Strange and Wonderful Turntables

[RochaCullen]

Just spotted these two turntables on ebay:

SONY PS-F5 VINTAGE LINEAR TRACKING AUTOMATIC TURNTABLE (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180626661973&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)

And:

Mitsubishi LT-5V Vertical Linear Tracking Turntable (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180624957628&category=3283&_trksid=p5197.c0.m619)

I wonder is the mitsubishi any good. It certainly looks the part.

[Barry]

Wouldn't touch either with a barge pole.

The Sony is a glorified 'Sound Burger' and the only use for the Mitsubishi would be by someone who does not have a sufficiently deep shelf on which to place a conventional turntable. The added complexity in use of the Mitsubishi and the wear on the horizontal bearings put me off.

Sorry to be a bit of a 'party pooper'.

Regards

[RochaCullen]

I knew the likelyhood was both decks would get a firm AOS bashing.

I've just never seen anything like the Sony, and the Mitsubishi looks like a bit of a mechanical marvel. Thought people would get a kick out of seeing them. The Sony looks like a serious exercise in minimalism.

Nathan

[Barry]

Certainly as collector's items they are of interest but I wouldn't want to use them, let alone pay what is being asked.

They are of curiosity though. Thanks for pointing them out. :)

Regards

[flapland]

The Mitsubishi one reminds me of one we had for sale 27-28 years ago. Back then I had a Saturday Job in Woolco which was like a Woolworths owned Department Store with a Records Shop, Cafe, Mens Wear, Womens Wear, Furniture, TV. Washing machines etc etc and Audio. We had a version of the Mitsubishi with tape deck amp and speaker which never sold. We also had lots and lots of Amstrad, Alba, LLoytron etc which sold by the bucket load. Some of those had linear tracking as well but were in the pretend Hifi stack in cabinet with glass door style. Best feature for me was the twin decks, meant I could copy Sinclair Spectrum Games and tapes borrowed for demo purposes from the Record Section. Those were the day, now and again we also opened on Sunday for Providence Customers who came from all across the Northwest and Yorkshire.

[Mr Pig]

I remember the Sony. Not seen the other one before I don't think.

There were quite a few vertical record players around at the time including music centres. Friend of mine had a Sharp one.

[The Vinyl Adventure]

I was watching the Mitsubishi for a while ... It's been on for ages ... Shame it's broken really ... I really like the look of it regardless of what it sounds like ...

[selfaddict]

A bit off topic, but could not resist :eyebrows:

I have been thinking to build my analog kit around this beauty.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLDA2miW7gg&feature=related

There is one for DIY group as well:

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

[Epicurus]

You obviously mentioned those for the lulz.

[selfaddict]

You obviously mentioned those for the lulz.

According to a New York Times article about Internet trolling, "lulz means the joy of disrupting another's emotional equilibrium.

I have been accused of many many many thing in the past, but never 'disrupting another's emotional equilibrium', I take it to the chin as a man and try to behave from now on :ner:

[peelaaa]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190643997244#ht_1601wt_1187

Is this the same mitsubishi as advertised on ebay a while back and listed in original post. It is from a different seller but same location!

[pure sound]

I like the look of this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Russco-QRK-Model-12C-Idler-Drive-broadcast-turntable-/290671851402?pt=UK_AudioTVElectronics_HomeAudioHiF i_Turntables&hash=item43ad64778a

[The Grand Wazoo]

Yes, I saw that & thought of Marco. Love the tone-leg!

[Barry]

Yes, I saw that & thought of Marco. Love the tone-leg!

Yes, Marco should definitely bid for that one. Is the "tone-leg" a Gray?

[The Grand Wazoo]

I don't know the Gray well enough to say really, but that's what I assumed it was from my memory of what they look like.

However, a quick Gurgle suggests it might be a Gray 208S like the one on this page (http://soundup.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=916:gray-research-208-s-16-inch-tonearm-near-mint&catid=20:tonearms&directory=15)
At 16 inches, it would certainly qualify for the description of a tone-leg!

[Barry]

I don't know the Gray well enough to say really, but that's what I assumed it was from my memory of what they look like.

However, a quick Gurgle suggests it might be a Gray 208S like the one on this page (http://soundup.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=916:gray-research-208-s-16-inch-tonearm-near-mint&catid=20:tonearms&directory=15)
At 16 inches, it would certainly qualify for the description of a tone-leg!

16"! Better not let Tabatha hear about that!

Mind you, you might have to pay an "arm and a leg" for one of those.

Actually, since the Gray is an American design it uses the American convention: arms designed to play 16" discs were called 16" arms. The arm length (stylus to pivot) is actually 3/4 of this, or 12", which is the British designation. Tabatha should still be impressed however!

[Beobloke]

The Sony is a glorified 'Sound Burger'

With all due respect, if you're making a comment like that you have clearly owned neither.

I'm not for a moment suggesting you should sell your LP12/SL1200/401 for one, but the engineering in the Sony is absolutely astonishing and a world away from the Sound Burger.

[morris_minor]

Back OT Nathan, if you fancy a bit of vertical playing from time to time, try a Technics SL7 (http://www.thevintageknob.org/technics-SL-7.html). These go for about £100-150 on eBay, though this one (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270911656516?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_7152wt_1163)went for more.

I had one when new in the 80s for my bedsit and played it vertically all the time. Recently I bought another one, and a wider SL-QL1 which I'm getting back from Vantage Audio tomorrow tricked out with external PS, damping, copper platter, new feet. These higher end DD linear tracking turntables in the Technics range give current belt drives up to £1500 or more a real run for their money once serviced. And the p-mount cartridge mounting isn't the downer it could be when you can get Jico SAS tips for Technics P22 bodies.

After my SL7 turned up I tried it out vertically - though I don't use it like this now - and did a short video (http://youtu.be/A8b0tP0p9uQ) . . .

[Barry]

With all due respect, if you're making a comment like that you have clearly owned neither.

I'm not for a moment suggesting you should sell your LP12/SL1200/401 for one, but the engineering in the Sony is absolutely astonishing and a world away from the Sound Burger.

I was probably exaggerating a little in comparing the Sony with their Sound Burger, but a look at the deck in question does not inspire confidence.

http://ps-f5.com/about-the-sony-ps-f5-portable-turntable

It was intended to be a ‘fun item’: provision for two headphones, yet no obvious output to a preamp but some, it would appear, did have a short range FM transmitter so you could listen on your portable FM radio. Very strange!

Your right, I haven't owned either and neither I would I sell my TD124/IIs or EMT 930 for one. Nor would I want to subject my records to a Sony PS-F5.

Sorry