Vintage Turntables From The 1960's
- Thread starter beatboy77
- Start date
beatcomber
AK Member
The quality of turntables c. 1964 ranged from a Thorens TD-124 or Garrard 401 - still rightfully considered world class (with resale value to match) - through to more modest yet excellent offerings like the Acoustic Research AR-XA or Dual 1009 - way down to the more common tabletop portables and consoles.
beatcomber
AK Member
AK'er sberger has one of those and speaks very highly of it.
beatcomber
AK Member
I'm curious about the OP's original question... are you looking to experience those records the way they were originally heard? If so, you'd be best served by something like this:
Great table, but wouldn't ever had known about them if SFBayArch hadn't sold me one, and spent much time bringing it and subsequent ones up to spec.
Just giving credit where credit is due.
Braun made some really nice tables in the 60s as well. My PS-500 is a daily driver in a secondary system, works flawlessly and sounds excellent. Great design and build quality. They had a number of other nice designs as well as a couple in the same series that were even more up-market.
Of course the Thorens TD-125 is also a 60s table (not just the 124) and a fine decl in its own right.
Of course the Thorens TD-125 is also a 60s table (not just the 124) and a fine decl in its own right.
beatcomber
AK Member
Empire's 208 and related models were also quite good.
Rek-O-Kut also had several excellent models available in 1964.
I think the Fairchild 412 and 440 were also still available.
I think the Fairchild 412 and 440 were also still available.
beatcomber
AK Member
I hadn't thought about it before, but all of my turntables date from the '50s-very early '70s:
c.1956 Rek-O-Kut L-34
1961 Thorens TD-124
c.1964 Acoustic Research AR-TX
c.1965-71 Dual 1019
c.1970-71 Dual 1219
I guess I like old stuff, LOL.
c.1956 Rek-O-Kut L-34
1961 Thorens TD-124
c.1964 Acoustic Research AR-TX
c.1965-71 Dual 1019
c.1970-71 Dual 1219
I guess I like old stuff, LOL.
KentTeffeteller
Gimpus Stereophilus!
Braun turntables were never officially imported to the USA. In that era, the Garrard 401 was not sold here either except by special order. AR TT, TA, and XA were very popular, Thorens was still selling the TD 124, the TD 150 belt drive came later in the 1960's. Dual 's 1009 and 1019 were super popular, Garrard's LAB 80 and the AutoSlim line changers were very popular items. ELAC Miracord was well loved. Empire was a high end coveted turntable, and the Rek-O-Kut Rondine was at the tail end of their being marketed to audiophiles, as CCA bought the company in the late 1960's and continued marketing them to broadcast stations. This list is not complete but gives you a picture of 1960's HiFi record playback equipment.
Tell me about it...I have a first UK pressing of Sgt. Pepper's that I got from my aunt...even after cleaning I can hear all the damage she caused to it
It's a nice match for the Fairchild. Have seen more than one online with this combo. The only issue with my arm is that the arm drops much too fast when using the cueing lever. I do not want to take the chance of damaging it so I have not tried to fix it. I understand there may be an opportunity to add dampening fluid but you have to remove the outer shell on the arm. Since mine, as are all of these, is relatively old it would take some effort to make that happen. I have learned to deal with and just lower the arm with the cueing lever slowly until I hear the stylus engage the lead in groove. I have the currently mates with a Sumiko Blackbird HOMC. Been pleased with the entire combo.
bobins08
Celebrating Life
The 60's ...
We played our Beatles records on a RCA Orthophonic Console. It had a changer and a dedicated satellite speaker cabinet. If not on the "good" stereo, we also had the portable stereo phonograph in a suitcase thing. One speaker was in the removable top cover and the other in the lower main unit.
Killed lots of records with these beasts of burden.
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I was thinking of opening a thread, but I will post here since it fits well. In my childhood (a bit over a decade ago) I got a suitcase thing record player that is no longer with us. I am 98% sure it was British, it had the schematic stuck on its bottom, and instructions to switch voltages. I can't remember the maker and google was not my friend. I believe it was something ending in -ton. Tehnoton? Teleton? It was tubed and fully automatic with a disk changer too. It had all the speeds and a cart you could flip to use on the 78`s(I still have the cart). It had one internal speaker and two knobs, one for volume and one for treble bass I think. It used to give me powerful electric shocks when I touched the metal parts, this being one of the reasons why it was taken apart.
So anyone has any idea what I am talking about?I believe it was made in the 60's or maybe the late 50's
So anyone has any idea what I am talking about?I believe it was made in the 60's or maybe the late 50's
