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Vintage Audio (record players, hi-fi etc) Amplifiers, speakers, gramophones and other audio equipment. |
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22nd Sep 2017, 10:08 am | #1 |
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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 |
22nd Sep 2017, 10:36 am | #2 |
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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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22nd Sep 2017, 12:02 pm | #3 |
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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. |
22nd Sep 2017, 12:12 pm | #4 |
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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. Last edited by ms660; 22nd Sep 2017 at 12:19 pm. |
22nd Sep 2017, 12:18 pm | #5 |
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Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed
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. |
22nd Sep 2017, 12:23 pm | #6 |
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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. Last edited by Nickthedentist; 22nd Sep 2017 at 12:30 pm. |
22nd Sep 2017, 12:27 pm | #7 |
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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. |
22nd Sep 2017, 1:02 pm | #8 | |
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Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed
Quote:
I feel like a right numpty if that's all it is! |
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22nd Sep 2017, 1:11 pm | #9 |
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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. |
22nd Sep 2017, 1:19 pm | #10 |
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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. |
22nd Sep 2017, 1:21 pm | #11 |
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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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22nd Sep 2017, 1:28 pm | #12 |
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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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22nd Sep 2017, 1:31 pm | #13 |
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Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed
Sorry, I meant I would try the headphones via this socket.
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22nd Sep 2017, 1:59 pm | #14 |
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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. |
22nd Sep 2017, 2:03 pm | #15 |
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Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed
I looked at the picture wrong!
I think my Mum has those kind of headphones somewhere. |
22nd Sep 2017, 2:07 pm | #16 |
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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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22nd Sep 2017, 2:18 pm | #17 |
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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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22nd Sep 2017, 2:26 pm | #18 | |
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Re: Wren International MC-1100 - help needed
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22nd Sep 2017, 4:09 pm | #19 |
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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.
Peter |
22nd Sep 2017, 4:13 pm | #20 |
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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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Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron. |