New acquisition - Thorens TD124

[anilva]

Finally after many years of looking around for a good condition Thorens TD124, I decided to buy a completely restored one from Classic Turntables in US, who specialize in Thorens restorations. They are like Loricraft to Garrard.

Hand carried it back to India and set it up for 50Hz. Works and looks perfect and like new. Very silent and smooth in operation. Did the stethoscope test for rumble and cant hear anything.

Need to mount on a yet to be made plinth and use a good quality tonearm to do justice to the unit.

Attached is a basic picture. Will update this page on progress with plinth and tonearm.

Cheers.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

I believe a heavy plinth can do wonders on TD 124. I am toying with the idea on my TD 121. A very nice looking unit. Congrats Anil. I just love my TD 121. It delivers a very pleasing and smooth reproduction with the right arm. A good unipivot arm like Stax UA 7 may be good on this TT.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

Anil, how did you set it up to 50 Hz ?. Was it by using a different size pulley?

 

[anilva]

Anil, how did you set it up to 50 Hz ?. Was it by using a different size pulley?

You have to turn the motor pulley upside down. I don't know if TD121 has the same feature.

TD124 is built so well with flexibility to run on 110/220v and 50/60Hz with few simple changes on voltage selector, strobe panel and motor pulley. As simple as that. Truly international design.

Cheers

 

[kuruvilajacob]

You have to turn the motor pulley upside down. I don't know if TD121 has the same feature.

TD124 is built so well with flexibility to run on 110/220v and 50/60Hz with few simple changes on voltage selector, strobe panel and motor pulley. As simple as that. Truly international design.

Cheers

TD 121 does not have that feature. It has only one speed and it is purely an American Exclusive model. There is a story that Thorens daughter married an American and Thorens made limited number of TD 121 with single speed for his daughter and friends.

 

[analogadikt]

Congrats Anil. What motor does it have? The Thorens one or the Papst Ausenlaufer?

Regards,

 

[anilva]

Congrats Anil. What motor does it have? The Thorens one or the Papst Ausenlaufer?

Regards,

This one has the Thorens E50. Not the Papst.

 

[kuruvilajacob]

I was fortunate to visit Anil's house on my last visit to Bangalore and see the Thorens TD 124 in the 'flesh'. As mentioned in the Forum by Anil, it's in pristine condition. I was also fortunate to listen to the rarest of EMT, the EMT 950 with it's original cartridge. It was an experience. Thanks to Anil for his hospitality and quality time spend talking about our passionate hobby -turntables

 

[anilva]

Update on the TD124: completed the multilayer ply plinth. Did the paint job and completed making the arm board from a old teak piece. Paired with Jelco 750D tonearm with Denon DL103R. Sounds fabulous. Very musical at the same time punchy.

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[jls001]

Beautiful!

 

[jinxedloki]

Update on the TD124: completed the multilayer ply plinth. Did the paint job and completed making the arm board from a old teak piece. Paired with Jelco 750D tonearm with Denon DL103R. Sounds fabulous. Very musical at the same time punchy.

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Good looking turntable. One question - what's the record centre weight you are using? How heavy is it?

 

[Naturelover]

Excellent!
Some detail of the plinth and arm board build would be great.

 

[anilva]

Excellent!
Some detail of the plinth and arm board build would be great.

Armboard is solid teak and the plinth is multilayer plywood (Greenply) done like a Lenco plinth with each layer optimised for maximum material to be retained. Finished with primer, putty and automotive paint. All done at home.


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[shafic]

Great work Anil!! Your TD 124 looks classy!!
Regards

 

[reubensm]

very nice Anil, great job

on another note (and sorry to hi-jack a bit), do you have any suggestions or opinions on the 12inch Jelco?

 

[anilva]

very nice Anil, great job



on another note (and sorry to hi-jack a bit), do you have any suggestions or opinions on the 12inch Jelco?

Quite a good tonearm. Very well engineered by Jelco. Quite unwieldy though!


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[reubensm]

Quite a good tonearm. Very well engineered by Jelco. Quite unwieldy though!


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Thanks Anil, by "unwieldy" did you mean, too big? Is the 9-inch one better?

 

[anilva]

Thanks Anil, by "unwieldy" did you mean, too big? Is the 9-inch one better?

Yes. Too long to handle. I prefer a 10" variant. Real estate demands are less.


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[anilva]

Good looking turntable. One question - what's the record centre weight you are using? How heavy is it?

It is a DIY turntable weight. Weighs about 450 gms.

 

[anilva]

Here are some pictures of the the plinth build...

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