Wurlitzer 1900 Centennial restoration

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
There are many things in this world I do not understand-- one of them being, why do "people, adjust" things ?? Ron Rich

[viperz]

Dialed it down to 7.5g. Still tracking and canceling just fine.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
Since you are up north, I can't axk your records, but it seems to me that they would also be much happier now ! Ron Rich

[viperz]

Good call, Ron... I'm testing on several well played, but not scratched, records. It seems that with right stylus pressure, I can hear surface noise much more.
And not exactly happy with with the sound that Cobra and paper speakers produce. I'm not replacing Cobra with MM or ceramic cart yet, but definitely feel like that.

Oh, all my repro plastics got delivered today, along with a bunch of small parts. I can now replace dried out rubber insulators on light transformers box, install missing starter sockets, replace all light starters. And of course install new valance, back foil, pilasters and pilaster inserts.

[jukenorman]

Eugen, it is worth bearing in mind that the Cobra has no vertical compliance so it's not particularly suitable for playing stereo records!
Norman.

[viperz]

I keep playing with the mech. Adjusted tracking force to track a bit more heavy now. Distortion disappeared, more bass appeared...
Ran some 1950s mono 45s, sound is quite good. Unfortunately, those are quite valuable (Cannonball Adderley). But at least I know that this Cobra can sound quite acceptable.
Adjusted trip switch position a bit, now long records get to finish.
Put the dome back together with new repro valance.
Straightened the grill to the best of my abilities.
Installed new rubber insulators on the ballast box.

Hopefully will get some help tomorrow to bring the cabinet downstairs, so I can start reassembling it. Then will put the mech back in.

I see some T8/T12 24" LED lamps being sold, which are supposed to be plug and play without bypassing ballasts. Some claim to have wide light dispersion angle. I think I'll give them a try.

[Ron Rich]

Eugen,
Cabinets go "downstairs" much easier the they go up stairs ! Just roll it to the stairs-- get behind it and push-- simple !
Let us know on the LED's --are they T-8's or T-12's in size ? Ron Rich

[viperz]

Hi Ron, lucky me the cabinet is super light now with absolutely nothing in it - we easily moved it downstairs. It was no heavier than probably 50-60 lbs I guess.

The new 24" LEDs sold on Amazon or at Home Depot are T8 in size, but supposed to fit T8, T10, T12... I will order tomorrow.

Taking the cabinet outside in the sun, I found a few things I'm not happy with. The veneer on one side is really worn, but the cabinet is downstairs now. I can tape around, lightly sand and restain with a slightly darker stain, not sure yet... As you said, it is much harder to bring the cabinet back upstairs.

The other stupid thing that got me really stuck... The casters are stem-type rotating casters. Nobody that I can find is selling new casters with 2 1/8" length stems . One of my casters has a serious flat spot (it was bent and stuck, so people dragged the cabinet around. I straightened the bracket, oiled the bearing, it rotates well, but again, flat spot is there). Not sure what is usually done in this case. I can order four casters with flat metal plates - screw them into the existing wood base?

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
There is no end to cosmetic work-- luckily, I am not allowed to use a hammer, nor a saw, nor anything that can be used on "wood" !
OK I'll look for the LED's on Amazon-- thanks ! As for the castors-- did you try any of the European suppliers listed in our FAQ's section ?
Ron Rich

[viperz]

Hi Ron, yes, I look at all available suppliers of casters - none of them come with swivel stem as long as the original one (2 1/8"). Although Stamann says just to widen the lock ring, so the stem will get stuck in the barrel and coaster won't fall out of the barrel. A few people reported good success doing that:
www.jukebox-world.de/en/Wheels-Casters/2-caster-with-polyamide-wheel.html?listtype=search&searchparam=caster


I also have an issue with all these 2-in coasters being 40kg/80lb rated. Jukebox is 375+ lbs, so 80lbs per coaster is not enough. 3" coasters are 110lb rated, but I will have to check if there is enough clearance for 3" coaster to swivel fully.
I am planning to buy these coasters: www.princessauto.com/en/thermoplastic-swivel-stem-casters/product/PA1000001584?skuId=8039901


For LED lights I am picking between these three:

www.homedepot.ca/product/philips-led-17w-t8-tled-instant-fit-24-inch-cool-white-4000k-/1001026798

www.amazon.ca/Premium-Lighting-Fluorescent-Replacement-Unbreakable/dp/B07QYZ76Y6/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=f20t12+LED&qid=1618524328&refinements=p_85%3A5690392011&rnid=5690384011&rps=1&sr=8-6


Doesn't help that I cannot physically go to the store and have to trust online measurements and pictures when picking lights, coasters, or even wood stain!!


(ordered light bulbs to home depot, hopefully won't have to return them)


Ordered 2" casters from Princess Auto. 3" would never fit - there is like 2mm clearance between 2mm casters and box walls. 

Also picking a stain for sides. One side veneer finish is in poor shape. I am thinking about filling the scratches, lightly sanding both sides with 400 grit, then staining with something like this: www.homedepot.ca/product/varathane-stain-poly-one-step-oil-based-stain-polyurethane-in-satin-antique-walnut-236-ml/1001154259

[jukenorman]

Hi Eugen,
I hope you're not planning to move your jukebox much, these castors are only good for 80lbs each and under rated for normal use, in my opinion! On the plus side, they're not particularly expensive.

Norman.

[viperz]

Hi Norman,

Definitely not planning riding it around the house. I do totally agree with you on the castors being over the load limit. The problem is that I'm pretty sure even the original casters had this issue. I'm looking at Stamann replacements - they're rated at 40kg each, which is 88 lbs, so pretty much the same thing. I looked through multiple catalogues for swivel casters, and I don't see any which would be rated to a required load. Only 3" casters are 110lb and higher. I always have an option of shaving my old casters, since one has two huge flat spots lol

[jukenorman]

Hi Eugen,
At least you are aware of their limitations! I use the 2" castors with dual polyurethane wheels which are rated at 100Kg each. They are the flat plate type so I screw them to the cabinet base having removed the existing castor sockets (using two of the existing socket screw holes and two new ones). I normally just get them from ebay but they don't appear to be as widely available as usual at the moment.

Norman.

[viperz]

So picked up the casters from the store... each caster has a sticker on it - 125 lb (57 kg) rated. Plugged them into the existing openings (only had to slightly widen the lock ring on one out of four casters). The work perfectly.

Regarding refinishing the sides. I am willing to give up and just leave them as is after a ton of reading and asking around. The finish was at least three layers on top of real veneer, and top layer is blond transparent glazing - it is worn on one side of my cabinet, so I can see underlaying brown layer. It is either leaving as-is, completely stripping and refinishing, or taking all trim off and replacing veneer altogether.

[Ron Rich]

Hi Eugen,
So, What "castors", from what, "store" ?
As for the finish-- that sa "patina"--
Ron Rich