1957 RCA VICTOR SHF9 ORTHOPHONIC HIGH FIDELITY RECORD PLAYER

[Crisrthomas3]

Where do I find info to order a new needle, ours just went out. I cant find a year or model number- Do you know how to help me?

[chompo7]

hey frank how are ya! i just got a 1958 orthophonic hfp consolette for free!

it works great but the needle is shot.its got an 81t but wondering if i could change

the cartridge to a sonotone 2t? those 81t's are kinda hard to find these days.

what do you think/suggest i do?

[frangiul13]

@chompo7 Hey Joe! Congrats on your free score!! I've interchanged a few of these powerpoint cartridges. As a matter of fact, I temporarily installed an 81t in my Voice of Music blonde console and it worked fine. But being the purist that I am, I ordered the Sonotone powerpont and put that on in. But the 81t worked fine, just had a bit less power, which was easily cured by cranking up the volume :)

You have to post a video of your new Orthophonic. Would love to see it!!

[chompo7]

@frangiul13 thanks frank yeah i need to make several videos of my newest scores! i wanted and ortho for the longest and the prices were always too high.this one was on craigslist for $20 and the girl emailed me and said

while she was out someone cut the cord so she gave it to me for free! she had it in the garage with the door open and some punk kid cut the cord on that and a tv she had for sale.

[frangiul13]

@chompo7 No big deal to throw a power cord on there. Just the thought of getting an Orthophonic for free, that's GREAT!!!

[chompo7]

@frangiul13 i did, i felt bad taking it for free so i gave her the $20

[frangiul13]

@chompo7 Awww. A-You such-a-nice-a-boy!!!!

[chompo7]

@frangiul13 hahahah and she was a paisan,how could i NOT slip her a few bucks right?

[frangiul13]

@chompo7 You did good my friend! That Orthophonic will treat you well :)

[zenarrrow]

I have an 1959 RCA Victor and for some reason tonight it started to drag when it played lp's can't figure out what happened.

[douro20]

I wish I had one...I saw one of these at a yard sale- it was being sold with a complete record collection for $200 and was in near perfect working order.]

[MegaEvilBrain]

Amazing build quality! Were these sold with built-in radios too? Thanks for the video.

[frangiul13]

@MegaEvilBrain RCA did have Orthophonic radio/record player units, mostly in console form

[RogerBauman]

I have this exact model and am trying to find a needle and cartridge for it. My local stereo / record player shop had no info for me. I was wondering if you might.

[frangiul13]

@RogerBauman If yours is similar, you need an Astatic 89t powerpoint needle/cartridge combination. They are available on ebay.

[MichaelJHuman]

Hard to tell sound quality with the mic moving, and on my crappy laptop speakers. Bass seems to be ok. Tonal balance seems pretty good.

[schmarcie]

Wow! INXS sounds sweet in Orthophonic Hi Fi !!!

I just picked up a RCA Victor Mark XII Model TPM 12 at a thrift store for $45

The cabinet is in great condition, the phono works perfectly and it sounds awesome. I've been wanting a Hi Fi for over 20 yrs.

[frangiul13]

@schmarcie Thanks for the comment! The Orthophonic High Fidelity units really do sound great...

[cb3961]

I just listed an identical SHF-9 on fleabaY tonite...lol

[TheFRiNgEguitars]

I love these old sets! Just curious, have you fitted it with a stereo cartridge (wired for monaural) 'cause the original cartridge should be having this stereo record for dinner.

[feralhousewife]

I just bought a 6-hf-4 unit. Looking for a needle and instructions on how to get the old one out.

Does it just pull forward? thanks!

[frangiul13]

If it's the all-in-one cartridge/needle type, yes. Grab it by both sides and pull it out

[tomsingelo]

hello.

I have a rca victor orthophonic hi fidelity tape recorder.

it´s a system with 3 speakers and i think from 1956.

Can you tell me were to find information about it?

thanks! great video and great sound!

[frangiul13]

Not too sure, buy try to search eBay for a Sams photofact information sheet for your particular model.

[silentrose64]

I just bought the exact same record player but the sound is extremely low - you can't really hear it at all. Any ideas on what might be wrong? I tried and the knobs (volume, etc.) and other records - no change, no real sound. Any help would be great!

[frangiul13]

Could be a number of things. You should have the tubes checked and then either check or replace the cartridge.

[silentrose64]

We're really new to this - just thought it really looked like fun and we also picked up some Monkeys albums to go with it. Can you tell me who does this type of work still or where I could find tubes & cartridges for it? Big thanks!

[frangiul13]

There are sellers on eBay who specialize in repairing vintage phonographs: 45honcho is one of them. You can also Google West Tech services. They also specialize in phonograph restorations.

[radioman56]

Pm Me through Antique radio forums maybe I can help

from antiqueradiobuff

[gogocamry]

What's the name of that song playing please ?

[frangiul13]

What You Need by INXS

[gogocamry]

Thank you :) I hope that one day I will find cool record players like you do !

[gogocamry]

Oops. I meant it to be a reply but anyway... :P

[Trance88]

Awesome unit! I'm sure it uses tubes right?

[frangiul13]

Oh yes, it has a very powerful tube amp. Sounds so sweeeet :)

[vinylman86]

does this player uses a tube or solid state (selenium/silicon) type rectifier?

[frangiul13]

Hey Vinylman,

Nope, all tube for this unit. Solid state wasn't even a thought when this thing came out.

[damusician]

so I'm assuming it uses a 34w5 tube.

[frangiul13]

Correct

[vinylman86]

better than having the selenium rectifier like some tube sets do.

[frangiul13]

Yes, absolutely. Plus, when the rectifiers fail, they can emit toxic fumes!

[frangiul13]

Thanks! Yes, this unit has a hefty two-stage tube amplifier that provides PLENTY of volume and power!!

[ChromeBumpers]

awesome -- five *****'s... great record changer and the amp sounds like it kicks... with the three spkrs too, RCA was big-time into great sound in that era; before everyone starting building cheap crap. When I was growing up we had one of the first RCA Victor consoles, Garrard changer, AM radio and real stereo amp/flipover cartridge, two 12" dual-cone spkrs, it was pretty cool!

[frangiul13]

Thanks!! Yes, this portable Orthophonic does kick A**! Glad to see you back on YouTube. Love your vids of that Seeburg! Just got fresh "T" needles for my AQ160 and she sings like a bird..... :)

[luvtrains]

I also have an RCA Victor New Orthophonic from the 1950s. Where do you get new needles and tubes ?

[davek12]

Not 100% sure, but that one might be old enough that you shouldn't play stereo records on it. Unless designed after stereo records came out, the needle doesn't have any way to move vertically and will quickly wear stereo records. Cool unit, though, and it doesn't all come through on here, but I can tell it sounds good.

[frangiul13]

Thanks for the comment. This can play stereo records. It has an 89T cartridge that is stereo compatible. Also, there is a stereo switch inside the unit that can be used with an extension speaker.

[OcelotRecords]

Sounds great! I have the exact same model that used to be my aunt's. I don't have alot of experience with these machines, but I did manage to change the tubes. It sounds okay. I think I should get a new stylus next.  What model do I need to look for?

[frangiul13]

Are you looking for the model of record player to look for, or are you talking about what stylus you need to get?

[OcelotRecords]

The model number is the same as yours, SHF-9. What kind of stylus do I need? Thanks for your help!

[frangiul13]

If it's the same model as mine, you need to get the 89T powerpoint needle/cartridge. Pull out the old one and insert the new one into the hole on the underside of the tonearm.

[tubellarbells]

This is it !...I've loved this RCA changer ever since I saw it as a kid at a neighbour's house in a console. I truly like the tonearm and the application over it or how do you call these ?

Nice to have the chance to see this working after so long. Looks like it changes records real fast. I never saw this as a portable unit.

Thanks for a grfeat video.

[frangiul13]

Thanks for the comment. Glad you like this fabulous RCA!

[xmvirus202]

That IS a real beauty!  Looks brand new. Sounds amazing!

[Anderskh]

I now have 2 of these.

I paid $200 for my first one and I just got my 2nd one for $7. It was in pieces but I put it together and got it working.

[bURRkEEF]

You're kidding me with that sound. I'm jealous. I've got my old orthophonic just sitting here and it's dead.

[frangiul13]

No, man. That's the actual player. I'm listening to it right now playing The Cars-Since You're Gone and it sounds so damn good! Loud, deep base, and crystal clear, just like an Orthophonic should!

You think the portable sounds good, listen to my wood console model, and you'll be completely blown away... :)

[bURRkEEF]

No, I believe you. Awesome sound!

[damusician]

well, if itz dead there's only one thing you can do, fix it! lol!

[damusician]

omg, i love that song and sounds great on that machine! i bought the lp once at a cd shop, but i when i brought it home, i relized it was warpped very bad, damn! that and the wooden player are awesome. how bout got 2 mono record of the same music and play both record at once on each machine? now those record will be playing in stereo, lol!

[frangiul13]

LOL! Yeah, I should do a science experiment and see what happens. With these units blaring, I'll probably peel the paint off the walls...

[Falcons66]

Well, mI can say I didnt expect INXS to pop up on this vintage unit!The cabinet appears to be excellent! very cool player, Maybe something I'll keep an eye out for, though I am certainly over my player quota for while!

[frangiul13]

Expect the unexpected with yours truly in the driver's seat... :)

Yes, the entire unit is in excellent condition. Certainly a prize to behold.