Hi there! 🙂
New to this forum, just thought I would share (and be able to get some advice) on my first project doing up an old turntable. I have experience with soldering and kit building but this is my first time playing with a turntable.
Basically I found this thing on the roadside garbage collection and thought it looked too nice to be thrown away, so brought it home and started tinkering with it! It appears to be a Phillips Discoteak from the 1970's, with a single built in speaker and no RCA line out (something I would like to add)
A quick test revealed the motor runs but the actual table did not rotate at all.
Opened it up and found about 40 years worth of grime and dirt inside! 🙁
I then removed everything from the wooden enclosure and have started sanding and varnishing it up. (The inside isn't bad so I may leave it alone but the outside was covered in scratches and gouges!)
I have varnished the top cover and it is drying now so I'm hoping it comes out ok! 😉
Also took out the electronics and will be replacing the potentiometers as they are very scratchy and I'll fit some new knobs on while I'm at it since the originals are very rusty!
Would also greatly appreciate it if someone could advise me of a good source for turntable needles. Or how I should go about testing the one already installed, I have next to no knowledge about this as I grew up with tapes and CD's! 😀
New to this forum, just thought I would share (and be able to get some advice) on my first project doing up an old turntable. I have experience with soldering and kit building but this is my first time playing with a turntable.
Basically I found this thing on the roadside garbage collection and thought it looked too nice to be thrown away, so brought it home and started tinkering with it! It appears to be a Phillips Discoteak from the 1970's, with a single built in speaker and no RCA line out (something I would like to add)
A quick test revealed the motor runs but the actual table did not rotate at all.
Opened it up and found about 40 years worth of grime and dirt inside! 🙁
I then removed everything from the wooden enclosure and have started sanding and varnishing it up. (The inside isn't bad so I may leave it alone but the outside was covered in scratches and gouges!)
I have varnished the top cover and it is drying now so I'm hoping it comes out ok! 😉
Also took out the electronics and will be replacing the potentiometers as they are very scratchy and I'll fit some new knobs on while I'm at it since the originals are very rusty!
Would also greatly appreciate it if someone could advise me of a good source for turntable needles. Or how I should go about testing the one already installed, I have next to no knowledge about this as I grew up with tapes and CD's! 😀
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The amplifier is mono and looks '60s vintage.
AC128/127 transistors ? Good for around 3 watts maximum.
This will be loud enough for a small/medium sized room with an efficient speaker.
Were there any speakers with the unit when found?
Does the turntable idler wheel move when the speed change mechanism is moved ?
Does the cartridge have any markings on it?
It is likely to be a ceramic cartridge and so will track at quite a high weight.
Stylii should be available of EBAY at reasonable price.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/iCT05-x-1...128402?hash=item3ac7334212:g:8NoAAOSwU9xUMxmM
Not good for your new disks but OK for old LPs!
Andy
AC128/127 transistors ? Good for around 3 watts maximum.
This will be loud enough for a small/medium sized room with an efficient speaker.
Were there any speakers with the unit when found?
Does the turntable idler wheel move when the speed change mechanism is moved ?
Does the cartridge have any markings on it?
It is likely to be a ceramic cartridge and so will track at quite a high weight.
Stylii should be available of EBAY at reasonable price.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/iCT05-x-1...128402?hash=item3ac7334212:g:8NoAAOSwU9xUMxmM
Not good for your new disks but OK for old LPs!
Andy
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Thanks for the ebay link, I'll probably order a few spares soon!
I'm currently not able to test the mechanical side of things as I have it dismantled to varnish the casing and sort out the electrics, but I do know the motor runs although the speed selector has some issues.
Bought the new potentiometers today and ready to replace, one thing I noticed though is that the shielding of the signal cable has been soldered to the body of the potentiometers! Never seen this done before, is it necessary and should I do it with the new pots when I put them in? The only reasoning I can think of is maybe it is supposed to stop the metal body of the pot from bringing in interference by keeping it grounded?
Would appreciate some advice on this one, I'm sorry my camera is such awful quality but hopefully it should be good enough to see what my question is about! 🙂
I'm currently not able to test the mechanical side of things as I have it dismantled to varnish the casing and sort out the electrics, but I do know the motor runs although the speed selector has some issues.
Bought the new potentiometers today and ready to replace, one thing I noticed though is that the shielding of the signal cable has been soldered to the body of the potentiometers! Never seen this done before, is it necessary and should I do it with the new pots when I put them in? The only reasoning I can think of is maybe it is supposed to stop the metal body of the pot from bringing in interference by keeping it grounded?
Would appreciate some advice on this one, I'm sorry my camera is such awful quality but hopefully it should be good enough to see what my question is about! 🙂
Right I see! Thanks for the advice!
Have sanded down the body and varnished so waiting for it to dry now and then the fun of re assembling can begin! 😉
Also discovered the speaker is past it's use by date so I'll need to replace it too, it seems to have rotted away! 🙁 Hopefully I can find a suitable replacement, I think any 8 ohm would work ok.
Have sanded down the body and varnished so waiting for it to dry now and then the fun of re assembling can begin! 😉
Also discovered the speaker is past it's use by date so I'll need to replace it too, it seems to have rotted away! 🙁 Hopefully I can find a suitable replacement, I think any 8 ohm would work ok.
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