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Post by rjsoftware on Jul 25, 2009 22:36:45 GMT -5
Hello Your opinion please... 300331427334 cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300331427334I took a chance because seller did not wish to show the motor, due to lack of ability to disassemble. I did get a copy of private pic of arm support bracket and it was not the typical replica type (that I know of). RJ
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Post by matty on Jul 26, 2009 1:39:34 GMT -5
Sorry RJ, but it's not an original. It appears to be a 1970's crapophone. The speed control looks like the type used in a 30's portable, and the Thorens soundbox is also a low-end aftermarket box available in the 30's until the 50's. Thorens also didn't make a tonearm for open horn machines like the one on this machine. They either had a one piece arm that swivelled in the bracket, or a goose neck tonearm like you find on Victor machines. I'm not sure why he would think he had the "lack of ability to disassemble". It should be as easy as unwinding the crank & lifting the motor board.
Can you post the picture of the back-bracket? It may be an original?
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Post by rjsoftware on Jul 26, 2009 6:53:23 GMT -5
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Post by rjsoftware on Jul 26, 2009 7:03:29 GMT -5
If it's a repo from the 30's - 50's I will be ok with it.
At one point I have even been considering buying a newer India repo just so I could have an external Victor/Columbia latteral player like this. But, reading about them (even in listing) that the units even though they can play are real low quality and are more for artistic decorative display.
I have been looking for a while now, the older genuines are way out of my price range. And they are getting harder to find.
This one, Thorens, I am hoping (even if newer repo) would be more meaty/solid/built better than India/China repos.
I have an older Thorens music box and it's high quality. What I really am hoping is that this is an original Thorens, not an India/China with Thorens reproducer stuck on.
RJ
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Post by matty on Jul 26, 2009 7:19:29 GMT -5
I can't say I've seen that exact bracket, but it appears to based on a Pathe back bracket. It also appears to be aluminium, which probably isn't a good sign. It also looks like they've added a tonearm from an internal horn model, and cut the arm so they could rotate the first section 180 degrees to fit it to the bracket. The turntable looks like a Paillard so I'm guessing that's what the motor will be. (Marque Deposse). It probably won't sound too bad with a better soundbox, provided the stylus lines up with the centre spindle.
BTW: Happy Birthday RJ. (I feel a bit bad saying than now, after delivering the bad news.)
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Post by rjsoftware on Jul 26, 2009 18:08:12 GMT -5
Hey GShane. Good to hear from you. Well.... hey no problem. I guess you can tell it was one of those quick b-day presents to myself. The seller describes it as working and I am looking forward to it's arrival. I think it's going be fun toy too, even though it's not an oldie goldie. Maybe later on I can get a higher end reproducer for it. If it turns out to be a pure bread Thorens then perhaps it's worth a little more than a India or China repo. I say this from my limitted knowledge about Thorens. But from what I can tell the craftmanship of Thorens is pretty good. If so, then I broke about even or in other terms paid for what I got. But that may be wishful thinking. RJ
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Post by rjsoftware on Jul 26, 2009 18:13:05 GMT -5
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Post by rjsoftware on Jul 28, 2009 0:04:26 GMT -5
Here is an early Thorens. Looks to have same tone arm type. Can't exactly see braket but generally looks the same.
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Post by rjsoftware on Aug 18, 2009 15:00:53 GMT -5
Hey G-Shane and others.
Well,,, yep I guess you can call it a repo, but seems more like a homemade frankenstien.
After I restored the Thorens reproducer I had to work on adjustiing the tone arm height because the reproducer was standing on the records at a slight angle.
Turns out you where correct about the tone arm being cut and flipped 180. Took me a while but I finally managed to solder it on at the correct angle.
I used part of a clock mainspring to fit inside the tone arm tube to assist in holding the tube in the correct spot.
After messing up a few times with obtaining the correct angle. I realized it would be better to solder with the arm connected to the machine and the reproducer with needle standing on the record platter.
About the motor, did not see any maker marking. The motor plates are covered with a grid like design.
The reproducer was tough to restore as well. I had to replace the rivets with small screw and nuts I had. Problem was each of the holes had to be reemed out and that took a while.
The aluminum diaphram was bent up, but now I got it in great shape. (A little careful restorative bending).
The tone arm polished up nice with steel wool, I don't mind seeing the joint as it's not sloppy, looks like it was made that way.
I don't know what wood the case is made of, but it don't look bad. Not as good as 1/4 sawn oak or mahogany, but not bad. The case has a little weight to it.
I painted the scratched places on the bracket that holds the horn up. When I took it off I see a top section of that bracket (where it mounts) had been sawn off so it could be mounted to the case. So it's a bit of a frankenstien.
There are a couple of confusing parts to me. The horn and it's 45 elbow look original to me. They both have the appearance of age (maybe).
The motor, specifically the handle is a slotted style.
What I wonder is if this unit (I doubt that the case is homemade) started off as a low end crappophone and somehow got frankenstiened back to life.
All in all, I paid too much money, but I did learn. The phono sounds and works excellent however... So I am happy with it.
The tone arm arrangement makes it meatier / stronger than the cheapo India models that are really for artistic display and that's what I was looking for.
Later on when I can afford to, I will obtain the real deal. For now I wanted to enjoy the external horn to play my Vic's on.
RJ
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Post by Edison Restorer 64 on Sept 3, 2009 19:22:44 GMT -5
Its a Phoney O Graph not at all orignal to bad some one cant get these off the market it hearts the persons whom do noty know what there buying they think there gettin an orignal but there not so they get stuck with paing top dollar and told IO its orignal whwen its not to bad just my $.02 worth
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