Vintage analogue broadcast equipment [Archive]

Marco

03-03-2011, 21:25

Here are some interesting links for those, like me, who have a passion for vintage broadcast equipment, and T/Ts in particular:

http://www.videopark.com/oldbroadcast.htm

http://www.russcoturntables.com/studioprobid.html

How about a lovely Gates T/T with EMT arm and cartridge (check out that huge on/off knob and speed selector toggle... 'Business-like' indeed!):

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/2734/480alexander12.jpg (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/480alexander12.jpg/)

:eek: :respect:

Or the ultimate 'high-mass' approach - a 'tank-like' Rek-o-Kut with Gray and Fairchild arms. Check out the latter for its sheer mass!! :eek: .....

http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7554/411alexander14.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/411alexander14.jpg/)

:wow: :wow:

Another interesting site, showing the equipment used by a pirate radio station in England:

http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/Sovereign_2UK/Sovereign_UK2.html

Check out the Gates T/Ts, similar to those the BBC used to use in the 70s!

I'd love one like this:

http://img815.imageshack.us/img815/9423/gatestt.jpg (http://img815.imageshack.us/i/gatestt.jpg/)

:stalks: {drool}....

With a Grey Research arm:

http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/1849/kgrhqrjie1nrrknbnbdic3d.jpg (http://img24.imageshack.us/i/kgrhqrjie1nrrknbnbdic3d.jpg/)

And Goldring G800 cartridge:

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1893/kgrhqfkseyiozl6pbnyeb3f.jpg (http://img191.imageshack.us/i/kgrhqfkseyiozl6pbnyeb3f.jpg/)

Just like BBC Radio 1 would've used to broadcast music throughout the 70s! :guitar:

Marco.

Marco

03-03-2011, 21:47

Some other interesting images of vintage broadcast T/Ts and radio stations I've accumulated....

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7942/49472538mariprichard.jpg (http://img146.imageshack.us/i/49472538mariprichard.jpg/)

John Peel in 1982 next to an EMT950 (which replaced the Gates models after parts were no longer available):

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7707/3studio.jpg (http://img585.imageshack.us/i/3studio.jpg/)

And the legend spinning tunes again in the 70s for Radio 1 on Gates and BBC modified Garrard 301 T/Ts:

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9053/1studio.jpg (http://img30.imageshack.us/i/1studio.jpg/)

Nice Rek-o-Kut broadcast arm:

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/5726/broadcasttt.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/i/broadcasttt.jpg/)

QRK 12-C:

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/555/broadcasttt2.jpg (http://img143.imageshack.us/i/broadcasttt2.jpg/)

Gates CB-500 on YouTube (nice Shure broadcast arm and GE cartridge also used):

dGPoz6WXfgc&feature=related

And a video showing a classic 'Velvet Touch' tonearm - a Jap clone of the Gray Research arm:

S3g5esqXLF8&feature=related

Listen to the superb sound quality with a cheapo Stanton cartridge! :eek:

Marco.

Rare Bird

04-03-2011, 01:46

And the legend spinning tunes again in the 70s for Radio 1

Aye i stood with John & watched Ozric Tentacles on stage '94 Phoenix Festival, Long Marsden Airfield,Stratford Upon Avon, great bloke..I actually won the tickets through Annie Nightingale radio show..:eyebrows:

Marco

04-03-2011, 01:50

Nice one, mate - that must've been awesome!

What do you think of all the mad turntables? *That* is the kind of stuff I'd love to own. It's where my real passion lies.

I'd have a huge collection of them all set-up inside a private studio with some vintage valve broadcast amps and BBC monitor speakers, a ton of records to play, and you wouldn't see me for dust....! :eyebrows:

Marco.

Rare Bird

04-03-2011, 01:58

No other motor unit like the Garrard '401' for me dude..

Y8gndbh4ZMo&feature

Marco

04-03-2011, 02:05

Cool - I haven't seen that clip in ages! :)

Yep, love Garrards too... I simply much prefer professional broadcast T/Ts to boring 'toytown' mainstream domestic ones, for both their sound and looks. There is just no comparison between those and something like an LP12! :eyebrows:

Marco.

Rare Bird

04-03-2011, 02:12

Marco

04-03-2011, 02:15

Yeah, now that's what you call a broadcasting studio - quality! :respect:

Here's a nice 401 with a gorgeous Gray 'Blacktop' tonearm:

http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/4981/469alexander7.jpg (http://img827.imageshack.us/i/469alexander7.jpg/)

You probably hate them, but I just think those arms look so cool - nice 'mansize' fingerlift, too!

But the American broadcast T/Ts, for me, have greater 'industrial chic'. Check out this Russco - lovely colour contrast between the T/T and (solid wood) arm:

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/6527/480jansrussco3.jpg (http://img651.imageshack.us/i/480jansrussco3.jpg/)

Yes, I've got it bad! :lol:

Marco.

Rare Bird

04-03-2011, 02:31

Love the duck egg blue colour, reminds me of the old family banger :lolsign:

Some old weighing scales in the bogs down the club, i've been eyeing up. date from the early 60's, nice duck egg blue :eyebrows:

Marco

04-03-2011, 02:44

Lol, ya maddy! :D

On that note, I'm off to me scratcher to dream about vintage broadcast T/Ts... Laters!

:goodnight:

Marco.

Beobloke

04-03-2011, 09:49

Marco,

In the second John Peel picture you posted, the deck on the left is a Gates, but the one on the right is a BBC modified Garrard 301 as used in the BBC RP2/1 dual deck unit, amongst others - see below.

http://www.btinternet.com/~roger.beckwith/bh/grams/grams_3.htm

Now what wouldn't I give for one of those?! :stalks:

Marco

04-03-2011, 09:57

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the clarification. I wasn't sure about the T/T on the right, as it did look different. I'll amend it now.

It's an interesting site that one you've linked to, and have seen it before. I would love to have been around in those days working somewhere in Broadcasting House, being involved with all that fabulous equipment - that sort of stuff just fascinates me!

Hope you found some of the other images here interesting. What did you think of that Rek-o-kut with the Fairchild and Grey arms? Mad eh? :eyebrows:

I must admit that I have a 'thing' for some of the American broadcast T/Ts. They just have something about them that for me really hits the spot! :)

Marco.

Beobloke

04-03-2011, 10:23

I know what you mean - some of that old gear is amazing and stunningly over-engineered.

Incidentally, I heard a rumour that a whole skipful of BBC modified 301s were thrown out when Radio Solent moved premises in Southampton years ago - I still hope it's not true and that someone saved them!

Marco

04-03-2011, 10:33

Yep, it's the "stunningly over-engineered" bit I love, which is precisely what a turntable should be! ;)

I reckon that if some of them were sympathetically mounted in good plinths, particularly the Gates and Russco models shown (we already know about Garrards), they'd make superb hi-fi T/Ts, and would outperform many of the so-called 'audiophile hi-end' T/Ts produced by companies today, don't you? :)

Yes I heard that rumour about those Garrards getting chucked out in a skip - make me feel queasy just thinking about it!!

Bet that'd have been one skip you'd have loved to have raided, though! :eek: :eyebrows:

Marco.

minuteman35

04-03-2011, 12:15

A screenshot of Tony Blackburn about to spin 'Flowers in the Rain' by The Move and get Radio 1 under way. I found it in Harry Enfield's "Smashie and Nicey - The End Of An Era", which also features JP brilliantly sending himself up as 'John Past-Bedtime' and musing that "Many excellent punk records have stood the test of time excellently. Including the excellent 'You Bastard' by the excellent ATV.....Ahhh excellent!"

http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6215/69288844.jpg (http://img851.imageshack.us/img851/6215/69288844.jpg/)

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7140/vlcsnap00008x.jpg (http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7140/vlcsnap00008x.jpg/)

Marco

04-03-2011, 12:26

Brilliant images, Steve, so thanks for sharing :)

Would've loved to have been in the studio with TB at the time! Weird mat arrangement on the turntable, though, eh? :scratch:

Nice one there of Peely, in I presume his home studio, although he does look rather ill. I suspect that pic may have been taken near the end of his time with us..... :(

Marco.

minuteman35

04-03-2011, 12:44

Yes Marco, although Jonh looks quite ill, the programme was made in 1993, which was 11 years before his death, so I think he must have had health problems for quite a while.

What you can't tell from the pic of TB using the RP2/1 is that it's a black and white felt mat under the record which he's gripping with his left hand, and he releases it to allow the record to start playing.

Marco

04-03-2011, 13:02

Or maybe JP was just tired? It's rather amusing that he used to broadcast in his dressing gown (and why not?) - but you gotta giggle... :eyebrows:

Top bloke, though!

Yes, you're right about the mat, but I wonder what the thinking was behind that arrangement (and the rather weird 'discus top platter' underneath):

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/3406/rp2det.jpg (http://img689.imageshack.us/i/rp2det.jpg/)

One wonders what the BBC engineers were trying to achieve with that arrangement and what was wrong with the Garrard 301's own rigid rubber mat and platter? :scratch:

Perhaps it was to ensure correct VTA, as the tonearm is mounted quite high up in that 'pod' thingy?

Or perhaps it was a combination of that and also the 'discus top platter' acting as a Mu-Metal barrier to prevent magnetic interference and eddy currents generated by the (huge lump of iron) motor underneath, from interfering with the response of the cartridge?

If so, I have to applaud their ingenuity!

Still, whatever it was, it must've been a right faff playing 100s of records every day going through the palaver you've described!

Marco.

Lodgesound

04-03-2011, 13:34

It was a lot simpler than that Marco - it was because the the turntable was incapable of instant starts as I believe it was idler driven hence the need for the slipmat - when DJ'ing a live show the need for quick start was essential back then in the days before high-torque direct-drive motors.

Marco

04-03-2011, 13:56

Ah, makes sense, Stewart. I thought you might know! ;)

I don't think that arrangement would've done much for the sound quality, though....

Any idea what year roughly the Gates units would've been introduced, and also what cartridge would've been fitted to the headshell/arm combo TB was using to play the first single on Radio 1?

Marco.

Beobloke

04-03-2011, 15:52

As Stewart says, the top thin platter was held millimetres above the Garrard's standard platter, which was continuously spinning, and then at the press of a button it would make contact for an instant start. A sort of high-tech hands-free slipmat!

These were only fitted to the BBC modified Garrard 301s but a conventional Thorens TD124 has a similar arrangement as standard.

Lodgesound

04-03-2011, 16:14

Whilst on the subject of vintage broadcast kit......

When I worked at the BBC 20 years ago we used to transmit programmes from these - this one belongs to me and is fully restored - a very complex and rewarding beast to own....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5V06FBfduk

Marco

04-03-2011, 16:33

Hi Stewart,

You're YouTube link no worky..... This is the message I'm getting:

This video contains content from WMG, who has blocked it on copyright grounds.

Sorry about that.

:(

What was it you were trying to show?

Marco.

Techno Commander

04-03-2011, 16:33

Link doesnt work :(

Lodgesound

04-03-2011, 16:59

Sorry chaps - will rectify as soon as...

Lodgesound

04-03-2011, 17:01

Sorted now....

Techno Commander

04-03-2011, 17:15

WOW!!!:eek::eek::eek:

lurcher

04-03-2011, 17:31

Very cool. Whats the lower CRT display showing?

Lodgesound

04-03-2011, 17:36

It's showing the vision waveform (chroma & Luminance) and the monitor to the right is showing Chroma Vector & amplitude.

lurcher

04-03-2011, 17:47

Yep, I was the one that looked like its was a vector display that I wondered about.

BTH K10A

04-03-2011, 21:47

Here are some interesting links for those, like me, who have a passion for vintage broadcast equipment, and T/Ts in particular:

Or the ultimate 'high-mass' approach - a 'tank-like' Rek-o-Kut with Gray and Fairchild arms. Check out the latter for its sheer mass!! :eek: .....
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/7554/411alexander14.jpg (http://img193.imageshack.us/i/411alexander14.jpg/)
tar:
Marco.

Marco, this is my kind of thread :)

That Fairchild tonearm carries 3 cartridges set 120 degrees apart allowing changes by just rotating them using a knob on the front . :mental: It has a great 50's Dan Dare / Mekon / Space Kingsley look to it.
http://found0bjects.blogspot.com/2010/09/space-kingsley-his-forgotten-squadron.html

One came up on ebay a while ago and sold for serious money.

Fairchild made some really great mono cartridges but lost their way a bit with stereo. I would love to own an XP3 and matching SUT.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/fairchildxp3d.jpg

Marco

08-03-2011, 19:24

So would I, Andy - looks fab... One of those on the matching Fairchild arm would be superb for playing mono records! :)

Glad someone else is a fan of this sort of stuff other than just dafty-boy me :eyebrows:

Marco.

BTH K10A

08-03-2011, 21:33

I think there's more afficianados than you and I Marco, they just haven't come out of the closet yet :eyebrows:

Let's see if there are any out there by having a little quiz?

Lets see if anyone can correctly identify these three turntables.

This one looks easy but there's a little more to it
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/IMG_1743.jpg

How about the maker of this one and the connection to the red cartridge at the back
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/1211_3.jpg

OK, who made this?
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/8ecb_1.jpg\

Answers on a postcard or a posthere

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 00:35

Marco

10-03-2011, 00:57

Hi Andy,

Fairchild made some really great mono cartridges but lost their way a bit with stereo. I would love to own an XP3 and matching SUT.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/fairchildxp3d.jpg

Would this interest you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fairchild-225-A-Moving-Coil-MC-Mono-Cartridge-Stylus-/120695442427?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1a024bfb

:)

Marco.

Beechwoods

10-03-2011, 07:26

Fantastic pictures here. I partiuclarly the one of Peely in his dressing gown - I think that was a nod to his 'John Past-Bedtime' Smashy and Nicey character, not anything more forboding. The two turntables in front of him are to die for. I suspect I'd need a bigger house to entertain one though!

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 07:49

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7140/vlcsnap00008x.jpg (http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7140/vlcsnap00008x.jpg/)[/center]

I partiuclarly the one of Peely in his dressing gown - I think that was a nod to his 'John Past-Bedtime' Smashy and Nicey character, not anything more forboding. The two turntables in front of him are to die for. I suspect I'd need a bigger house to entertain one though!

I'm 99% sure that's not JP's home studio, at Peel Acres anyway - these are the best I can find: But should be enough to show the difference - the home studio is much more, um, homely! and the layout is different, with the window in front of him.

http://www.reddingtonsrarerecords.co.uk/peel.gifhttp://images.wikia.com/peel/images/e/e0/JP_Homestudio.jpghttp://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/gallery/2004/10/26/mccabe_peelathome3.jpghttp://cdn.fourfourtwo.com/contentimages/interviews/Peel_Big.jpg

Still feel sad every time I think of his passing - linking into the "Radio 1" thread, I wonder how much his death left a hole there, not just in his show?

Think I'll be digging this out this morning :)

http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/nov2009/7/3/john-peel-kats-karavan-cover-778750591.jpg

Beechwoods

10-03-2011, 07:59

The album Kats Karavan has some great bits on; Linton Kwesi Johnson 'Reggae Fi Peach', The Passions' 'I'm in Love With A German Filmstar' and the session version of 'A Forest' by The Cure. The Aswad track is excellent too!

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 08:06

BTH K10A

10-03-2011, 08:06

Dunno the Garrard 301 variant at the top but the centre cartridge connection is Pierre Clement, Schlumberger TD211 unit..Bottom has the EMT rounded corners look but i don't know what the manufacturer is.

Andr'e

Yes correct with the Sclumberger.
The Garrard is a Westrex supplied version complete with equaliser that I used to own. 1st year of manufacture too.
The maker of the bottom one may interest you :)

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f120/emttsd15/9bc5_1.jpg

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 11:02

Hi Andy
I really must touch up on my much older equipment, i always think of Revox first deck as the 'B790' from the late 70's.. That one went right over my head :doh:

Marco

10-03-2011, 11:49

I *love* the tonearm on that Schlumberger!

And especially that gorgeous 'fat and chunky' headshell... I dig high-mass headshells which enclose the top and sides of cartridges - I hate seeing ugly nuts and bolts and wires. And they suit the low-compliance, spherical-tipped cartridges I prefer down to the ground.

It's one of the reasons why I love the (classic) SPU :)

They used to make headshells like that all the time, where alignment was done via a sliding plate underneath the headshell, which the cartridge was fixed to. This was a much cleverer, neater, and more effective way of doing things. Observe in the case of this Microseiki:

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/4999/b0ftbgkkgrhqfh8ew5otiwq.jpg (http://img560.imageshack.us/i/b0ftbgkkgrhqfh8ew5otiwq.jpg/)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/4968/b0ftt8gewkkgrhqrhwew5eo.jpg (http://img405.imageshack.us/i/b0ftt8gewkkgrhqrhwew5eo.jpg/)

Or this Sony:

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/2850/sonyshellcart01.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/sonyshellcart01.jpg/)

Or this rather lovely Supex:

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7100/sl7a.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/i/sl7a.jpg/)

My all-time favourite detachable headshell, though, is the Rek-o-Kut:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1226/kgrhqvhee1gwck9spbncblb.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/kgrhqvhee1gwck9spbncblb.jpg/)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/9522/kgrhqfice1nosg3mbncbmsg.jpg (http://img38.imageshack.us/i/kgrhqfice1nosg3mbncbmsg.jpg/)

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/2368/kgrhqnlke1f5zq36bncbmq5.jpg (http://img695.imageshack.us/i/kgrhqnlke1f5zq36bncbmq5.jpg/)

Gorgeous!! :stalks: Is that sheer retro cool or what??!!

One day, I'll treat myself to a Russco or Gates T/T with a Rek-o-Kut or Fairchild tonearm :cool:

Marco.

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 11:58

get one while the prices are right :)

Beobloke

10-03-2011, 12:57

Here's a screengrab of his home turntables that I've taken from the "John Peel's Record Box" documentary. Not a great picture unfortunately, but anyone know what they are?

http://i653.photobucket.com/albums/uu259/Alex_Steel1969/hifi/jpdecks.jpg?t=1299744249

(The documentary is well worth watching if you've never seen it.)

Interesting - they look remarkably like London Acoustical Developments (L.A.D.) turntables. I've been a fan of these for years and have....er. four currently!

Marco

10-03-2011, 13:01

Interesting, Adam. Is their design based on a Technics D/D motor unit? It looks a bit like that to me. The tonearm also looks rather like a Jelco 750....

Marco.

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 13:38

I think Jelco too - not sure if this will help?

8_5ueZ2zEc8

(If you click it and watch it on the YouTube page it will be a bit bigger)

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 13:39

They might be Koss headphones too, Marco?

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 14:01

They might be Koss headphones too, Marco?

No, they are Beyerdynamic Headphones 'DT 100'..yes they are LAD TT's

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 14:05

No, they are Beyerdynamic Headphones 'DT 100'..yes they are LAD TT's

Cheers Andre! Never even heard of L.A.D.! Every day is a school day!

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 14:14

Aye they were out in the 80's..funnily i don't recognice the decks cream colour! they will more than lilkley be Jelco '370' arms fitted..

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 14:18

Yep - 370's - from the info I've just been reading - looks like Adam has been through this loop before! - hope you don't mind me linking to a thread of yours on Audiokarma, Adam?

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=57655

Will save a lot of other questions I suspect!

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 14:32

Even available in "Hamish" Blue! :lol:

If I wasn't shelling out for the Spendors this week I would be sorely tempted...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LAD-GAJ-828-direct-drive-turntable-jelco-arm-/270716796743?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item3f07fa7f47#ht_500wt_1156

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 14:34

Marco:
Re sexy headshells
What about the Koetsu Rosewood headshell?
The mega sexy Orsonic's
Grace 'HS3' i've always liked..

Techno Commander

10-03-2011, 14:36

Marco

10-03-2011, 14:45

Hi Andre

Marco:
Re sexy headshells
What about the Koetsu Rosewood headshell?
The mega sexy Orsonic's
Grace 'HS3' i've always liked..

The Grace is the only one I'd entertain, as with headshells, it must be vintage ;)

Marco.

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 15:52

Orsonic are vintage :scratch:

Marco

10-03-2011, 15:57

hifi_dave

10-03-2011, 16:51

I've got original Orsonic but never rated it much. I also have Koetsu, Stax, Stax with damper and various Fidelity Research shells which I do like.

If only DSJR would come on over and show me how to post pics, you could enjoy a lot of vintage porn.

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 16:56

Yup, dude, but Orsonic still make those headshells now.

Genuine vintage is when products are discontinued and no longer available new... It's the slightly obscure 1970s headshells I tend to like best :)

Marco.

Dude that 101b is a new old stock item = vintage, orsonic still making them??

is there some new Orsonic started i don't know about? :scratch:

Alex_UK

10-03-2011, 17:13

If only DSJR would come on over and show me how to post pics, you could enjoy a lot of vintage porn.

Think I'll have to arrange coming over on my own Dave and show you, we'd like to see them sometime this decade! :rolleyes:

Sorry DSJR Dave, have to keep teasing you though! ;)

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 17:14

we'd like to see them sometime this decade! :rolleyes:

Yeh Dave especially that Michell 'Prisma' ;)

hifi_dave

10-03-2011, 17:18

Think I'll have to arrange coming over on my own Dave and show you, we'd like to see them sometime this decade! :rolleyes:

Sorry DSJR Dave, have to keep teasing you though! ;)

Of course, that would be good. Lots to show you and to hear.

I've been waiiting nearly two years for DSJR to grace me with his prescence again. Even the promise of a beer and sausage sandwich hasn't persuaded him...:cool:

hifi_dave

10-03-2011, 17:25

Yeh Dave especially that Michell 'Prisma' ;)

Is that the single one with SME 3009 imp or the double deck ?

When I get a lid, the mirror blue Electronic Reference with Transcriptor arm looks a treat.

I'd also like to do some porn on my new TD124 to be fitted on a multi-ply plinth with FR-64S and a range of cartridges from the good ol' days.

Marco

10-03-2011, 17:31

Dude that 101b is a new old stock item = vintage, orsonic still making them??

is there some new Orsonic started i don't know about? :scratch:

Soz, dude, I was getting mixed up with Ikeda! :doh:

The Orsonics are nice headshells, but I prefer ones which enclose cartridges almost completely and hide all the wires and fixings.... The Orsonic is too 'skeletal' for me.

The Rek-o-Kut I posted earlier is my ultimate, and the old bakelite SPUs are also another of my favs, although purely on a 'sexy retro looks' basis :)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/9949/ortstereoa.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/ortstereoa.jpg/)

Awesome!!! :stalks: (observe the proper 'man-sized' finger-lift, something which seems to have died a death today) And you even get a cartridge with it, too! ;)

Marco.

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 17:44

Is that the single one with SME 3009 imp or the double deck ?

When I get a lid, the mirror blue Electronic Reference with Transcriptor arm looks a treat.

Any Dave..You can buy the lids brand new

Soz, dude, I was getting mixed up with Ikeda! :doh:

Thats a relief i thought i'd missed summert..

Re: Ikeda! well i much prefer the looks of the FR shells & arms..

Marco

10-03-2011, 17:53

Me too. My 103 positively sings inside my FR 'S/5' on the Jelco:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/2636/kgrhquokjce0kc1qrbncmte.jpg (http://img145.imageshack.us/i/kgrhquokjce0kc1qrbncmte.jpg/)

Total quality! The FR headshell really improves the performance of the Jelco. And see how much neater headshells look with no ugly slots or nuts/bolts on top (with alignment being achieved from underneath via a simple sliding plate system)? Have you seen how much FR headshells sell for now, though.......

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fidelity-research-FR-S-5-Head-shell-Tonearm-/250782256773?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a63c98e85

:stalks: :eek:

Marco.

keiths

10-03-2011, 18:03

Even the promise of a beer and sausage sandwich hasn't persuaded him...:cool:

Doesn't the beer make the bread soggy [Sorry]

hifi_dave

10-03-2011, 18:03

Marco,
I have and even more expensive than the one you have shown. This is why I'm keeping hold of my FR stash...:eyebrows:

hifi_dave

10-03-2011, 18:05

Doesn't the beer make the bread soggy [Sorry]

Nice one.

Pedant...:ner:

Marco

10-03-2011, 18:12

Marco,
I have and even more expensive than the one you have shown. This is why I'm keeping hold of my FR stash...

Nice one, dude. You'll have to learn to post pics though - the feeling will be very liberating! ;)

Have you got a digital camera? If so, the procedure is a piece of piss :)

Marco.

Rare Bird

10-03-2011, 18:27

how do you get a piece of piss? :D

BTH K10A

10-03-2011, 18:45

My all-time favourite detachable headshell, though, is the Rek-o-Kut:

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1226/kgrhqvhee1gwck9spbncblb.jpg (http://img716.imageshack.us/i/kgrhqvhee1gwck9spbncblb.jpg/)

Marco.

I've tbeen trying to get one of those for a while now but always get outbid. :( It would be perfect for my GE RPX.

I eventually used a modern Pickering headshell that has a hole in the right place that just needed enlarging slightly.

Andy

Marco

10-03-2011, 19:39

Beechwoods

10-03-2011, 20:13

The turntable pics on this thread are burning a hole in my pocket. Stop it!!

Especially that L.A.D for £150. That's got to be worth a try!

Ian Walker

10-03-2011, 20:15

http://www.vintageradio.co.uk/index.htm

This guy is a customer of mine..may be able to help with some hard to find goodies:)

Ian.

Beechwoods

10-03-2011, 20:35

Thanks Ian. Looks like I've missed out on some real bargains.

BTH K10A

10-03-2011, 20:53

Hi Andy,

There's one on Ebay now, dude - that's where I got the pic from:

http://cgi.ebay.com/REK-O-KUT-STEREO-HEADSHELL-REKOKUT-BEAUTIFUL-/190508467147?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item2c5b3083cb

Have you got a Rek-o-Kut arm, though? The headshell looks as if it's a standard SME mount, but the bayonet housing is a little shorter, so only fits matching Rek-o-Kut tonearms :)

Marco.

No, but I know someone who has, found in a junk shop in Norfolk along with a Fisher amp. Had no headshell though.

Problem is, I'm all Pickering upped now with the RPX

Andy

Andy

Marco

11-03-2011, 00:26

Nice one... This is a cool site with lots of pics of broadcast T/Ts/arms & carts, and a nice section on vintage mono kit:

http://members.myactv.net/~je205d/mono.htm And for vintage broadcast tonearms: http://members.myactv.net/~je183/retro.htm

Anyone else here love 16" T/Ts? I do! Here's a lovely RCA one with SME 3012 arm and an EMT broadcast cartridge:

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9761/rcae.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/rcae.jpg/)

Rek-o-Kut LP743 plus Gray and Rek-O-kut arms:

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/9418/grayrok1.jpg (http://img845.imageshack.us/i/grayrok1.jpg/)

AWESOME!! :)

A most apt quote from within the text on that site:

Listening to playback devices made more than half a century ago made me realize that technology has not advanced significantly and most claimed improvements through the years have been mostly sideways.

Indeed!!!

From the site linked to above, this for me has to be the nicest listening room I've ever seen - bet the acoustics in there are near perfect....

http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/2011/34375519.png (http://img863.imageshack.us/i/34375519.png/)

:stalks: :stalks: :eek:

Marco.

Techno Commander

11-03-2011, 00:45

Now thats a room. :)

Marco

11-03-2011, 01:05

Indeed. Gorgeous, innit? He's got the lighting just right, too. Lighting is so important to create the right mood and atmosphere in a room.

One thing I can't stand are bright lights at night (particularly strip-lights), illuminating the whole room very unsubtly in a cold white light :doh: :spew:

What's nice are judiciously placed spotlights and/or lamps that subtly bathe the room in a natural warm glow and only illuminate the areas which are necessary, such as where one is reading.

Vintage Anglepoise lamps, dotted around a room, are great to create that effect. It's so much cosier and relaxing being in a room like that when listening to music :)

Marco.

Beobloke

11-03-2011, 11:20

Interesting, Adam. Is their design based on a Technics D/D motor unit? It looks a bit like that to me. The tonearm also looks rather like a Jelco 750....

Marco.

No, it's a JVC DD motor. Not as torquey as the Technics but still fairly hefty and with more guts than most!

Interestingly I was lured out of DJ retirement last year for the wedding of my sister's oldest friend. I borrowed back my DJ gear from the friend i sold it to and took along my Technics SL-1210 and the LAD GAJ-942 for turntable duties.

Both are standard and both were running Ortofon OM Pro S cartridges but what was very interesting was that the LAD/Jelco absolutely wiped the floor with the Techie in sound quality terms! It was not long after this that i finally sold the SL-1210. OF course, If I'd knwon they were going to stop making it I would have hung onto it a bit longer!

Marco

12-03-2011, 01:42

Both are standard and both were running Ortofon OM Pro S cartridges but what was very interesting was that the LAD/Jelco absolutely wiped the floor with the Techie in sound quality terms! It was not long after this that i finally sold the SL-1210.

Obviously the Techie was still stock with no mods done to it.... ;)

No doubt the LADs are great decks, but it was a shame you punted the Techie before getting to hear its true potential, or perhaps that was before all the mods available for it now were out? :)

In its current iteration, I'd put my Techie up against pretty much any T/T out there and be confident that it wouldn't be disgraced :cool:

Marco.

Techno Commander

14-03-2011, 11:08

Vintage BBC tonearm (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-BBC-MP1-18-tonearm-Technics-SP10-turntable-/200584803472?pt=AU_Electronics_Home_Audio_Turntabl es&hash=item2eb3c93490) on the bay.

Barry

14-03-2011, 23:52

Nice one... This is a cool site with lots of pics of broadcast T/Ts/arms & carts, and a nice section on vintage mono kit:

http://members.myactv.net/~je205d/mono.htm And for vintage broadcast tonearms: http://members.myactv.net/~je183/retro.htm

Anyone else here love 16" T/Ts? I do! Here's a lovely RCA one with SME 3012 arm and an EMT broadcast cartridge:

http://img705.imageshack.us/img705/9761/rcae.jpg (http://img705.imageshack.us/i/rcae.jpg/)

Rek-o-Kut LP743 plus Gray and Rek-O-kut arms:

http://img845.imageshack.us/img845/9418/grayrok1.jpg (http://img845.imageshack.us/i/grayrok1.jpg/)

AWESOME!! :)

A most apt quote from within the text on that site:

Indeed!!!

From the site linked to above, this for me has to be the nicest listening room I've ever seen - bet the acoustics in there are near perfect....

http://img863.imageshack.us/img863/2011/34375519.png (http://img863.imageshack.us/i/34375519.png/)

:stalks: :stalks: :eek:

Marco.

Being the pedant you expect me to be, I ought to point out that the cartridge is a Thorens MCH-1. Built by EMT for Thorens (at a time when the two companies had merged), the MCH-1 is "90% of a TSD15 but with softer suspension for the Thorens arm". Presumably this meant the compliance was higher, because the Thorens (and SME) were less massy.

Love the look of that room by the way, though the acoustics look 'hard'.

Regards