RCA Victor model 9JY

[electra225]

I think I have the model number right.

What can anybody tell me about this cute little 45 rpm record changer? It is a model made to play thru a radio. I've been wanting one for eons. This one is complete, in great condition, with the knob, no broken bakelite, still has the bottom panel that is often missing. This one appears to need motor mounts and a power cord. Is this the model that is typically found with a bum cartridge? I'll get pictures to share, but thought I'd ask what my first step should be.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

These 45 RPM players have the RP-168 changer,
which may be less problematic than the RP-190.

I've never rebuilt one, but here are just 2 discussions on
ARF and there are many more there.

There apparently is not a rubber drive wheel which
came on the RP-190, so a cost savings there.

The manuals are free online at world radio history site
in Beitman and Riders.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/rca_9jy.html

https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=149451

https://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=123752

[Ken Doyle]

Congratulations, you own the worlds fastest record changer. It changes records in the blink of an eye.

I like the RP-168 better than the later RP-190. Not only does it not have the rubber cycling cam, it also has a much better and more reliable end-of-record trip mechanism. If your 9JY is the early version, it may not be equipped with the dashpot that was later added to slow the lowering of the tonearm on to the record.

The best version of the service manual for the RP-168 are found in the 1950 Beitman manual starting on page 133, as that version has the adjustments listed in the correct order.

See: https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archi ... n-1950.pdf

[electra225]

Thank you both. This will be a ways off before I get to this one, but I can get a manual and do some reading in the meantime. I have four versions of the 3-RF-9 RCA AM-FM radios with nine tubes and an eight-inch speaker. This little player will make an excellent display partner for these radios if nothing else.

[TC Chris]

The Beitman's was interesting: this was offered with a GE variable reluctance cartridge. That surprised me.

I have a sightly older version, I think, that was the first 45 record player I had. It came with the summer cottage, attached to an old table-top 78 rpm radio/record player as an aftermarket add-on. The radio/record player got dissolved in a flood but I have the innards and the two changers.

The little 45 rpm changer tended to skip a lot on records. I assumed that was because of defective discs; not I'm pretty sure it was either a bad cartridge--hardened rubber parts--or just a design issue (arm resonance problems). hat was replaced by my RCA 9-EMP-21H suitcase portable that I restored a couple years back.

Out in the garage is an RCA 45 EY 2, the little 45 changer with an amp and speaker built into the base, awaiting restoration. When purchased, it worked but had low output (maybe cartridge, maybe amp caps).

Chris Campbell

[William]

Congrats, Greg, I know you have wanted one for a long time. I have one of each, and I have rebuilt the RP-190 and the RP-168 is sitting on a shelf waiting for me to get at it. It's on the list!

Yes, more than likely you will need a cartridge. Gary has them in both mono and stereo and either will need the terminals changed out to adapt to the new cartridge. The stereo version will need extra wires added which if I remember correctly Gary has those available too.

The RP-190 wasn't too bad to work on. The adjustments can be tricky and the info I pulled off the internet was most helpful, and they are probably the ones that were provided here on your thread. I still need to check them out.

Bill

[electra225]

Did this little changer have something for the tone arm to rest on? This one has a hole, but the needle sets on the base. That doesn't look right to me. Is there a parts house for these things like there is for VM?

[William]

Actually, Gary does have some parts for the RCA 45 changers so please take a look there. My RP-168 does not have a tone arm rest and I'm guessing that was the way they were designed. The RP-190 does use a tone arm rest and when used in a full portable unit the rest includes a lock for the tone arm.

Bill

[electra225]

Thanks, Bill. I'll take a look to see what he has.

[TC Chris]

The Beitmans piece has a discussion of the arm rest issue.

And Greg, I have an RCA bottom cover to offer. Not for this device, but for an old 78 rpm player. It's fiberboard, 7-7/8" x 10-1/2" with an RCA label and a model ID label (its for a R-93-B). It has 4 rubber feet. If you find nothing else, and it would fit, it's at least an RCA piece. I have no idea where I grabbed it but it has been waiting for an opportunity to serve.

Chris Campbell

[Ken Doyle]

Did this little changer have something for the tone arm to rest on? This one has a hole, but the needle sets on the base.

The tonearm should sort of sit on it's invisable rest so records can be unloaded. At other times, I set he tonearm down next to the platter due to it being spring loaded. When adjusted correctly, the stylus should not touch the chassis.

[electra225]

Would the cartridge in this be a ceramic? There is an amplifier stage in a radio you would use with this changer. If ceramic, why are they so often found to be dead? And if crystal, I'd think it would be better to use a ceramic cartridge as a replacement. Not that I know what I'm talking about, but it looks to me like this cartridge is a traditional 1/2" side mount. Apparently that is not the case, since there is quite the procedure necessary to replace one.

Another observation. This thing does not have a power transformer, so one could say it used a hot chassis. The body is bakelite and all you would touch to operate it is plastic, so I see the user protection provisions. But how do they keep hum out of the audio?

[Ken Doyle]

The original cartridges are crystal, either 1 volt or 3 volt depending on the application. I believe the 9JY came with a 1 volt cartridge.

For an 'attachment' changer with no buit in amplifier, I usually use a Chuo Denshi CZ-800 (Pfanstiehl P-188) and glue it to have of the original cartridge's shell.
https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/catalog ... ategories=

The late Chris Cuff had another neat way to do it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ5Vrhnks2Y

[electra225]

Thanks, Ken, that information helps to answer some of my questions.

I have this changer on my bench in its "getting acquainted" phase. Just a general look-see to find out what it is. The power cord was toast, so I put a new power cord on. The motor runs, so the switch is good. The motor mounts are non-existant so the platter doesn't turn, but if I turn it by hand, it will cycle and the tone arm will return to rest. I'm guessing there is no provision for shutting the changer motor off after the last record has played. I'll print out the service literature and see what that tells me. I used Simichrome on the bakelite and I'd have to say it is a 9.995 out of 10 for general condition. It's the cutest little changer I ever saw. I dug out one of my big RCA radios to check the cartridge. How one would change the needle or cartridge when the tone arm only raises a couple inches off the deck will hopefully be explained in service literature. I think I figured out how to remove the platter, but I'll consult the manual before I mess something up.

You guys like pictures so....

Here is one of my big RCA radios connected to the changer. The cartridge is dead as we expected. The radio still works, but the dial cord is slipping. I have three 3-RF-9's and one chassis plus a 1-R-81 that will work with this changer.

[William]

That is a good-looking RCA 45 changer, Greg. Once serviced it should bring you years of service.

Bill

[electra225]

I want to go thru my VM parts changer and get a bit more comfortable with changers before I tackle this one. I don't believe this changer had the damper thingy everybody talks about so the tone arm sets more gently onto the record. It will be cool to see this thing in action. I don't know whether anybody will care, but if it was up to me, I'd glue a felt pad to the platter. Seems like that might be easier on records.

[William]

I have thought of that too, when the first record drops it sounds like the record should break in half, but they don't. I decided it would take away from the originality of the unit, so I just listen to the first record go bang and then after that it's ok.

Bill

[TC Chris]

That's a handsome RCA radio. It took design cues from Zenith....

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

IMHO, the big RCA's are vastly superior to the vaunted Zenith models. I had a C845 which was a typical Zenith for me....."the obscure faults go in when the name goes on". SMD, solid state power supply, drifty FM it was always on the fritz in some regard. The big RCA's have a tube rectifier and a tube detector. The downside to the big RCA's I have is they are a horror show to get the chassis out of. And the dial drive is complex. But they are beautifully built, rugged radios. I will readily admit it is hard for me to say much good about Zenith radios. Their television sets are another matter. Those I have tremendous respect for.

[electra225]

Ken, I watched the video of Chris Cuff installing the cartridge. THAT looks like a slick setup. I believe I'll try that. It looked to me like you could use the original mounting, and that is what he is essentially doing. I really appreciate that link!

I have been watching several of Chris Cuff's videos on these little RCA changers. That man was a genius when it comes to these things. I wasn't familiar with him at all until you linked the video changing a cartridge. I don't think the little RCA changers are all that bad to work on. Timing those two gears in the upper end might be a challenge, but Chris has an entire video on that. I watched a video by a man named David Brown. He doesn't remove the guts from the cabinet. That seems like that hard way. Chris removed the guts from the cabinet. I don't see how you could change the motor mounts with the guts still in the cabinet. Motor mounts, drive tire, cartridge, a power cord, a squirt of WD-40 here and there, some oil, it should be good to go. You also need to scribe everything you take apart so as to get it back oriented correctly. I know lots more than I did yesterday.....