Hi guys, finally went to pick up that Electrola earlier this evening. I have many questions for you all. Right off the bat I want to ask about the gold colored tone arm and record "thrower" arm, are they gold plated, the friend said it was like a special edition or something and that it was gold plated. The radio does work, the phonograph also works. Turn table will need re-flocking. the radio will need a tune up, could anybody tell me if this is a Radiola model, It seems very early 30's or late twenties if so, the turn table has a lever for 33s and 78s. The record bin is in good shape. Now on to the feet. One of the Dow pins in on original foot is broken so the replacement is a mismatch. Could anybody tell me if that is the original feet that came with the set, I think they have been cut down. It will need a tune up and most likley a wood refinishing. Will be one of my summer projects. Please take a look. Thanks, and I found out from the sticker on the inside that it is a model 331, could anybody give me any more insight on the gold plated thing and about this model 331. And my parts list starts. I am going to need some tube shields and a original electrolytic can, if he did restore it, what a poor job. I also am in need of all original knobs for this set too, any help. Thanks for the help guys, this is my earliest phono with a automatic changer and is a first for me.

Jon

That's a very classy looking Electrola you have there. Congratulations!
I wonder how original buyers felt about having to almost crawl on the floor to use te radio/amp controls

why thank you, but I am finding more and more wrong with it that I dont like. First off the feet, do you think I will ever find originals that I could replace with? I think the cabinet has been refinished, horribly. I will have to post photos, I have decided that she will get refinished professionally. Also what kind of knobs do these models take. And that phonograph knob is missing too.

Your RCA Victor 331 Duo should not be as short as it is. It is missing strechers in addition to the ball feet, and is probably at least six inches lower than designed. Pity, for is is indeed a scarce set. Very few folks were buying RECORDS in 1933-34, let alone automatic combinations.

I will try to find some better pictures for you. You should be able to have the ball feet made. The strecher will be more dificult, but not impossible. This is a scarce and attractive little set, and is well worth the effort.

That is a very attractive set, well worth putting back to original order.

I can assure you all that it will be put back to original, even if I have to pay big bucks for it, would you say professionally custom feet are my best option, bet that will cost a arm and leg. Also could anybody tell me more about the paint on the tone arm and thrower arm, it does look original after really examining it. Thanks for the help guys, I would like to keep this thread going as much as possible. Also could anybody tell me more about the exact proper knobs I will have to get, I don't mind paying big money for scarce parts or legs if anybody has them.


Thanks fellas

Jon

It is indeed paint, and the paint is original. Victor closed its gold plating baths in late 1927. All subsequent Victor products were trimmed in either oxidised or nickel finiss. Where a gold finish was asthetically necessary, such as on the Victrola 8-9 or the portable 2-65 gold lacquer was used.

Gold lacquer was used on many parts of the third series changer in osme instruments, and was used on the early changers in the automatic "Duo" series. Later machines which used your changer saw all parts finished in a uniform brownish-grey crinkle.

pretty cool machine. right out of The Munsters. does look like it was built for midgets or Thing. maybe if you put it on the ball feet and stretchers that it was made for it would become more useful. try some 00 steel wool on the finish if it is not as satin as you would like

So Vitanola, these parts are of that type of gold finish used in 1927, I'm a bit confused?

You also stated that this is a scare set, did they not make many? Or did the depression hinder most from being sold, and how rare on a collectors scale would this model be?

Is this one of the earliest Throw off changers? I know you said they made these from 1933 to 1937. The year of this model is 1933 from what I could gather at radio museum.

I did buy some RCA service notes for 1931-1933 so hopefully they have this model within the text.

Would it be ok to use de-greaser or gojo on the cabinet for now to clean it up?

Also what do the knobs look like for this set, I cant find any pictures on-line?

Thanks

No, the gold is a lacquer, not the plating used pre-1928.

The phonograph business practically died in the Depression. Industry wide record sales were over a hundred million discs in 1929, down from almost a hundred-twenty million in 1927. Record sales in 1932 were but SIX MILLION units. Repeal pretty well saved the record industry, well, Repeal and the automatic phonograph.

With the beginnings of recovery in the summer of 1934, RCA Victor management puled out the stops, and introduced their most comprehensive of combinations since 1928. ranging from the little 300 Duo, a four-tube AC radio and electric phonograph housed in an attractive cabinet which was smaller than most spring wound portables, retailing for but $39.95, less than the price of the previous season's 2-65 suitcase portable:





to the majestic 381Duo:



The knobs from a Radiola 80 or a Victor RE-57 work, though the might be a trifle long. The machine shared irs knobs with the 310, another scarce machine.

The 331 was a 1934 model, by the way, as were the 300, 310 etc.

Interesting, I have seen one or two other 381's. I notice their turntables have more bells and whistles, is that because it was a higher end model? I know the radio section of that player was top of the line for 1934. Why is my player a scarce model? Did many not survive? Was it the last to use that gold lacier paint? I noticed that model is painted black or brown. Good I can narrow down the knobs, did the knobs on the 310 exactly the same design as the Radiola 80?

I have messed a bit more with the turn table. The radio will need a restoration, most likely my first step as I am proficient in this area of work. I am in need of a original picture of a 331 to fabricate exact reproduction legs, I might go as far as to buy some antique wood and get those carved and made properly and unprofessionally. I notice that when I use the turn table it functions pretty good. When in automatic mode when the needle resets it is a few millimeters of the turntable, can that be adjusted? The thrower works but needs lubricated. I will not use the machine again until I can get at it here in a few weeks. Look forward to your replies, Thanks

Jon

I'm gonna stick my neck out, and STRONGLY disagree about the finish on the pickup and ejector arms on that changer. I've seen a few of the 331 sets, including the one I own. I also have several other RCA phono combinations, and none of them looked as gauche as this changer shown here. My lord, it's downright sickening. If there had been a gold-ish finish on any of RCA's ejector changers, it would have been on a 381. I have one also, and again, have seen several over the years. I have 5 or 6 other RCA sets with ejector changers, and the pickup and ejector arms are not painted in those horrible colors. I'll never believe, unless faced with factory data to the contrary, that those arms are correctly done.

The finish on the arms on the 331 I have is a light gray. It was that way on any other 331's that I have seen.

The 331 is a nice little set. It has the type 53 tube, in class B push-pull. When the set was designed, it had all inter-equipment in the cabinet hard-wired It's necessary for the service guy to make connectors for the interior parts of the set.

The 331 as the first RCA phono combination to use the ejector changer. The 1938 models, such as the U-109, were the last to have the ejector changer, and they had a crystal pickup, instead of the horseshoe magnetic pickup.

GORD!

Doug, I want to believe you. It does look a bit "different". After closely examining I have noticed that there is no undercoat where there is a bit of flaking. I think someone touched it up with a brighter yellow, it is discolored in a few areas.

I 'd been hoping that you would join in, Mr. Houston, as you really are the expert on these RCA Victor sets

Yes, that gold paint is indeed de trop.

I would have never thought it at all correct but that I purchased a clean, unrestored 331 out of an estate in Brookline MA back in 1985 which had just such gaudy coloring. When I purchased it the machine was , according to the family, sitting in the spot where it had stood for nigh on fifty years.

The gold on the arms of my machine was just like the gilt paint used on an 8-9 tone arm. Just like the gilt paint used on the Third Series changer (the 10" only changer) with the light aqua motor board (the one used in the CE-29 Coin-op machine).

If it is incorrect, then there was at least one other machine out there on the other side of the country which has worn those gaudy colors for a long while.

Mind you, I really think that the more subdued color scheme that your machine has is far more attractive, but how can we account for TWO such abortions? Mind you, the gold on the Boston machine appeared to have been applied directly over the prepared metal, not over other paint. I doubt that they would have been slathered with paint by the same color-blind gink, unless that gink was working in Camden or at some jobber's. I'll try to telephone the current owner of the machine so that I may post some photos of it. Perhaps Mr. Houston can then shed more light on the question. The Boston 331 WAS a presentation machine, given to Ferdinand Gillet, a Boston Symphony oboeist

As to performance, I will heartily concur! The 331 plays very well. Much better than one would expect considering the diminutive chassis.

The entire product line is outstanding. The little 300 is good as far as it goes, but the 310, which just has a little 5 tube chassis, is a REAL phonograph. One only becomes aware of its limitations when one is playing Program Transcriptions and realises that they sound exactly like standard discs.

Vitanola thanks for your response! It would seem that we are finally getting down to the nitty gritty. I have cross examined my tone arm and thrower time over and over again. I notice that the gold paint has been applied directly over the metal, you can see the little squiggles in the metal through the paint (Sorry don't know the term for that grazing effect that is present on the entire phonograph section.) Could this also be a presentation machine. I know it has been in Toledo OH most its life, maybe a gift to a Toledo Symphony artist?? If you guys have pictures of these same machines please post or send pictures I need to see an example that is not molested.

Thanks so much

Jon

Hey guy, just in from the mail, a 1933 RCA Service notes original copy. And the Model 331 is in there. Great. I now have a basis for servicing guide. This player did come out in 1933. If I can find some original pictures I will be be able to return this beauty to original cosmetic condition.

Could someone please explain to me in very simple terms how to use this model? I purchased it from a garage sale many years ago and want to make sure that it works. I would really appreciate your help. Thanks!

Please don't plug it in!

Some components (certain capacitors) in the radio/amplifier chassis will have failed by now, and you can seriously damage the unit by trying to operate it. Your best bet would be to find an experienced collector, and have him or her restore the radio chassis properly.

Where are you located? There may be a member of the forum near you who could be of assistance.

Here is the photo of the cabinet from an original sales catalog.