OT. Does anyone have a Rek O Kut L37?

Little off topic but I'm turning to the audio community here in hopes that someone has a Rek O Kut L37. I need a measurement, preferable with a micrometer of the capstan at the 78 section. I am going to make a bushing to slide over the capstan of my L34 so that I can make it an L37. I have a nice collection of 78's and the L37 with a Grado wooden arm (last generation) would be a good table for just that.

Thanks in advance..

I have an L37 though it is somewhat buried.

But no micrometer.

You could also try www.vinylengine.com which IMHO is the best forum for vintage record player people. Yes, I like vinyl as well as tubes.

So tell me again, why am I always broke?

GP49, if you dig it out someday there is a way to make a measurement without a mic. Do you have an adjustable wrench? if you do and you can put it on the shaft where the 78 RPM wheel hits.. close it around the capstan until it is snug, then remove it. You can then measure the opening with a ruler to get the size of the capstan. I'd really appreciate it if you could do this.

Pat

Doctor Hugocat wrote:You could also try www.vinylengine.com which IMHO is the best forum for vintage record player people. Yes, I like vinyl as well as tubes.

So tell me again, why am I always broke?

Thanks for the reminder of vinyl engine..

I like vinyl too (and shellac for that matter).

Digital source material with it's lack of pops, hiss and scratches is awful nice too.

Pat R. wrote:GP49, if you dig it out someday there is a way to make a measurement without a mic. Do you have an adjustable wrench? if you do and you can put it on the shaft where the 78 RPM wheel hits.. close it around the capstan until it is snug, then remove it. You can then measure the opening with a ruler to get the size of the capstan. I'd really appreciate it if you could do this.

Pat

I have vernier calipers. That should do.

GP49 wrote:

Pat R. wrote:GP49, if you dig it out someday there is a way to make a measurement without a mic. Do you have an adjustable wrench? if you do and you can put it on the shaft where the 78 RPM wheel hits.. close it around the capstan until it is snug, then remove it. You can then measure the opening with a ruler to get the size of the capstan. I'd really appreciate it if you could do this.

Pat

I have vernier calipers.  That should do.

Yes most certainly.. I should have written that in my OP.. I was measuring my capstan with an old set myself.

Thanks.

Here is my Rek-O-Kut L37, with vernier calipers measuring the 78rpm step.  I read it as 0.504"

Hope this works for you!

Rek-O-Kut L37, measuring 78rpm pulley step with vernier calipers

Thanks! That should be a big help..

Pat, some ROK models operating at 50 cycles and others to 50 and 60 cycles.
Is the L37 how it works ?.
Is there a label on the engine ?.

This one is 60hz.  The L-37 and L-34 could be changed between 60 Hz and 50 Hz only by changing the motor, because the drive pulley is permanently bonded to the motor shaft and machined in situ to ensure concentricity.  Unfortunately this makes it impossible to remove the upper motor sleeve bearing from the motor shaft for cleaning.

Pillo, I wrongly assumed that we were talking about 60hz, since I am in the US. Thanks for pointing out that there were European models made for use with 50hz. My table is a 60Hz us model.

GP, some years ago I had to convert a Rockola 1434 Jukebox I had just bought back to 78 speed from 45. I had a similar situation in that I had to make the capstan larger. I drilled and fitted a plastic (nylon?) bushing/spacer that I purchased at a local hardware store onto the existing capstan and much like I now hear ROK did, I filed it true and closer to size while on the motor. It worked out rather well. It was only a jukebox so the level of fidelity wasn't up to par with what we demand from our turntables, but all in all it worked out well and played and sounded great.

Jukebox or transcription...if the motor shaft/pulley is correctly sized, smooth and concentric, it's all you need. Good luck with your L-37!