-edible zone-
*
-- Above photo. The current version of the Standard Hood, with
cut-out by Ferruccio. By the way this dust cover fits not only the
vintage TD124, it also fits the new TD124DD, as well as the vintage
TD121. A Standard Hood minus the cutout is also available.
Reader's note: The term 'Hood' is interchangeable with 'dust cover'.
It keeps the dust and other atmospheric hazards off your turntable.
The Standard Hood with cut-out, (all versions) by design covers the
turntable while resting on the plinth supporting it. The term 'cut-out'
describes clearance being made for tone arm appendages, such as
counterweights and rider weights, that hang outside the chassis. In the
three versions I have seen the standard Hood, w/cut-out, fits closely
around the cast aluminum chassis - leaving just enough room to clear the
clutch lever knob and the four level adjuster wheels. As expected this
most recent sample is also a close fit, leaving no more than 1/4"
clearance about the knob and wheels. The reason for this 'snugness of
fit' is so that it can work with any TD124 plinth, including those
Ortofon ST-104 types that have almost - but not quite - a flat area on
top for a dustcover to stand upon. And it works with almost any other
plinth when a 9 inch tonearm is fitted.*
Footnote*(When 12 inch
tonearms are in use, this seller offers additional models of hood to fit
any need. There are models of Hood currently available that will cover
both the plinth and turntable.)
I am told by the seller that this
current version is the 4th iteration of the std Hood w/cut-out. I have
had hands-on inspection , so far, with three different versions of this
product. The first version I saw and held in my hands, - which was
actually Ferruccio's 2nd version -, was shipped to me in October of
2017. I wrote a review of it January that next year. With that 2017
version the phrase 'cut-out' literally described how clearance was made
for those tone arm appendages that overhang the chassis. In production
the cut-out was made after glue-up.
-- My First Sample:
*
(a1)
*
(a2)
-- Above photos a1 and a2: the first hood I saw (October of 2017 a std. Hood w/cut-out), stands over the author's TD124 sn: 13943.
--My second sample - September 2019 looked like this:
*
(b1)
-- This version offered the same amount of clearance for overhanging tone arm parts while eliminating the need for that final cutting operation. In stead the length of the wrap-around side wall was re-sized so that it began and ended at the clearance opening on either side.
-- The current version: (as of 11/2022)
*
(c1)
*
(c2)
-- Similar in construction as with the previous 2019 version seen in photo b1 but with reduced clearance. It was found that some of the clearance offered by the previous version wasn't needed. This version tightens up on that, while still offering room for overhanging parts from any known nine-inch tone arm.
*
(c3)
*
(c4)
-- All glue joints appear bubble-free and with no mis-matched edges.
A proper job.
Material: Top; Optically Clear Acrylic in 3.6mm
thickness
Material: Sides; Optically Clear Acrylic in 4mm thickness.
As noted in previous reviews the Hood is left off the turntable
while records are being played. So an additional parking space must be
found for it. Using both hands you lift the dust cover off and on with
care so that nothing delicate gets bumped into. I found that within the
first few uses I was intuitively connected to the process. And this was
with the first Hood I began using back in 2017.
This much covers
(pun intended) product operation. Next we take a look at some measures
taken by this seller to ensure that the product gets to the buyer intact
and undamaged even when the postal services and customs inspectors get
clumsy and/or careless.
-- Looking at the package as it
arrived here 11/11/2022:
*
*
*
*
-- The product is completely encased in two blocks of precision cut
styrofoam. From inside and outside, the foam blocks take the load of
external forces while the Hood remains immobilized yet unstressed
within. And that's how this latest (2022) version of the Std. Hood
w/cut-out emerges unscathed.
-- Experience so far, I'm
told, indicates success.
-- Note: to purchase this
product the buyer is invited to contact Ferruccio by means of the email
addresses listed at the top of the article. He will offer any further
info and assistance to meet the buyer's requirements. And for readers at
The Analog Dept. a special price reduction is made relative to current
eBay listings from the same seller.
-- End.