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Steve E.
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Alan Graves Archives: Cool stuff from Presto expert

Post: # 18803Unread post Steve E.
Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:01 am

Alan Graves is our man for all things Presto. He's been a fan of their
recording equipment since his teens, and an expert. You all probably know
his fantastic Presto History site, which by far the best available research on
the company.

http://www.prestohistory.com/Presto.htm

Alan sent me some wonderful pages several years ago, which have been
extremely valuable to me as I've assembled my Presto 6N record cutting
rig. With his blessings, I am posting scans of these pages here.

Many of them are useful even if you are using a non-Presto setup.

His article, "How Phonograph Records Work--For Dummies." This is as
elemental a breakdown of the process as I've ever read:
Alan_Graves_Phonographs_for_dummies.pdf
Alan's special recipe for making a hot stylus holder for a Presto 1C or 1D
cutterhead, which makes wiring in your new stylus a snap. Also contains a
swarf jar/vacuum model:

Alan_Graves_Hot_Stylus.pdf
How to replace the feed blade for a Presto 6N or a Presto 8N:
Alan_Graves_Presto-feed-blade-replacement.jpg
Removing the Presto 6N or 8N motor pulley:
Alan_Graves_Removing-Presto-Motor-Pulley.jpg
Comparison of Presto 6D and 6N. Both Presto's literature and Alan's photos
of the differences in the feed screws:
Alan_Graves_Presto_6D_v_6N.pdf
Enjoy!

[EDIT, September 15, 2017: I uploaded the documents directly into this thread, as a best-practice. Whenever possible, the information on this site should be directly uploaded so the site can be a self-contained reference. Hell for this site is dead links.]
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Alan Graves: Replacing the feed blade for Presto 6N or 8N

Post: # 18943Unread post Steve E.
Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:14 am

Again, how to replace the feed blade for a Presto 6N or a Presto 8N:
Alan_Graves_Presto-feed-blade-replacement.jpg
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Alan Graves: Rmoving the Presto 6N or 8N motor pulley

Post: # 18944Unread post Steve E.
Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:15 am

Again, removing the Presto 6N or 8N motor pulley:

(EDIT: There's a related diagram down the page which contains additional info on a 45 mod).

Also....different 6N pulleys take different screws! I have two, and they are not the same.

Alan_Graves_Removing-Presto-Motor-Pulley.jpg
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re: Alan Graves Archives: Cool stuff from Presto expert

Post: # 19128Unread post tragwag
Mon Apr 09, 2012 1:27 pm

this is excellent, thanks al and steve!
making lathe cuts on a Presto 6N, HIFI stereo cuts on vinylrecorder
at Audio Geography Studios, Providence, RI USA
http://www.audiogeography.com

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Alan Graves: A 78 to 45 rpm mod for 6N or 8N

Post: # 20647Unread post Steve E.
Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:42 pm

A 78 to 45 rpm mod for 6N or 8N:
Alan_Graves_78-to-45-mod.jpg
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re: Alan Graves: A 78 to 45 rpm mod for 6N or 8N

Post: # 20648Unread post Steve E.
Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:50 pm

And, if you remachine the shaft pulley for 45, you will need to modify the puck:
Alan_Graves_45_puck_mod.jpg
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Alan Graves: Presto 6N 45 adapter

Post: # 20649Unread post Steve E.
Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:54 pm

Otherwise, the 45 adapter that allows you to retain all three speeds for the 6N (and, I guess, 8N):

Alan_Graves_45_adapter.jpg
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Alan Graves: Presto 8D mod

Post: # 20650Unread post Steve E.
Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:56 pm

Alan explained this to me as:

"A modification I made for a [Presto] 8D to allow more lines per inch for microgroove."
Alan_Graves_Presto_8D_pulley-tree.jpg
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re: Alan Graves: Presto 8D mod

Post: # 20651Unread post Steve E.
Thu Aug 02, 2012 10:58 pm

Alan sent those 4 pages to me in February, and I didn't look closely enough to realize I didn't already have them scanned and posted. Valuable stuff!! thank you so much, Alan!

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Alan Graves: Vacuum Table

Post: # 20690Unread post Steve E.
Fri Aug 10, 2012 12:54 pm

And another one:

Alan: "These are the details of building a vacuum table on record lathes.
This will not work for Presto 6N or 8N’s, but would work for any type of
lathe that does NOT engage with the turntable. It would even work for the
K series or under table groove systems."

The purpose of this is to use vacuum to hold records flat.

"You need a “tee” connection on the vacuum pump to suck both from the
center of the turntable AND the swarf pickup. The vacuum on the turntable
will hold any blank flat and firm, even without the center hole. It is
amazing how little vacuum it takes. This might be especially useful to those
who are using picnic plates or other media – so they don’t have to tape
them down."
Alan_Graves_Vacuum_Hold_Down.pdf
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Alan Graves: Hot stylus holder, Swarf/chip jar, Vacuum

Post: # 47840Unread post Steve E.
Fri Sep 15, 2017 8:33 pm

Again, Alan's special recipe for making a hot stylus holder for a Presto 1C or 1D
cutterhead, which makes wiring in your new stylus a snap. Also contains a
swarf jar/vacuum model:


Alan_Graves_Hot_Stylus.pdf

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