-edible zone-
content = Notes on the Thorens Td124, photo documented Thorens Td124 maintenance and service, Looking at the Thorens Td124 non-magnetic platter, Thorens Td124 iron platter check for magnetic attraction to cartridge, Detailed wire-up voltage commutator drawing for the Td124, Td124 technical drawings, Thorens Td124 service manual, Thorens Td124 owners manual, Papst motor in the Thorens Td124, Thorens Td124
-- Td124 History:
1957
Introduction of the Td124 Hi-Fi
record player. It came without a tonearm, but with arm board during its
first year. And the buyer also needed to buy a cabinet (plinth) to hold
it. The considerable success - in sales - of this player shaped the future direction
of the company.
1958-1961 Introduction of the models TD184, Td134
with BL104 tonearm, the Td135 and the BTD-12S tonearm. These turntable
models offered semi-auto operation and were less expensive offerings
designed to fill out price points within the product line. The BTD-12S
tonearm was well received at its introduction and was the company's top
tonearm offering until it was superseded by the TP14 in 1966.
1962 Introduction of the unique TDW224 HI-Fi record changer.
like a robot -- Based on the Td135. but with a cast aluminum chassis made massive in back to hold up the arms. Whereas the TD135 had a sheet metal chassis. With additional gears, pulleys and levers, cams and arms etc. This 'record changer' stored it's stack of 8 records away from the player so that only one LP rested on the platter at any one time. An arm would pluck the record off the platter, then transport it to the side position, pick a new record from the top stack and place this record on the platter. This is quite unlike the traditional record changer that stacks one LP disc upon the next until you have a stack of 5 or six and spins the whole lot. As that stack of records on the platter rises, so changes the vertical tracking angle and correct arm cartridge alignment is lost. This complexity of changer operation, while extreme, ensured that the all important vertical tracking angle on this Thorens remained unchanged in play. For a look and video of the TDW224 in action see this page: TdW224
-- 1962 The introduction of the Td121. For North American sales only.It was marketed as a 'slightly' less expensive than the TD124 but still of high quality.
-- Set for single speed operation at 33 -1/3rd rpm.
-- it uses the lighter bearing of the Td 135 (10mm).
-- It has a single piece non magnetic platter of the TD135 (zinc)
-- No strobe,
-- No spirit level,
-- No decoupling - clutch action - of the upper platter .
-- Otherwise it shares the same cast chassis and drive system of the TD124
-- 1962 The introduction of the Td111 and the TdK101 for USA consumption.
-- 1963 The Thorens company merges with Paillard SA, Sainte-Croix / Switzerland. Paillard SA manufactured Bolex cameras and Hermes typewriters at the time. This merger would last three years. Legal requirements and differing goals between upper management of the Paillard Group and Thorens resulted in a loss of cooperation between the two groups.
-- 1965 Introduction of the Td150 with TP13 tonearm. This player featured a new 3 point suspended subchassis that carries both platter, bearing and arm. Fixed to the main chassis is a 16 pole, 2-phase synchronous AC motor. A two- piece 7 pound balanced platter system exists with the inner platter being driven by means of an elastic belt. Platter material is die cast zinc alloy. Platter bearing is a hardened stainless steel shaft of 10mm diameter with a captive ball bearing in its tip while turning in sintered bronze bushings. The ball tip carries the vertical load from the platter. This new suspended layout presents a significant step forward in efforts to reduce rumble noise.
-- 1966 Effective July 1st, 1966, the Swiss Thorens-Franz AG took over the entire business concerning Thorens record players and together with EMT Wilhelm Franz of Germany, they established a new business for research, development and manufacturing in Lahr / Germany.
Revision of the Td124 into Td124 II with TP-14 tonearm. Changes from the Td124 include change in paint color from cream white to medium-grey. Minor changes in the controls. Also revised was the Td135, now Td135 II. Note; even though the main turntable operations had moved into Lahr, Germany the Td124/II models continued to be assembled in Sainte-Croix from parts inventory on hand. (source: Swiss Precision 2nd ed. Joachim Bung)
-- 1968 End production of the Td124 mkII
-- end history --
above note: The main information source for this model's production history is from the company pamphlet: " Thorens; The fascination of a living legend" Published by Thorens Audio HiFi-Vertriebs GmbH, compiled by Gerhard Weichler in Lahr, Ger. ( I got my copy courtesy of Rolf Kelch Electronics)
-- Articles:
-- The Td124 in Slate project
-- https://www.stefanopasini.it/images/Thor1215.pdf
an informative Thorens history article by Stefano Pasini.
-- Takeaways from Swiss Precision 2nd ed. TD124 specific data pulled from Joachim Bung's excellent history book.
-- Tuning Arms and Cartridges (and adjusting effective mass)
--Reviews:
-- Retrotone Top Platter
Upgrade - for the Thorens TD124
O-Ring Idler Wheel for the Td124- by AudioSilente
_______________________________________________________________horizontal rule
The ESL tonearm a frequent choice made by new
TD124 owners in the North American market
The non-magnetic platter an option for the
TD124
Checking the iron platter for magnetic
attraction to a Denon DL103-R.
-- TD124 Service: The Chassis and
everything within:
Voltage and Frequency Settings For
playing this littlle beast anywhere on planet Earth.
--TD124 Motor Notes: The E50
--E50 Service Part 1 - Receiving and disassembly
--E50 Service Part 2 - Inspection and Assembly plus fitting the MKII dbl grommet motor mount kit coming from three different sources.
--E50 Service Part 3 - Stator Coils: checking for health and replacement
--Notes on the TD124 - an overview based on experience servicing nine or so TD124 players and while photo documenting those processes.
CB770 Switch Lever Assy orientation.
--Notes: TD124 speed shift assembly Part 1
--Notes: TD124 speed shift assembly Part 2
--Notes: TD124 speed shift assembly Part 3 Stepped pulley, two versions
