The Secret Society of Lathe Trolls

I have an old Rek-O-Kut 78 lathe that I mostly used for demonstrating how record cutting works, which has an Astatic B2 crystal phono cartridge (cutting head is a magnetic Audak Co art deco model.) Apparently someone had previously rebuilt it using an actual crystal, but it's now failed again. I'm t...

All the Rek-O-Kut rim drive turntables have enough torque generally to drive an overhead for cutting or embossing, you can often find them on ebay for around $200 or less as a bare turntable unit (no plinth or tonearm.) Since ROK also sold overhead cutters to go with the turntables they were designe...

Somehow I have yet another ROK turntable question: An acquaintance has a ROK cvs turntable for sale, but while the motor works, the platter does not turn. The idler wheel that turns the rim does not make constant contact with the tapered shaft on the motor, the pivoting arm that the idler is mounted...

Does this group have any recommended DC motors for driving lathe turntables? I'm assuming a high torque brushless dc is the way to go, but didn't know if anyone has a specific recommendation based on experience. I know Flo had used a Premotec on his modified portable lathe, any other suggestions? I'...

Thanks for all the pictures! Mine is generally similar to the round style. I've attached a picture of an Allied one, plus the blank I've made so far. I think I will just shorten it and cut a slot for a replaceable blade like the Presto. Does the pin pass through a hole in the blade, or just butt up ...

I'm working on an Allied Recording lathe overhead, which is sort of a Presto 6n copy, and I was looking to make a new feed finger. I got to the point where I'd turned and threaded a piece of rod and was getting ready to file the blade end on (it's all one piece on this unit), when someone at the sho...

The screws are already adjusted as far as they can go, to the point that the shaft for the speed selector knob hits the edge of its slot before it can even make contact with the screw adjustable stopper on the 33 side. But even so the capstan isn't firmly against the idler, there's still some remain...

Does anyone know if the 45 and 33 speed idler wheels on a Rek O Kut L-34 are supposed to be the same size? I acquired a partially working one where the idler wheel at the 33 setting does not make full contact with the motor pulley. Considering the simplicity of the mechanism, it seems either the idl...

Thanks for posting that! I went and looked at all my lead screws, and I have one 210 that has a narrower, very shallow hole in the end of the lead screw that mates to the center adjuster, clearly it requires the type of unit that you have. All my other lead screws have a deeper wider hole that mates...

I do have one, but if you could let me know if yours is the same size, I would appreciate it. I've seen photos of some units which appear to have a slightly different part. With the knurled nut removed, mine is 1 9/16" long, with the thicker section (5/16" diameter ignoring flattened surface) 1 1/16...

I know this is unlikely, but I'm looking for the Adjustable Center piece for a Rek-O-Kut M5s (or could be from an M5 or probably any ROK 16" overhead.) This is the piece that goes through one endpiece of the overhead and into the end of the leadscrew, and is held in place by the Center Lock Screw. P...

Sold!

I'm selling an Rek-O-Kut B-5 record lathe 12" overhead. Comes with an Astatic M41-8 entry level magnetic head (lower power and fidelity compared to better heads), but is 8 ohm so it can be used with a standard power amp. Head tests good and sounds good with the cup test (send signal through the head...

Sold!

I got this head along with some other stuff years ago, but have never used it, as I have a better head and my head carriage (modified fairchild) doesn't mate exactly to it. Sounds good with the cup test, and is the 8 ohm version so you can use it with a modern amp without needing a transformer. It's...

Going through my assorted spare parts, I have a couple of the smaller Rek-o-kut overheads (B5/M5) with the laydown style head mounts. Didn't there used to be someone on here that sold an adapter to modify them for a vertical mount head? I'm not sure whether to just unload them (I think I have a coup...

I was looking for opinions as to which of these three mono heads is better, assuming all three are in prime functioning condition. I know the Fairchild is supposed to have a more limited frequency range, but in my past experiences with one it seemed to have a higher output than a lot of heads, and d...

If it was mechanical, you should hear it if the amp volume is turned down (like if the transformer was humming.) Are there any electrical items nearby that could be causing an induced hum, like fluorescent lights, dimmers, etc? Since you have an equitech and dedicated outlet it shouldn't be coming t...

Likely a rectified power supply issue or related to the ground plane on a power supply. What is your set-up in terms of interconnected powered items? Does your power amp or preamp have any 120 hum when they're not connected to anything else? If so, there's some issue with their power supply. If not,...

I think it depends on which caps he's referring to, as I've repaired a Rek O Kut amp (R8b I think) that had cardboard wrapped electrolytics. Which a person could think was a paper cap. Let your schematic be your guide! Note: I've also exploded a cap in my time, a supply rail tantalum. Went up like a...