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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 10:08 am   #1
madhatter351
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Default Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Hi all

I am sorry if I am posting this in the wrong place, but I just need some help. I acquired Wren International MC-1100 record player and I need a new needle for this. I am a novice when it comes to record players, so I have no idea what I need for this.

I want to get this working in her memory, but I'm not able to find anything out about this player. I have attached some images and am after any help at all for assistance with the needle or arm?

Many thanks

Ashley
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 10:36 am   #2
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

There should be a make &/or model number on the cartridge (that's the item at the end of the pickup arm to which the needle - aka stylus - is fitted. From this, the stylus can be identified. One of the on-line suppliers may stock the correct one. However, are you sure the stylus is faulty? What is happening when you (attempt to) play a record?
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 12:02 pm   #3
madhatter351
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Perfect, thank you, I will have a look when I get in to see if I can see any number.

There is no needle on the stylus, so I just assume it would need one. I did try a record and it worked, but you could barely hear the sound, I would assume this would be due to the fact that there is no needle?

Again, sorry if I am coming across as stupid.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 12:12 pm   #4
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

A stylus appears to be fitted to the pickup cartridge, looks like a slotted screw fixing it, there's no needle in this type of player, needles went out with the ark.

The stylus sits in the records groove and moves in proportion to the music represented by the groove, that movement is transferred to the pickup cartridge that the stylus is attached to, the vibrations in the cartridge are converted to an electrical signal, then amplified, then played through the loudspeaker.

The above is a basic explanation as to what's what.

Lawrence.

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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 12:18 pm   #5
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by madhatter351 View Post
Again, sorry if I am coming across as stupid.
Not at all, just inexperienced, which is fine

First of all, have you got a pair of loudspeakers connected to the sockets on the back? Does the radio section work?

As said above, the stylus (or needle as some people still call it) seems to be present and is probably good enough for testing purposes. Don't waste money on a new one until we're sure the rest of the unit is OK.

N.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 12:23 pm   #6
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

As for the terminology, this is what a STYLUS looks like. It has a tiny tip of diamond or sapphire glued to its end, which sits in the record's groove.

In the case of your machine, it is attached to the CARTRIDGE by a small screw. The cartridge has electrical connections at the back which lead to wires which run down the ARM and then to your music centre's AMPLIFIER which boosts the tiny electrical signal so that it can drive the LOUDSPEAKERS.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 12:27 pm   #7
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

In contrast, gramophone NEEDLES look like this, and were pretty much obsolete by the 1950s. They're usually just a bit of sharpened steel and had to be changed after just one side of a record was played, so they were sold in tins containing a large quantity.

Your machine dates from the mid-1970s at a guess.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:02 pm   #8
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickthedentist View Post
First of all, have you got a pair of loudspeakers connected to the sockets on the back? Does the radio section work?
See, now you've said I'm not stupid, but I think I am, there were no speakers with it, I did think I may need some, so let me check what I can get from my parents and will then come back.

I feel like a right numpty if that's all it is!
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:11 pm   #9
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

It's not a question of being stupid. You are just completely unfamiliar with the technology.

If you have a pair of headphones with the right plug, you could try using those. I can see a headphone socket on the front.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:19 pm   #10
madhatter351
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

There is a microphone socket on the front, so I can try this when I get in tonight as well.

Thank you all so much for your help. I have a few of her and my Uncles records to try on it as well, so I am really hoping I can get it up and running.

I can't find any information on the brand either.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:21 pm   #11
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

As Paul says, headphones would be useful. You'd need ones with a big, "quarter inch" plug, as opposed to the smaller ones used on PCs, MP3 players, phones and so on. But a lot of headphones come with an adaptor for this kind of situation.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:28 pm   #12
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

The microphone sockets are for use when recording using the cassette deck. I wouldn't bother about them at this stage. They will expect 1970s style dynamic mics, not the condenser types used today with computers.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:31 pm   #13
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Sorry, I meant I would try the headphones via this socket.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 1:59 pm   #14
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Nope, that won't work either

Just plug some headphones into the headphones socket or speakers into the speaker sockets and try the radio as a starting point.

Nick.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 2:03 pm   #15
madhatter351
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

I looked at the picture wrong!

I think my Mum has those kind of headphones somewhere.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 2:07 pm   #16
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

If you can post good "full frontal" pictures of the front and rear it will help us to help you.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 2:18 pm   #17
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

If you have the volume control turned full up trying to get a sound, turn it down before connecting speakers or headphones.
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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 2:26 pm   #18
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Quote:
If you have the volume control turned full up trying to get a sound, turn it down before connecting speakers or headphones.
One quiet morning at about 3AM I had just finished building a simple pre amp, I tested it and made sure the volume was at minimum, very loud noise and woke the missus (I wasn't popular) I had wired the volume pot backwards. It even happens to the more experienced people (50 years of electronics in my case).
 
Old 22nd Sep 2017, 4:09 pm   #19
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Looking at the first picture in post#1 I am not convinced that there is a stylus fitted to the cartridge! It looks to me as if there is a missing stylus fixing screw at the rear of the cartridge which is bad news.

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Old 22nd Sep 2017, 4:13 pm   #20
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Default Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed

Despite the out of focus picture, I believe I can clearly see a slotted screw. Not so sure about a stylus though.
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