I need massive amounts of help...

I have a 60's RCA record player that I need need need help with. I cannot find any information about this model anywhere, and I can't find parts anywhere, and it need a new needle and probably a new cartage.

It is a model: k24vf5

AM/FM/FM Stereo/ Phono with a 3 pin "tape" input.

It is all tube operated and it is very large. A real piece of furniture.

The only google result in my searches for this model is this ebay page for a new needle:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWNX:IT

there is only a reference that the needle is for my model.

Can anyone help me, (I can post pictures later if it would be helpful).

Thanks, Ed

Ed,
I honestly don't understand where your problem is---Does the cartridge appear damaged? If not, and the model number of your machine matches one on the list provided by that eBay seller, I would purchase a new needle, and "go from there". If the installation of a new needle does not solve the problem, that seller says that you can email him (you might do so anyway first, to verify that someone along the line has not changed the cartridge !)--or, you should re-state your problem(s?) here, and hopefully someone can help you. Hope that helps-- Ron Rich

Ed, most of the RCA's of a certain vintage basically had the same components.
They pretty much standardized things such as amp chassis, changers, etc.
Parts are easily gotten for most of these things.
Sounds to me like an early 60's console with that pretty "studiomatic" record changer.
The ones with the RCA logo on the arm had the non-floating cartridge.
The arms with the feather had the pivoted floating "feather-action" cartridge.... actually the same as the non pivoted.
Needles were interchangable. (the "T" shaped needles).

Does it look similar to this?:

Thanks for the diagram. I managed to get the needle changed out, with no problems.

Sorry that I wasn't more specific about the problems I was having, but at the time, I was really just hoping someone had some literature to share on this thing, because I would die to read it and further understand how it works.

I had a problem with the record player not playing 78's, but I fixed it. The motor was starting to lower itself, as the bushings that held it up had shriveled.

Now I have 2 problems that I don't even begin to know how to fix.

1. The Balance knob doesn't work. This is the knob that functions also as a pull switch for "AFC" which I assume means Automatic Frequency... something...

The part I don't understand is the way in which is malfunctions. The speakers have functioning stereo at all times, and volume remains the same in each speaker at all times, but when I turn the knob, the tune changes alot.

At balance all the way left, I can hear the low and mid EQ range, but the high is cut out.
At balance in the middle, I can hear low and high, but the mid is gone and can barely hear vocals.
At balance all the way right, the low end is cut out, following the pattern.

I don't even know how it works, but I check around and didn't see any wires shorting, and the tubes don't look blown.


2. The speed of my 33 1/3's playing is slightly too fast. I didn't see any kind of adjustable regulator that I could recognize near the motor, but there were more than a few wires going from the phono to the main unit, could it be electrically controlled? In any case, any ideas on how to adjust it?

By the way, I found a date stamped in the record player by the motor, 16 JULY 1963.

My last question is that there is a "tape" position, and on the back there is a female. 3 pin. tape connector. Am I correct in assuming that this is L input, R input, and ground? And if so, could this be converted into an "aux input" for standard audio devices (RCA component, 1/4 stereo, 1/2 stereo)?

Thank you for your help,

Ed Anchak

P.S. Sorry for the insane gap in my posts, there has been an insane amount of stuff going on in my life.

EAnchak wrote:Thanks for the diagram. I managed to get the needle changed out, with no problems.

Sorry that I wasn't more specific about the problems I was having, but at the time, I was really just hoping someone had some literature to share on this thing, because I would die to read it and further understand how it works.

I had a problem with the record player not playing 78's, but I fixed it. The motor was starting to lower itself, as the bushings that held it up had shriveled.

Now I have 2 problems that I don't even begin to know how to fix.

1. The Balance knob doesn't work. This is the knob that functions also as a pull switch for "AFC" which I assume means Automatic Frequency... something...

The part I don't understand is the way in which is malfunctions. The speakers have functioning stereo at all times, and volume remains the same in each speaker at all times, but when I turn the knob, the tune changes alot.

At balance all the way left, I can hear the low and mid EQ range, but the high is cut out.
At balance in the middle, I can hear low and high, but the mid is gone and can barely hear vocals.
At balance all the way right, the low end is cut out, following the pattern.

I don't even know how it works, but I check around and didn't see any wires shorting, and the tubes don't look blown.


2. The speed of my 33 1/3's playing is slightly too fast. I didn't see any kind of adjustable regulator that I could recognize near the motor, but there were more than a few wires going from the phono to the main unit, could it be electrically controlled? In any case, any ideas on how to adjust it?

By the way, I found a date stamped in the record player by the motor, 16 JULY 1963.

My last question is that there is a "tape" position, and on the back there is a female. 3 pin. tape connector. Am I correct in assuming that this is L input, R input, and ground? And if so, could this be converted into an "aux input" for standard audio devices (RCA component, 1/4 stereo, 1/2 stereo)?

Thank you for your help,

Ed Anchak

P.S. Sorry for the insane gap in my posts, there has been an insane amount of stuff going on in my life.

Sounds like it needs a major overhaul...... period.
1963.....2010..... hmm.... ya think TIME has taken it's toll?

I'd say yes.

The record changer is in need of work. tinkering with it won't bring it back to "spec".
There is no "speed" adjustment of the motor...
The bushings/motor mounts need to be replaced with specialized ones...
It'll also need flushing and re-lubing of the chassis...
RCA Victor changers always ran slightly fast...by design.

The "tape" in/out jack can be upgraded to RCA style jacks.. the center pin is ground.. L/R are the outer pins.


The electronics also sound in need of work.... parts become defective due to AGE.
48 year old capacitors do not perform reliably today and need changing out to more modern ones.
Resistors go "out-of-spec" and need replacing.
From your previous posts, I doubt you have the experience to perform these tasks without mucking things up worse.
And I surely wouldn't contuinue to play this thing as it is, because in my experience it could become more costly than it is now to repair properly, due to a possible failure of major components caused by the already defective ones it obviously has.

In 1963, tubes might have cost 3-5 dollars each... expect 15-30 bucks now, if one fries.
In 1963, a replacement power transformer maybe cost 6-12 bucks.... try 150 bucks today.

It depends on what you want to do to this piece, having it serviced by someone knowledgeable to prolong it's useful life and bring back its glorious sound, or risking a catastrophic failure, rendering it trash, or very expensive to fix.

MattTech wrote:It depends on what you want to do to this piece, having it serviced by someone knowledgeable to prolong it's useful life and bring back its glorious sound, or risking a catastrophic failure, rendering it trash, or very expensive to fix.

I really like this record player, and I like the sound, so I'd probably try to get it serviced. I just know with some things, there are simple solutions, but it sounds like this is going to be a job for a professional.

That's why us "professional " guys are in the business.

Record changers with 2-pole motors always run fast with one record, and slow with 10.