turntable with auto lift for 78s

[Abelian]

Recently I inherited a huge number of 78 recordings.
I had anticipated this several years ago when I purchased my Thorens 521, so I went out and bought a good 78 cart (Grado) and mounted it on the turntable. Then I found out what a pain using two different carts on the same arm is, having to rebalance and adjust the arm each time I change the cart.
As well, my belt drive Thorens doesn't like to spin at 78s - it gets up to speed slowly and rocks when it gets there. I also learned I don't like to jump up from my couch every couple of minutes when the recording ends.
So I want to purchase a second turntable for the 78s that is a high torque direct drive, variable speed (up to 25%), and arm auto lift off, semi-automatic or automatic. I'd prefer the least complex auto mechanism.
A good DJ table would seem to be appropriate, but they have no auto arm features. I see on other forums that I might be able to find and use a mechanical arm lift (such as the Stylift) but I'm leery of the arm and cart being yanked off the turntable, and I'm not sure whether a lift will fit on the TT. What about optical sensor lift offs? Has anyone built one or are there any out there for sale?
An older auto direct-drive is another option - one that has been modded for 78s and a wide pitch range. Technics SL 13/14/1500 series come to mind but they seem to have mechanical problems with the auto features. The SL 1700 seems to be less problematic. Does any one have any other suggestions for other direct drives (brands, models) ?
I could consider rim drive TTs, which are probably easier to maintain than direct drives. I remember Duals having a decent reputation but I'm not sure what kind of a pitch range they had. Has anyone had any experience with Duals or other reputable rim drives?

Thanks for reading my post. Any help/opinion would be appreciated.

[maxro]

Originally posted by Abelian

I could consider rim drive TTs, which are probably easier to maintain than direct drives. I remember Duals having a decent reputation but I'm not sure what kind of a pitch range they had. Has anyone had any experience with Duals or other reputable rim drives?

Thanks for reading my post. Any help/opinion would be appreciated.

I have an old rim drive Dual that is 78 capable with an auto return arm. It has a mechanical problem where it starts up and then stops rotating just as the arm is brought to the record. I haven't bothered to fuss with trying to fix it as it is a tertiary table and I don't own any 78s. It's free to a good home if you want to pay postage from BC and fix it up yourself.

[offanonone]

You carn't go wrong with a Lenco. The GL78 does 16, 33.3, 45 and 78 and has end of disc lift and stop (But no auto-return).

Try http://www.lenco-lovers.com/forum/


Regards,

John.

[sreten]

Hi,

For rim drives with +/- 25% your only choice is Lenco's, which to
be strictly accurate are idler drive but do not actually drive the rim.
They drive the underside of the platter.

Idler rim drives are usually either fully synchronous with no speed
adjustment or quasi synchronous with up to +/- 5%, but to achieve
this the default must slow the motor up to 5% for normal speed.


I'm not aware of a fully automatic turntable with the sort of pitch
adjustment range you are describing, usually only DJ turntables.

The dual 1019 is a solid design, 6% speed control, fully automatic.
It supports 10" records and 78 rpm. Nice heavy (7.5lb) platter.
(Uses a syncronous motor with slightly tapered drive steps, a
new arrrangement to me, pitch adjust moves the idler wheel.)

/sreten.