Admiral Playmate Record Player

[rp2813]

I was cruising the posts on Nextdoor and up came a vintage Admiral Playmate portable record player for free and just a few blocks from me, so I went over and got it.  Judging from the needle it appears to be mid '60s, or maybe a little later since the case is plastic. 

 

I knew it would be a fluke if it worked.  I plugged it in and the turntable functions as it should, but the only sound it produces is a loud hum.  Volume level makes no difference.  I didn't even try to play a record on it.  I ran my finger under the needle and heard nothing besides the constant hum.  My '40s GE clock radio suddenly started doing this same thing several years ago and it required a recap.

 

I know tubes are rarely the culprits on vintage electronics, but am wondering if the sole tube, a 25EH5, could be bad.  I don't have a replacement to try, and I did some research on substitute tubes and I don't have any of them in my stash (6, 12, and 50 EH5).  If this thing needs a recap I'll donate it.  I'm just curious about whether the 25EH5 and others like it are failure-prone.  I'd take a $3 gamble on a new tube, but that's as far as I'll go with this.

 

I noticed a file tab sticker that was used as a price tag on this unit.  It was hand written as if from an estate sale or antique shop, and the price on it was $59 ("works great," it also said)!  No way did it cost anywhere near that when new.  I got a similar but smaller portable changer new from Wards around 1970, and while I don't remember the cost, I know that since I was using my own money, it wasn't anywhere near $59 and it was stereo to boot.

 

 

 

[tolivac]

Bet that portable childs TT is going to need a recap-esp the power supply filter caps.

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I wouldn't necessarily call that a "child's" record player. The fact that it's in very good shape and has an automatic changer makes it extra-nice and well worth the expense of restoring. I look at "Record Players" under "Vintage Electronics" on eBay almost every day. I've always liked anything that plays records. You would be surprised what something like this fun little Admiral Playmate often sells for...$$$. I like it!</span>

 

[rp2813]

Well Joe, I'm sure my local electronics guy who brought my 1950 Admiral TV back to life would make short work of this little rig.  I doubt the sound quality is very good, but I'd mainly use it to test out 45s that I find for the jukebox.  I'd attempt the repair myself but it seems more complicated than removing and soldering in new capacitors.  There are big paper tubes with a few wires coming out of them, and that's beyond my limited scope.

 

Also, it appears the lid can be detached.  Too bad it's not like my sister's '59 Decca stereo record player (not a changer), which had a second speaker in its detaching lid with a long wire on it.

 

I'd really prefer to find someone to fix the changer mechanism on my 1962 JVC Delmonico stereo hi-fi.  It has way too many small parts for me to want to attempt it.  I'd love to be able to stack some cocktail LPs on that one and let 'er rip for a while unattended instead of having to play one at a time and do everything manually.

 

[kenwashesmonday]

The problem with a "one tube wonder" phonograph like this is that it requires a high-output crystal cartridge with an output of around 3 volts.  These high output crystal cartridges fail from humidity and age, are no longer manufactured, and are hard on records.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Ken.  I'm not surprised to hear that.  Would it help to adjust the tone arm pressure to just light enough so that records wouldn't skip?

 

And just to confirm -- a failed cartridge (I didn't think this player used an actual cartridge) wouldn't cause the loud hum, would it?

 

[paulg]

Loud hum

After 35 years in the servicing biz and including years at an Admiral Mastercare center, here goes.
The main filter cap is bad.
I'll keep my advice short. Give this to your old-timer who fixed your 1950 Admiral.
This is probably a hot-chassis amp with a bad multi-section filter cap. Hazardous to fix if you don't know the precautions. The XXEH5 tube CAN cause loud hum but rarely does. In addition, this changer is prone to stalling in the change cycle due to aging.
The cartridge can still be bad but not too likely. Symptom is super-low volume with no hum. Unfortunately you'll only find that out after the main filter is bridged out for test or replaced.
Since this is probably a hot chassis with a tricky cap replacement, hand this one over to the expert. Yeah, it probably isn't as gentle on records as modern turntables, but for auditioning unfancy records, it'll do the task.

 

[tolivac]

Hot chassis sets-if the unit has a non polarized plug-replace the cord that has a polarized plug so the hot pin of the plug goes to the hot supply lead in the player-and the neutral goes to the chassis.Also in these its common that the metal TT chassis is also connected to the amp chassis.Cartridges for these that generate the higher voltage for the one tube amps are getting impossible to find.Some dedicated folks fixing these and the owner insists-they add a transistor preamp to the unit so it can use a lower output cartridge.Really be best to pass on this one.

 

[tolivac]

After seeing the picture of this TT-seems like its like the ones given to teenagers for Christmas or birthdays.

 

[thespiritof76]

Bud....

Your Admiral playmate is from around 1963, tube products like this were pretty much obsolete by 1965. I can I tell you right now, that the amp will need a FULL restoration to use and safety, which can be done, it is not impossible. I will also likely need a new cartridge, That cartridge is a crystal cartridge, they are almost NEVER still working. I had one of these once, mine was actually a two tube amp. I think it would be worth the restoration for a good basic mono, automatic player. But if your not wanting to take the time to do the restoration, I would love to have it, if you decided you wanted to part with it..=)

 

[rp2813]

I don't think I'm going to put any restoration money into this thing.  I have the '62 JVC Delmonico, which still sounds good with its original tubeless electronics, and another older portable that isn't a changer.

 

There's not much to the Playmate so shipping costs would be more about the size of the box than the weight.  I'm on the verge of tossing some boxes that could be used for shipping, so if you're serious I'll hang onto the one that's the best fit.

 

[thespiritof76]

ablsoluty I am serious!

I would love to have another one! Drop me an email for details.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

I had a General Electric portable changer with three speeds, (33 1/3, 78, 45) so that's what this Admiral reminds me of that, I wish that I had kept...

Bright orange playing area and Avocado Gold outside...

I bought it at a church sale for I think I remember it being $20 more than 20-years-ago... But anticipating a new needle probably getting on the verge of being hard to find, and playing records on it that weren't my prized vinyl that my collection was rapidly becoming, I eschewed it, thinking that tonearm would promote as much wear and tear as all that stacking--and the spindle actually held SEVEN discs...

Forgot how much I made for it, as I'd sold it on consignment at a record store that sells used equipment, but it did go very quick...

-- Dave

 

[thespiritof76]

Thank you to RP2813....

I thought I would let everyone know that the poor little Admiral is going to be living with me and added to my small record player collection, and will be given the cleanup and repair she deserves. I cant wait!

Thanks again to RP2813, that little dear will have a forever home in my collection. =). Some people rescue cats and dogs, and help wayward children, we as crazy people help wayward appliances...LOL

 

[rp2813]

I'm glad the Playmate will be going to a home where it's appreciated and revived! 

 

The changer part seems to work OK.  During a couple of tests I had inadvertently swung the stacking arm to the "repeat" position and hadn't un-snapped the tone arm from its post (used when carrying the unit around), and the mechanism was strong enough to pop it off on its own both times. 

 

I think the case will clean up nicely without much effort.  I'm amazed that the "Life Total" sticker survived over the decades.