I have sinned...

Discussions on Talking Machines & Accessories
BillH_NJ
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by BillH_NJ »

And I recently acquired a 60+-year-old Collaro Conquest, the turntable I remember my parents getting when they put together a stereo system. At that time the V-M Tri-O-Matic was moved to the basement where I used to listen to their collection (limited compared to what is in my house now) of 78s. Of course, some of those were only 10-15 years old at that time and the oldest ones were perhaps 50 years old. I don’t expect to use the Collaro that much—definitely not as much as the acoustic machines—but it will be outfitted with a 78 stylus as well as an LP stylus. And then there is the Fons with continuously variable speed…

Bill

bigshot
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by bigshot »

Post a photo of the conquest. Sounds interesting.

BillH_NJ
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by BillH_NJ »

The one I remember from 60 years ago had a black motorboard and platter mat (and longer knob handles), but was otherwise much the same. The Conquest did not have a separate sensor for the record size. Instead, the tonearm lifted up higher to touch the edge of the record before it dropped and then moved back over at the normal height to play the record. With that it could play any size between 12” and 7”, including odd sizes. Of course, the larger records have to be on the bottom of the stack and played first if you want to intermix sizes. You can see the arm contacting the edge of the record to determine the size in a couple of the photos. After the last record the arm would move in all the way since there is no record to stop it and it then shuts off.

One of the nicer changers I have seen. The one we had was equipped with a Shure M3D cartridge, so it was not used for 78s—those went on the Tri-O-Matic.

Bill
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Curt A
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by Curt A »

I like the stained glass swirled record... :D
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BillH_NJ
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by BillH_NJ »

Ha ha

bigshot
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by bigshot »

That looks really nice. There's a guy on youtube who restores zenith changers. They have continuous variable speed from 16 to 78. That feature tempts me a lot.

BillH_NJ
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by BillH_NJ »

This site has a lot of information about older changers.

https://midimagic.sgc-hosting.com/changerx.htm

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drh
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by drh »

bigshot wrote: Tue Sep 28, 2021 9:57 pm That looks really nice. There's a guy on youtube who restores zenith changers. They have continuous variable speed from 16 to 78. That feature tempts me a lot.
Depending on what you collect, though, 16 to 78 doesn't go high enough. In "vintage" gear, what you really want, to go higher--in my opinion, in reverse order of preference--is an idler wheel Lenco (aka Goldring, aka Bogen) or belt drive Fons or Strathclyde (the STD 305D, not the M or S). If you want direct drive, the Technics SP-15 or SP-10 mk. 3 are the top choices, but both are very expensive when you can find them, and the 15 doesn't get all the way up into Pathé etched label territory. Mind you, none of those is a changer.

BillH_NJ
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by BillH_NJ »

That’s why I use the Fons in my system if playing shellac on something other than an acoustic machine. 78 is generally too fast for most of the older classical recordings that I collect and the Fons has the speed range for everything. The Collaro does have some nostalgia appeal for me though.

Bill

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Inigo
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Re: I have sinned...

Post by Inigo »

There were in the market modern direct drive turntables capable of running 16 to 120 rpm in continuous. They have 33.45.78 main speeds, and a sliding pitch control capable of +/-10, 20 and 50% variation over the nominal speeds. Mine costed 150€ only, iin the 2000s. They also play in reverse.. .
Inigo

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