How to Make a Turntable Into a Wind-Up Turntable

Print this articleWind-up Victorian record players are classic relics of the past with a unique look and nostalgic feel. Modern turntables are quite different from their primitive ancestors, running on electricity rather than mechanical energy. While vintage wind-up phonographs are rare and expensive, anyone can acquire a modern turntable and modify it into a convincing replica.

Related Searches:Difficulty:ModerateInstructions Things You'll NeedHand-driven AC/DC generatorWooden box (optional)Drill or saw (optional)Suggest Edits1

Plug the electrical turntable cord into the hand-driven AC/DC generator.

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Turn the hand crank to generate electricity, which will power the turntable. The generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy, which is the energy form that electrical turntables require.

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Turn on the turntable to let it run. Wind up the generator more as the turntable plays to supply it with more power. The amount of wind-up time will vary based on the models of turntable and generator that you use, but spinning the hand crank a few times between each song or for a minute every other song should be enough to keep the turntable running.

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Conceal the setup by making your turntable look more like a phonograph. Build, purchase or repurpose a wooden box that's tall enough to accommodate the generator and large enough to provide a stable surface for the turntable. The box will hide the generator; the hand crank can stick out through a hole or panel cut into one side of the box. Mount the turntable on top of the wooden box and drill a small hole in the top of the box so you can feed the turntable's cord into the box to connect it to the generator.

Tips & Warnings

Check the turntable's manual to determine the wattage of the device and obtain a matching hand crank generator.

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