Seeburg M100C

Cleaned contacts and everything is good. "O" contacts seem to arc a lot when engaging. Does that fiber piece under the contact have any thing to do with it. See Pictures.

O contacts carry hi current--yours appear to be "pitted" and should be properly cleaned and burnished.
They always tend to arc, somewhat--
Ron Rich

Thanks for all your help.
Can Stereo records be played on this Jukebox?

That depends on which cartridge/needles you have installed. If a "stereo compliant" needle is installed, it will play them just fine--in mono-not in stereo, however. Ron Rich

That is one of those "Thorpe" carts using back to back ceramic carts. They are stereo but (I assume) wired in mono -so yes, they are safe for use with stereo records,.As Ron points out the machine is still mono.

The two individual carts were Magnavox/Tetrad and used in Magnavox consoles from the mid-sixties till sometime in the seventies.

They tracked "ok" but are still mediocre compared to a magnetic.

One of the VL's that I bought in 1989 came with that same cart. It sounded like a "Victrola" compared to the later magnetic I replaced it with.

Rob/NYC

Guy's,
Word of warning on "needles"---SOME (eBay) supplier(s) of this needle sell a version that is "LP' on one side, and "78" on the other. Playing a 45 rpm with the 78 needle (2-3 mil. ?) will destroy your records. Ron Rich

Where can I get a magnetic cartridge?

Any one of the sellers of used parts listed above, usually has them--
Ron Rich

ultraliter wrote:Where can I get a magnetic cartridge?

That can send you on an expensive and complicated project.

I'll outline the choices:

1) Get an original Seeburg/Pickering cart for that machine. The original one was called a "Blackhead". This used styli that are available, but the cart has internal rubber damper pads that will need to be replaced. You can do it yourself or have it done.

2) Get a "Redhead" cart. These were used beginning (IIRC) with the G. They are sealed and need no service as long as they have coil continuity. The styli have been NLA but a European co. just announced they are making a new version again.

Both above are "drop-in" solutions. Compatibility with stereo records is poor with the Blackhead and -may- may good with the new styli for the Redhead.
Sound quality is "ok".

2)Get a Pickering/Stanton 345-O3D retro cart. This is the best solution but very expensive as they are no longer made. While they were made to be "drop-in" they do not balance well and need to either have additional weight added to their top or, as I do, cut down the counterweights on the bottom of the tonearm assembly to balance.

These carts are fully stereo compatible (though mono output) have the best possible sound, track at 2-3 grams and have readily available styli.

3) Replace the tonearm with one using the stereo cart that Seeburg adopted beginning in 1966 and used till end.

This is a relatively less costly approach but will require cutting the tail weight off the arm (NBD) and cutting/grinding down the original weights on the C assembly to balance the new cart. The cart is fully stereo (you'll wire it mono here) and uses the same styli as the 345-O3D.

While I consider it worthwhile to go this route, for home use what you have may be OK given the limited response of the original speaker.

Rob/NYC

Back with more questions: Two things, Playing right side of record with left side of cartridge record plays real good. Playing left side of record with right side of cartridge music is distorted. Swapped record around and the bad side plays very good on the other side of the cartridge. ?? I also get a loud hum through the speaker when not playing a record and I can hear it when playing a record. Any Ideas. As usual thank you in advance.

"Hum" indicates amp problems, in most cases. Depending on type of hum, it may not be wise to operate it as such. Remove input and mute plugs, check speaker plug, if still humming, it's 95% sure, it is internal to the amp. Did you swap needles around ?--sounds like a bad needle, if I understand correctly. Ron Rich

Yes I have swapped needles and still the same. Just does it on one side.

Everyone refers me to vendors at top. I see no vendors at top of my page.

Which cartridge is installed on your phonograph ? If a Thorpe, I suspect it's bad on one side ?
The vendors list is five down from the top --sticky, that says "Used/New parts--where to buy--"
Ron Rich

Sorry, I'm new to this and still don't see the vendors list. Far as I can tell its called a "black Head" that's all I know.