The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

These decks generally have very high price tags, but $7,000 CDN might be a bit ambitious in North America for a (lightly) damaged 220V, 50Hz machine.

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I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?
Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?
It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?

Yes, I understand what you mean, but could one not ask the same question about talking machines in general or for that matter about other antique collectibles such as cars, motorcycles, cameras, tools, toasters, camp stoves, etc., etc.

I mean a 750 Triumph Bonneville always required a lot of work after riding it. You had to get the torque wrench out and tighten everything up to stop oil leaks. Often you had to readjust points. Very high maintenance and old low tech. With the first 750 Honda only a few year later, all you had to do was fill gas, change oil, and wash it, and it was faster, a lot faster. And it had an electric start! And yet ....

I used to have an insane fondness for vintage Jaguars, something that kept me very broke in my youth. I have pushed my fair share of non-functional Mk IIs and Mk VIIs to the curb. LOL. Would I love to have my glossy black 3.8 Mk II 4 speed standard with electric overdrive back again? Oh, yes!!!! Would I die for an XK150? Oh, yes!!!

Each to their own eccentric interests. You are here, after all at a talking machine site And personally, I am glad that you are.

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?

I don't know about the 930st in particular, but I believe that some EMT decks were broadcast grade turntables with powerful high torque motors that allowed back queuing to find the start of a track and then instant start at the right RPM. Some of them may have had continuously variable pitch control, something important for an archival transcription deck. Dunno, but they do have a following. I suspect that in good working order they would do as well or better than a lot of DJ turntables.

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

But then again, a high end RCA Electrola machine was the top of its game in the day and it has been long been eclipsed by more modern gear. People still collect and restore them, and they do sound pretty good.

I once met an elderly man in Victoria who had a high-end mono tube HIFI system from the mid to late 50s. He had a large high-end idler drive turntable with a Decca London mono cartridge--don't remember what the turntable or arm were. He had some monstrously large McIntosh tube gear with a pre-amp that looked like an airliner cockpit. He had single very large folded reflex horn speaker, Tannoy, Klipsch? Can't remember. What I do remember is how amazing 78s and Microgrooves sounded on it. Obsolete in the 1970s? Maybe.

At the time I shared a house with a friend who had Bob Carver Phase Linear gear, a pre-amp and a 700 Watt power amp. He had a variety of speakers, Bose 901s, AR LSTs, etc. I think the turntable was an Ariston RD11 with an SME arm, and a high-end school-bus-sized high-output Japanese moving coil cartridge, Supex 901e? It was pretty fine. But I am not sure I didn't like the old guy's mono system better. LOL.

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?
Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?
It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

Because some of us like it?

I mean, you are saying this on a TALKING MACHINE FORUM. Think about that.

gramophone-georg wrote: Sat Aug 16, 2025 1:04 am

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?
Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?
It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

Because some of us like it?

I mean, you are saying this on a TALKING MACHINE FORUM. Think about that.

I was strictly speaking from a practical and sound quality point of view.

JeffR1 wrote: Sat Aug 16, 2025 12:47 pm

gramophone-georg wrote: Sat Aug 16, 2025 1:04 am

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?
Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?
It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

Because some of us like it?

I mean, you are saying this on a TALKING MACHINE FORUM. Think about that.

I was strictly speaking from a practical and sound quality point of view.

On a TALKING MACHINE FORUM, because nothing screams "practical" and "sound quality" like a spring driven phonograph playing a wax, celluloid, or shellac record. Well, it IS practical if the power is out I suppose.

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?
Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?
It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

A Garrard 301, Thorens TD124 in restored condition with drive wheels refurbished, can sound quite nice. Coupled with a set of vintage amplifiers like say a Dynaco ST70 can provide a nice evening of listening pleasure.

I know two persons. One with the latest Mercedes SUV. The other has modern iron but likes driving his 1961 LaBaron Imperial sedan. The Imperial may not be “top of its game” but it still moves down the road with a sense of aplomb the Mercedes SUV will never have. I should also point out both persons are into vintage phonographs and records.

Now l have to excuse myself. I’ve at least 47 new 78’s I need to check out from the past three days of estate sale shopping. I’m going to setup my Voice of Music model #275. Which
I believe was the “state of the art” for school phonographs in 1967.

Damfino59 wrote: Sat Aug 16, 2025 5:15 pm

JeffR1 wrote: Fri Aug 15, 2025 1:54 pm I could never understand the attraction to old outdated Hi-Fi equipment ?
Why would anyone want a turntable with a solid rubber idler drive wheel ?
It may have been a the top of its game in its day, but not anymore.

A Garrard 301, Thorens TD124 in restored condition with drive wheels refurbished, can sound quite nice. Coupled with a set of vintage amplifiers like say a Dynaco ST70 can provide a nice evening of listening pleasure.

And actually, the Garrards (and others) do perform seriously well and can be made silent. I have a refurbished 301 myself. I wouldn't trade it for any other high-end turntable, and not just for reasons of nostalgia. It is still close to top of its game, as huge numbers of other enthusiasts (and, for example, designers of some extreme high-end Japanese cartridges over the years) will attest.