View Single Post
Old 8th Apr 2013, 8:56 pm   #105
GP49000
Hexode
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sonoma County, California, USA.
Posts: 405
Default Re: Garrard record player deck identification.

Second-generation Unimechs

The Garrard Unimech series underwent an austere updating around 1980. By then it had been on the market for a few years and had supplanted the Autoslims as the "popular-priced" record changer line, while the Autoslim chassis was reworked to belt drive with higher-performing tonearms and refinements to move it upscale and enhance its performance in the midpriced hi-fi bracket.

The Unimech update primarily involved the tonearms. Instead of the straight arms styled after the Zero 100 with its angled tonearm head, the new arms followed the increasingly popular trend to S-shaped arms, with a matching round counterweight instead of rectangular. Garrard showed its skill in "parts-bin engineering" again, by designing the new armtube so that on most of the "new" models, it could mount into the same plastic moulding as had the old, straight arm. This permitted the tonearm pivots, stylus pressure adjustment spring, and the tonearm height and setdown adjustments to remain exactly the same as before. Some of the S-shaped arms used interchangeable cartridge mounts (the C5 design from the DD75 and 990B); others had a similarly-styled tonearm head with no removable slide.

These updated Unimech models were designated in the 600 series, with a "family lineage" from the corresponding models in the original Unimechs, the 6-series.

The basic updated Unimech record changer, replacing the 6-300, was the 630S. It had the S-shaped tonearm, most with the removable C5 cartridge mount. It had an antiskating control operated by a lever, with dual calibrations for elliptical and spherical styli, rather than the knob with single calibration on the 6-300. Tracking weight was set by a screwdriver and required a gauge for accurate setting...exactly as on the 6-300, for the involved parts were the same. Also as on the 6-300, tonearm cueing lift/lower was damped with viscous silicone fluid, and multiple record play was by conventional pusher spindle and an overarm to stabilize the record stack; the pusher spindle was replaceable with a short spindle for single play, and the overarm could be swung to the rear, out of the way of the platter. The 630S is known in versions both labeled "MADE IN ENGLAND," and not. It has also been seen mounted in plinths labeled "GRADIENTE" instead of "GARRARD." All this suggests that the model was assembled both in Swindon and in Brazil; previously major components were already being made in Brazil by Gradiente and shipped to Britain for assembly. These new models continued to be made with markings for phonograph makers who used them in their products, and who could specify them with either a four-pole or two-pole motor.

There was a single-play version of the 630S, with only a short spindle and no overarm. It was designated the 630SP.

A down-line record changer model, the 620S, had the same tonearm as the 630S but no antiskating and no fluid damping on the tonearm lift/lower device, both being provided by a different modular part mounted on the Unimech subchassis. The 620s I have encountered also lacked the removable C5 cartridge mount, though others have reported samples that do have it. The single-play version was the 620SP. These correspond to the earlier, straight-tonearm models 6-200C and 6-200CP.

I have never seen a reference to a Model 610S with small platter, that would have been the successor to the 6-100. However, as distribution to the USA of Garrards was getting spotty by this time, it's possible that they never officially came across the Atlantic where I would have seen them.


Photos:

620S. Note lack of antiskating compared to 630S, next.

630S, this one in a plinth branded for the "Lloyds" company.

630S, not labeled "Made in England."

630S tonearm detail, showing its derivation from the 6-300

630S, not only not labeled "Made in England" but in a "Gradiente" plinth for the South American market.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	620S(7).JPG
Views:	1172
Size:	92.3 KB
ID:	78331   Click image for larger version

Name:	630S (2).jpg
Views:	1398
Size:	98.8 KB
ID:	78332   Click image for larger version

Name:	630S (7).jpg
Views:	742
Size:	108.7 KB
ID:	78333   Click image for larger version

Name:	630S tonearm detail.jpg
Views:	668
Size:	77.0 KB
ID:	78334   Click image for larger version

Name:	630S Gradiente.jpg
Views:	1138
Size:	158.2 KB
ID:	78335  


Last edited by GP49000; 8th Apr 2013 at 9:24 pm.
GP49000 is offline