Can this cartridge be identified?

[phimor]

This came with my op-shop Thorens TD150.

looks 'hand made', limited production.

[phimor]

no brand name, except made in England

[phimor]

???

[kevinkr]

IMO It's a Decca London..

More details here:
http://www.tnt-audio.com/sorgenti/deccalondon_e.html

If I have identified it correctly this is a nice cartridge and can be overhauled if you want.

[SY]

The goofy three wire lead-out is the definitive clue- Kevin is, as usual, 100% correct. It's a Decca and very much worth taking some fuss about rebuilding and mating with the right arm.

[phimor]

Thank you gentlemen. I spend a few minutes loafing in the tube section and there are two replies already.

Kevin, you say overhauled?

The stylus arm is very recessed in the body, and does not look'right' to me. Also not (obvious to me) how it comes apart, if it does at all?

the lid slides off and the pin and headshell slides off also. any further dismantling is a mistery.



Do I have to send it to Decca? (If they still exist)

Philippe

[kevinkr]

Originally posted by phimor
Thank you gentlemen. I spend a few minutes loafing in the tube section and there are two replies already.

Kevin, you say overhauled?

The stylus arm is very recessed in the body, and does not look'right' to me. Also not (obvious to me) how it comes apart, if it does at all?

the lid slides off and the pin and headshell slides off also. any further dismantling is a mistery.



Do I have to send it to Decca? (If they still exist)

Philippe

Decca Londons are not really user serviceable, you should send it to a specialist to be retipped. Do NOT attempt to take it apart!
The stylus assembly looked right enough to me in your pix. The London is very different in design from most cartridges you will encounter.

I think you should send it to me for appropriate disposal..

There are a number of specialists who will retip this cartridge including Van Den Hul.. I think Decca will do it too.. Expect to drop some significant coin on this. (You might also just trade it in on another London)

You could also just sell it, but first providing the stylus projects beyond the bottom of the cartridge housing I would mount it in the arm and give it a listen with a couple of "don't care" records and see if the sound is anything close to what you like. (This is contingent on the stylus not being totally trashed.)

I'm not exactly sure which model you have, but to me it appears to be the "gold" which would have an elliptical stylus - then the tracking force should be somewhere in the 2 - 3 gram range. Londons are heavy trackers, older types tracked at 4 grams and above.

The Japanese revere these, and there are quite a few people on the east coast here who do too.

[phimor]

Thank you Kevin. the link about the review is stangely alluring..

And also for the kind offer of disposal


It' way past my bed time in OZ, so good night

Philippe

[kevinkr]

I think your cartridge is actually the "Gold" and it is still made. The current Gold retails for about $1100 USD - just thought you ought to know.

Treat it with care!

[Pyre]

Interesting,

I have the exact same cartridge. what did you get it off?

Mine was on a Garrard Lab-80.

I, ummmm (hangs head in shame) may have attempted to take it apart as the tip stylus seemed misaligned. I hope I did not total the thing. I thought it was junk.