• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Thorens TD-150 Project

Divotdog

Divotdog

"I can fix it Grampa"
I was out in the shop working on Bsujeep’s TD-125 MkI, I just finished cleaning up the suspension and was preparing to adjust it as soon as he brought over the SME to mount up, when there is a knock at the door and there stands Bsujeep with this in his arms!

A TD-150 MkII AB

attachment.php


As some of you know, I have been rebuilding and modding Thorens tables for quite some time now, I have worked over 145’s, 160’s, 125’s, even a 126 MkIII, but the one table that has eluded me has been a 150, I have been trying to find one of these for years as the simplicity of this table makes it a perfect candidate for some serious mods.

So far I have cleaned and adjusted the suspension, the fellow that Bill bought it from said that the motor was bad, a couple of drops of oil on the motor shaft repaired this problem, a little adjustment to the bearings in the tonearm, align and adjust the Shure M992E that came with it, then I spun up some Dave Brubeck on the all tube garage system and she sounded great!

A couple of tonearm shots

attachment.php


attachment.php


I will get some nudies up, and my impressions as I tear this little beauty apart and start the rebuild process.
 

Attachments

  • TD-150.jpg
    TD-150.jpg
    131.2 KB · Views: 1,623
  • TD-150 003.jpg
    TD-150 003.jpg
    137 KB · Views: 1,596
  • TD-150 001.jpg
    TD-150 001.jpg
    141.1 KB · Views: 1,581
Register to hide this ad
Here is a shot of the top plate, it has a wee bit of belt residue on it, fortunately this will most likely be replaced with a DIY plate in the long term.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • TD-150 006.jpg
    TD-150 006.jpg
    98.3 KB · Views: 1,525
The pulley is going to need some serious cleaning up, notice the machined aluminum rather than the plastic used in the later tables, I don’t know if it is any better but I like it. :D

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • TD-150 007.jpg
    TD-150 007.jpg
    107.6 KB · Views: 1,531
I love mine. I have to believe that that arm was designed by someone at the Bauhaus. :)

Can't wait to see what you do with it.
 
I had a 150 that I ended up giving up when I decided to update to the new TD160c when it came out. I still have and use the 160c but, soon after getting it, I realized I had taken a step back as the tonearm is not as easily replaceable as with the TD150. I thought I'd not miss it until I had a new Rabco SL-8E and SME sitting on the shelf and nothing to mount them to. It did give me an excuse to buy a TD 125 though.
 
Another thing that turns me on about the 150 is the captured bearing in the inner platter, very similar to the AR, I believe that the TD-125 MkI and some very early MkIIs have this feature.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • TD-150 008.jpg
    TD-150 008.jpg
    100.8 KB · Views: 1,516
This was an unexpected bonus, a balanced outer platter!

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • TD-150 011.jpg
    TD-150 011.jpg
    108.4 KB · Views: 1,520
You just gotta love the utter simplicity of this table, it appears as if Thorens copied the ARXA and fixed all of its little idiosyncrasies.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • TD-150 012.jpg
    TD-150 012.jpg
    117.7 KB · Views: 1,508
The motor, I am not sure, but I believe it to be the same motor as the 125, you will also notice the only two caps in the entire machine.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • TD-150 014.jpg
    TD-150 014.jpg
    118 KB · Views: 1,550
I met a gentleman with a Thorens 150. He gave me his card and said he would sell it and to make him an offer. I haven’t gotten back with him yet, as I know little of the Thorens tables. This is a thread I’ll be watching.
 
Divotdog said:
The motor, I am not sure, but I believe it to be the same motor as the 125, you will also notice the only two caps in the entire machine.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

It does look like the 125 motor, but the 125 uses a more complex circuit to adjust speed. Does the 150 have more than one speed, and does it have a fine speed adjustment like the 125?

You're doing beautiful work, Mel.
:drool:
 
JonL said:
It does look like the 125 motor, but the 125 uses a more complex circuit to adjust speed. Does the 150 have more than one speed, and does it have a fine speed adjustment like the 125?

You're doing beautiful work, Mel.
:drool:
Click to expand...

I will answer for Mel on this one. It changes speed mechanically between 33 and 45 and does not have a fine adjustment like the 125.
 
I love that arm. I'd love to find someone swapping over to a fancier arm, that crazy design would look great on my Rek-O-Kut.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom