Translate equipment labels from French

[jan.didden]

Hi,

I scored a pair of Thorens preamps (ca. 1955) and am trying to work out the functionality.

At the front panel there are labels:

Sortie (I know, means output);
Micro (microphone for sure);
Aux (another easy one);
RD-PU - this one has me stumped. What could that mean? I believe the preamp also has tape functions so it could be related to that.

Any Francophile knows?

Jan

 

[Max Headroom]

Post some pics, front and rear.

Dan.

 

[Pano]

PU probably means Pick Up, as in record player. RD maybe Radio?

 

[jan.didden]

PU probably means Pick Up, as in record player. RD maybe Radio?

Yeah I thought about that, but the French are (rightfully) generally true to their language, doubt if they would use the English/American term Pick-Up. But you may be right.

Jan

 

[Zung]

PU is Pick-Up, as in phono.
I don't see RD in the pic, it could be "Radio"
You haven't mentioned "Bande", which is tape.
Here's a partial schematic of the Thorens PR24 I traced many moons ago.

 

[jan.didden]

Thats interesting, some people told me the preamps I have are from the PR2x series.
Pictures attached.
The circuit has what appears to be a bias generator with 2 x EL90 so there probably is some kind of a replay or even record circuit for tape.

What would 'record' or 'replay' be in French?

Edit: there's pair of 5-pin DIN connectors on the back but they are not labelled. The bias generator feeds in one of them, the other is probably the aux input.

Edit 2: RD could be 'Réproduceur Disques' which would make sense of PU as pick-up. So it would stand for 'pick-up for record replay'.

Jan

 

[Zung]

... What would 'record' or 'replay' be in French?

Record = Enregistrement
Replay = Lecture, can also be Reproduction

Edit 2: RD could be 'Réproduceur Disques' which would make sense of PU as pick-up. So it would stand for 'pick-up for record replay'...

I've never seen 'Réproduceur Disques' (incorrect) nor "Reproduction Disques" (kind of correct). Worst case, it's could still be "Radio" which may imply it supports the crystal cartridges (remember these?), and no RIAA provided.

You'll have to open it up to know!

 

[Zung]

Found this thread with what appears to be the official schematics for the PR24 and the AZ25

 

[jan.didden]

Record = Enregistrement
Replay = Lecture, can also be Reproduction



I've never seen 'Réproduceur Disques' (incorrect) nor "Reproduction Disques" (kind of correct). Worst case, it's could still be "Radio" which may imply it supports the crystal cartridges (remember these?), and no RIAA provided.

You'll have to open it up to know!

Yes as far as I can see there is no RIAA, crystal p.u. sounds logical. I have opened it up, but need some time to trace it out. Being basically lazy I thought I'd try to get some info first ;-)

Jan

 

[jan.didden]

Indeed, that amplifier looks like the same family, same exterior. And it has the P.U on the source selector, as well as Radio.

Jan

 

[Zung]

... Being basically lazy I thought I'd try to get some info first ;-)

Jan

Noooooooooo!
Sun Tzu 101: "Move not unless you see an advantage"

 

[Pano]

Pick-Up was a common term in France for a phonograph during the time this unit was made. I suppose it sounded exotic and cool back then.

Perhaps it was meant for a high output ceramic cartridge and would have worked for radio too? Doesn't seem like a good idea, but RD doesn't ring a bell otherwise.
EDIT: Anything I ever saw called a "Pick-Up" in France had a ceramic cart. General consumer goods of the time. You'd think Thorens would have dome better.

 

[jan.didden]

Actually in The Netherlands, a phono cartridge was and still is called a 'pick-up element'.

Jan

 

[Pano]

Well there you go, then! Kinda gives a new mental picture of all those cowboys and their pickups.

 

[papasteack]

French here.
For me it's simply a common ("anglicisme" ie.) example of use of english word : Record Device, and Pick-Up.

"Réproduceur Disques" "Reproduction Disques" are really hurting my ears while reading ^^