have been used, but, it would have cost me much more for the tech's travel time and service call and I would not have learned anything.

Also, not all techs are honest. I purchased a Seeburg DS 100 from a woman that when I asked her if the unit was able to ply both 45 and 33 1/3 7 inch records, she said her tech said he would set it up for 10 slots to do that for a few hundred dollars or he would set it up to play all 50 slots for $500.00.

This board is very fortunate to have the likes of people like Rob/Ron and others that are honest, patient with those with less knowledge and share their vast knowledge free of charge. If it wasn't for these wonderful people there would be many more 400 pound doorstops around the house or worse yet, heading to the landfill!

I went to local colleges to take some kind of course so I could learn about these old electronics, I was told to forget it or find an old TV repairman that would teach me the ropes. Do you know how many TV repairmen still exist? I for one am very thankful for all those that have assisted me when I did not understand something that may have seemed to them easy as pie, yet took the time to walk me through what they could have done with their eyes closed.

Just to be clear, I have also used techs when the repairs were beyond my abilities

Thank you all so much for your kind assistance.

Best
Darrell

HI Darrell,
I see it from just about the same point of view--I don't mind helping those who are willing to help themselves--but, I need to have any questions answered, in order to focus my train of thought. When I get "general questions" from someone who has not taken the time to learn at least, how it SHOULD work ( by reading the "friendly" manual, or one or more of the "guides" I have written), I just feel it is a waste of my time, and energy to reply ---and, frankly, sometimes I feel "used"--AND I do, make my living repairing Jukeboxes---
Ron Rich

Hi all:
I am going to wade in here and bring it back on topic. I replaced the cartidge for Darrell on this rock ola. We split the jobs on our restorals. I have the tracking set about 7-8 grams. useing the adjuster on the flat counterbalance spring. Anything less causes skipping on some records. i have oiled up the tone arm pivot and end of groove cancel linkage, but just can't get good tracking with anything near 5g. i notice there is no antiskating on any jukebox i have ever worked on but am wondering what else can i check? I even looked at the floor and mech springs to make sure we were level. Thanks for your continued help. Mark

Morning Ron

Agree with all you say, and sorry to say I am sure there are some who do just "use you" which is far to common in the world we live in.

Unfortunately even with reading the manuals, sometimes I just do not understand what is being said. Can't explain it, in many other areas I do not have this veil over my eyes.

Of course this is all further complicated when there are errors in the manuals, schematics and parts lists. For instance I purchased a cap kit from a respected supplier for the Rockola 1454. I struggle with schematics and have a friend that keeps me on the right path. While putting new caps in the amp I found the .1 MFD caps referred to in the schematic. On the schematic the 0.1MFD shows as a polarized cap. The ones I was sent and the ones in the amp were not polarized. For me, this raises the questions, do I have the right component from the supplier, have I located the proper component in the amp, etc? My friend and the supplier both assured me that the schematic was wrong. Well the amp sounds great and they were right.

I enjoy the look of the old jukeboxes, listening to them and I enjoy working on them and pretty much know my capabilities, although I sometimes find I have gone beyond my capabilities. So far I have stopped before I smell or see the dreaded smoke, oh no:shock:

Have a great weekend!

Best
Darrell

Hi Darrell,
I have no problem if a person does not understand a manual--I will attempt to re-word it, or anything I have written.
It's when someone obviously has not made an attempt to read the manual, that gets my "dander up"--I had to, in most cases read it, and figure out what the darned thing was telling me !
As for "errors in printed material"--that's the reason that that subject is covered, above, in the stickies, and I encourage all to add anything they find, to it ! Ron Rich

mb9513 wrote:Hi all:
I am going to wade in here and bring it back on topic. I replaced the cartidge for Darrell on this rock ola. We split the jobs on our restorals. I have the tracking set about 7-8 grams. useing the adjuster on the flat counterbalance spring. Anything less causes skipping on some records. i have oiled up the tone arm pivot and end of groove cancel linkage, but just can't get good tracking with anything near 5g. i notice there is no antiskating on any jukebox i have ever worked on but am wondering what else can i check? I even looked at the floor and mech springs to make sure we were level. Thanks for your continued help. Mark

Mark, it is a crude tonearm. This, unfortunately, is what jukeboxes were notorious for. There was a term for used records that were worn out: "Juked".

The only other things I can suggest are to remove or push back any cloth covering on the tonearm leads to assure maximum flexibility and use a less compliant stylus.

The only real solution here is to get rid of the spring and use a counterweight. In the 1454 there is plenty of clearance beyond the rear of the tonearm, so it is just a matter of finding the right weight to use.

Rob-NYC

ds100h wrote:Rob
I think Matt means well but fails to understand that "techs" are not readily available in all areas.
I went to local colleges to take some kind of course so I could learn about these old electronics, I was told to forget it or find an old TV repairman that would teach me the ropes. Do you know how many TV repairmen still exist? I for one am very thankful for all those that have assisted me when I did not understand something that may have seemed to them easy as pie, yet took the time to walk me through what they could have done with their eyes closed.
Best
Darrell

Darrell, look, the reality is that there are not going to be any technicians with first-hand original experience with these old machines in a few years. The younger guys in what is left of the jukebox business aren't interested and I'm afraid that many of the parts suppliers and dealers are going to be gone too. The shows are all but gone, as are the magazines but for Always Jukin' and we are seeing a lot of mass auctions of collections from people who have died and their survivors have no interest in continuing the collection.

Thankfully, there are these sorts of forums and books by people like Ron along with reprints of service manuals. But "that is it". Collectors are going to be increasingly on their own and reliant on this sort of remote diagnosis for help.

Most people come here with an earnest desire to help fellow collectors. Sometimes you run into types who just want to boast/boost their egos. That, we don't need.

Rob/NYC