The Analog Dept.

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The Idler-Drives

Definition: what is 'idler drive' with regard to a record player?

Answer: a drive train system where a capstan rotates against an idler wheel, which in turn transfers the rotating energy to the platter that turns the record. Typically the capstan will be on the end of motor shaft. However, the capstan can also be remotely powered by means of a drive belt.

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In alphabetical order:

Braun Germany - Consumer Turntable

PS600 Full automatic idler driven record changer. From the Collection of Szymon Szaniawski.

Photo list. Click link to view photo.

Thanks to Bjorn Henning for allowing us to use his English translation of this German manual

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BRAUN PS600 from the collection of Szymon Szaniawski. Date added: 10/22/2020

Szymon's comments:

"A beautiful example of German engineering and industrial design of late sixties with no doubts one of the best turntable of that time with normal price tag, 860DEM in the year of introduction. Produced from 1969 up to 1973. This model was much more customer friendly than top model BRAUN PS1000 produced from 1968 up to 1971 considered to be the most expensive German turntable 1350DEM in the entry year with very limited production of ca 1900pcs. Not to be compared with EMT which is professional broadcasting studio equipment not designed for home use when introduced hence now very much seek. BRAUN PS600 turntable design connects to famous German industrial designer Dieter Rams for many years chief designer for BRAUN AG. By many BRAUN PS600 is considered as redesign ELAC Miracord 50 but this is only partly true, yes mechanics is Elac, idler wheel is Elac, spindle is Elac but other elements are not ELAC.

Electronically controlled brushless DC motor using Hall effect sensor for commutation. Drive by idler and belt, electronic pitch control with illuminated strobe for 3 speeds, hydraulic suspension and hydraulic-damped cueing control, changer mechanism for 10LP with VTA adjusting knob in the headshell. Rumble 65dB, Wow and Flutter 007%, very good result as for 1969 year, on board 9 transistors and 8 Diode. Head shell accepts all ½” cartridges.

Tonearm, aluminium tubing with elastically coupled counter weight, tracking force by calibrating spring, anti-skating, precision instrument ball bearings. Weight less 12kg. Sold in number of plinths white, anthracite black or wood veneer with acrylic cover.

My piece is well preserved with almost no sign of usage with serial number 12685 and plays awesome."

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BEAG (Budapest, Hungary) Professional Broadcast Turntable

Manufacturer: Budapesti Elektroakusztikai Gyar (Beag)

Model: EAG 010 Studio Turntable

EAG 010 owned by Alex Nepomyaschy..

Tonearm: Ortofon AS 212

Cartridge: EMT TND 65

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More EAG 010 photos taken from the web show an industrial grade drive train. Note the cage rotor Papst 3-phase motor combined with Lenco style variable pitch and vertical wheel orientation.

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(click thumbnail to view image full size)

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ELAC MIRACORD 40 Germany

(hint: click on thumbnail to view image full size)

Above photos of the EM40 were sent in by Szymon Szaniawawski from Poland.

Szymon's comments: "Hi Steve, Send You photos of another beauty from my collection. Elac Miracord 40, quite vintage. On production lines from 1965 to 1967, four speed, idler drive, sold with Stereo Magnet System the name for MM cartridge at that time for 318DEM. Weight ca 6,4kg.

Below are additional photos of a Elac Miracord 40A gathered from the web to illustrate the idler drive mechanicals.

(photo year: 2020)

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Professional Broadcast Turntable - EMT 930st Germany

* TGE's EMT 930st

* (click me)

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DUAL Germany

Thanks to Szymon Szaniawawski for sending these photos of Dual

idler driven changers (Date added: year 2020)

Dual 1009

Dual 1019

(need one)

Dual 1229

Szymon's comments on the Dual 1229:

The most advanced and the last Dual idler drive turntable, later on only belt drive and direct drive turntables were offered.

Produced 1972-1975, offered for 548DEM in the introduction year with Shure DM101 and DM103 cartridge. Dual 1229 was offered in number of cases of Dual design and others like WEGA or SABA.

From technical point of view DUAL offered no compromise automatic and changer with adjustable tone arm height base for single play or multi play mode, the longest 8 3/4 inch tone arm among automatic turntable. Arm tube of metal, very rigid with head shell accepting all 1/2inch cartridge, 3.1kg platter quite big one 305mm. Multi-play mode allowed 6 LP.

My piece is WEGA case, very much original, with GLANZ cartridge with Micro line Needle and number of service photos show quality of manufacturing.

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Garrard United Kingdom

Professional Grade - Consumer Favorite: The Garrard Models 301 - 401)

grease bearing schematic (click thumbnail for full size image)

(click) Bill's Garrard 301 with SME 3012 S2

-- Link to The Garrard Gallery

Brian Clark's Garrard 401

Garrard Price List 1968 courtesy Szymon Szaniawaski

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(click on thumbnail to view image full size)

* Miles Davis ad for the SL95

Consumer Grade Garrards

Synchro-Lab Series auto changers

-- SL95Bfeaturecomplist.jpg image courtesy of Szymon Szaniawaski (publish year 2020)

Szymon Szaniawaski's Garrard SL95B

SSGSL95B-8Rs.jpg SSGSL95B-6Rs.jpg SSGSL95B-2Rs.jpg

SSGSL95B-3Rs.jpg SSGSL95B-4Rs.jpg SSGSL95B-5Rs.jpg

SSGSL95B-7Rs.jpg DSC01553-Rs.jpg DSC01555-Rs.jpg

DSC01557-Rs.jpg DSC01558-Rs.jpg DSC01562-Rs.jpg

last update 10/2021

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Gates: Professional Broadcast Turntables Made in USA

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Lenco Switzerland Consumer turntables

* Ferruccio's L75 APCO

* (click) Szymon Szaniawaski's Lenco B55

Link to the Lenco Gallery

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Perpetuum Ebner Germany - Consumer Turntables

PE_33stud_01.jpg (228601 bytes) Szymon Szaniawski's PE Studio 33 (link to page) (date added year: 2020)

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Rek-O-Kut United States - Professional Broadcast Turntables

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Russco United States - Professional Broadcast Turntables

Carlos Fazano's Russco "Spotmaster" Studio Pro

(click) Jeremy Justice's Russco Studio Pro B

James Odonnell's Russco Mark V

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SKANTIC Sweden - Consumer Turntables

SSSkantic153S-03Rs.jpg SSSkantic153S-01RS.jpg SSSkantic153S-02Rs.jpg SSSkantic153S-04Rs.jpg

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A Skantic 153S. Idler driven, 4 speed.

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Thorens TD124 - A belt idler design

* Pro-ish Consumer: Thorens TD124 - nicely made in Switzerland

* (click thumbnail for full size image)

Above: belt-idler drive. note proximity idler wheel to armboard.

* (click)

-- Above illustration: TD124 4-speed transmission

* (click)
-- Above: TD124 iron platter and bearing cad section view

Link to: Notes On The TD124
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Unitra Fonica Poland

The Unitra Works in Łódź made turntables on a large scale. Source data shows 790.000 units in the years 1961-1965 and 1,640,000 in the years 1966-1970. However the models shown here were produced 1968 - 1970 for the G600 and from 1970 to 1973 for the G601 models. The G600 model was produced with less than 1000 units. We don't have a production quantity available for the G601 but Szymon's G601 serial number -- 006622 -- suggests greater numbers of production..

Model: G600

(click)

SSUFG600FS-2Rs.jpg SSUFG600FS-3Rs.jpg (click links to view photos)

SSUFG600FS-1Rs.jpg

Model: G601

(click)

SSUFG601FS-5Rs.jpg SSUFG601FS-6.jpg SSUFG601FS-7Rs.jpg SSUFG601FS-8Rs.jpg

SSUFG601FS-9.jpg

The differences seen between these G600 and G601 examples appear to be in the model of tone arm and finish color on chassis. The G600 has the tone arm with the straight arm tube with chassis finished in gray. The G601 has the curved arm tube with a full gimbal pivot and the chassis is finished in texture black. Otherwise they both have the same chassis, motor, belt-idler drive train and platter systems.

These two models feature a heavy platter ( 4,7kg*). Heavier than Lenco75, Garrard 301, 401 or Thorens TD124. SS_UF_G600FS_4.jpg (316882 bytes) (hint: click on thumbnail to view image full size)

Wooden plinth in mahogany, with acrylic bent cover weight 10kg.

The Tone arm on the G601 is of Polish construction /Jerzy Wojtas one of team member/ type R2, S shape, integrated lift, anti-skating, damped counterweight. Arm tube made of aluminum by ZML Kęty in Poland, bearings by Trutnov Works in former Czechoslovakia. Tone arm was produced in number of versions.

The G601FS (shown above) has a badge with serial number 006622, quite low. very original and plays very well.

Information and photos by Szymon Szaniawski (added in the year: 2020)

Footnote added by webmaster

* 4.7kg converts to 10.3 lbs

The Analog Dept.-----------------------------------Littering the web since 2002