Recordio by Wilcox Gay

[Larry N]

I decided to put this here about this little record player. The story starts at the friendly corner tavern, a friend asks me if I would take a look at an old record player his dad has had sitting around in the garage for years. Being a sucker for old things I said yes and I would pick it up next week to look at it. It turns out to be a 1940's something Recordio by Wilcox Gay. All the parts to the cabinet seem to be there along with all the tubes, knobs and microphone. This guys dad is a woodworker so you can guess what the thing is full of, saw dust at least a 1/2" deep. First thing in order is a careful cleaning out and then pulling and reseating all the tubes. Two is too replace the cord end. After that cleaning all the controls with some deoxit. This appears to use the old steel needles and from what I can find out,it may actually record a record? If anyone can educate me about this piece please chime in. I found a link to one on the net. The link is one beautiful set, could only wish this one was as nice. I know more junk, but what can I say.

http://www.magiceyetubes.com/recordio01.htm

[Flick]

For many years my family had the "Recordette" by Wilcox-Gay which is probably just a different skin on the same model. They did indeed make home made 78 rpm records and the ones I have are the oldest recordings of my family singing and playing musical instruments, as well as the voices of people who passed away many many years ago. I have some blank discs (10 cents for a six inch disc) as well as the original record that came with the unit explaining its functions although it doesn't play very well. Part of the problem was the cheap discs one could buy in those days. Although some of my family's recordings have survived in pristine condition being played perhaps one time when they were recorded, there was one record where the grooves actually came off the disc and were laying at the bottom of the envelope. The better quality discs have held up very well and depending on how they were recorded and later treated, are very listenable. The Recordette had an AM radio and you could make records of radio broadcasts, or at least the songs as the discs were only capable of recording a few minutes worth of music although some of the ones I have play longer than a standard 78 rpm record. Unfortunately mine (actually it was my uncle's) was a casualty of a personal loss and Tapeheads is not the appropriate place to detail the events but if you would be intrested in selling it I would like to see if we could come to an agreement. Even though I would probably never use it (except to try to make a test record just to see if I could do it) it would be a way of helping close a wound from a past situation. For a little more information on the recordings made by my family's Wilcox Gay Recordette please see my post under "78 rpm, anyone's sweetspot?" in the "Turntable and Vinyl" forum.

[Larry N]

Hey flick, I would love to sell it to you, but I'm just going through it for the guy. Right now it does nothing but light up the dials and part of the tubes. I'm going to figure out how to test them, replace the bad ones and hopefully get some sound from it. Its amazing how servicable this thing is, everything is user friendly it seems. I have separated the turntable from the unit with four screws and by unplugging three connections. The electronics are held in by four more screws and out it pops. Gonna be an easy clean up and hopefully repair. I'm going to post a few pictures next week after getting back from Illinois where I'll be working. The guy said he was going to E-bay it after I'm done, even if I can't get a peep out of it. By the time I tube it and whatever else I might do, I may own it. Probably not but a good thought. Anyhow if I do get it going, I will tell him he has a potenial buyer already, that being you. There are a couple auctions right now for Recordio records and needles on E-Prey. Will keep you posted on progress of repairs.

[Larry N]

Thought I would take a few pictures of this old piece and post for anyone who might be interested in a tuber player. I have two tubes coming next week and hopefully that will get it going, just looking at all the caps and everything, nothing seens to be burnt or leaking from what I can see. I found 34 recordio records on E-bay and they started low and ended up going for almost $200.00. Will have to try and find a couple records, one not cut already and one with music on it, on the cheap. Need to pick up some needles also, found a few in the case but it says that you can only use them for a couple plays and then you need to replace it. The one picture shows the motor that drives the spindle and cutting screw. The cutting arm is lifted over to the blank and sit down on the edge, then the cutting screw turns and takes it across the blank recording the sound. The record must have a small hole that a retaining peg fits in, that way the record doesn't spin on the platter when your cutting a record. Crossing my fingers that I can get it going without a lot of expense.

[Larry N]

Haven't gotten the tubes yet but did win a record from E-Bay. Just 1 it's pretty neat check it out. It appears that this was one you could actually cut a record at a drug store or general store in the 40's. A picture of the machine, a Recordio Gram, is on the record. You could cut a record or a voice letter to home and send VIA the post office. This particular one has a song on it called You Timed One Time to Often. That might be TWO timed. Anyhow its still plays on a regular player and sounds fairly good. Now to find a few new steel nedles for this and get those tubes and get them installed and with luck, turn it on and hear some sounds.