Ekco ARG134 radiogram.

[Edward Huggins]

Yes I can remember the sound of these now, there always seemed a lot of bass which was quite intrusive on speech on the Home Service, but great for Victor Sylvester and Ted Heath. Of course we know now why they called it a "one note bass" as most bass notes resonated and sounded very similar with a pronounced 90 c.p.s. grunt. The cabinets were hardboard (open) backed and often open bottomed - no chance of "tuning" these enclosures! Edward

[FERNSEH]

I don't know where I got the idea that the record deck was a Collaro. It is in fact a Garrard RC72A as suggested by other contributors to this topic..

DFWB.

[Edward Huggins]

Even so, my suggested cartridge choice still applies. One wonders how many table radios that never ever made it to "Radiogram Status" would have sounded in that kind of configuration? Edward

[FERNSEH]

Hi Edward,
When I return to the shop I'll take pictures of the pickups and the arm assembly.

DFWB.

[FERNSEH]

The radio receiver is working on all three wavebands, L, M, S.
The medium waveband coverage well is well beyond 200 meters (1500Kc/s) and in fact tunes up to 1625Kc/s. This means it will be possible to tune in to Radio Tyneside on 1575Kc/s.
It may be also possible to tweek up the high frequency end of the medium further to improve sensitivity .
Sound quality is excellent.

Pictures of the Garrard RC72A record deck and the split assembly pickup and arm. I would like to replace the pickup with something else if at all possible.
A modern turnover cartridge but I'm thinking this might not be possible.

DFWB.

[Techman]

I think David has caught you out with this one Edward

There's no way a BSR X5M will fit that head any time soon!

These RC72 decks nearly always had early and unusual heads and adapters fitted.

Of course you can just fit a slightly later head shell as generally used on the RC75/80 type decks.

Here's a couple I did earlier. On the left is the X5M with original metal 'clip' (or mount). On the right is an SC12H mounted on an old Sonotone 3509 'clip' due to the 'H' version of the SC12 only latterly being available cheap without the clip. Vintage repair is a matter of adaption and using what's available

[Techman]

As a second note to my above post and looking at your picture, David, it's possible that your deck has an arm that is just a little too short for correct tracking with the head shell type shown in my pictures, so you may have to fit another arm. This isn't a problem and I've had to do this myself with this type of deck - you just need a scrap RC75/80 type deck to rob the part/s from.

[Edward Huggins]

You are dead right - I got this wrong! That's what happens when no photos are (initially) provided any you start to make assumptions in the interests of trying to help out the OP.....Your headhells/cartidge adaptions look fine and will do the job. Edward

[peter_sol]

You need the larger head than those shown in post 26, which is a bit longer and can hold any cartridge.

[FERNSEH]

There are many scrap record decks upstairs and possibly one which might have a suitable arm for the RC72A. Really need to get rid of that arm, can't imagine the existing set-up being kind to modern records.

DFWB.

[peter_sol]

The arm is OK and is the standard fitting. You just need the correct head, no adaptors.
If you google Garrard RC75A, you will see what I mean.
You may have the correct head on one of yous other decks.

[FERNSEH]

How about this head shell? It is 3/4" shorter than the two piece arm assembly.
That fact it is shorter than the other one means it might not track properly.

DFWB.

[peter_sol]

http://www.vintageradio.me.uk/info/p...ups/pu5758.jpg

The top one is the correct one.

[FERNSEH]

Hi Peter,
thanks for finding the information about the various Garrard head shells.

DFWB.

[Edward Huggins]

Whilst the top Headshell is contempraneous, I see no reason why the shorter headshell would not track adequately well. Edward

[electrogram]

I've been down this route and if fact the shorter headshell does not fit that arm, it is fractionally wider where it plugs in, I think i just about managed to force it in or had to sand a bit off it to fit, but it really wasnt right, didnt look right either - looked like there was a large geometry error, eventually i found the correct one

[Techman]

Here's a comparison between three of my different heads and length of arm with and without heads - yours looked a shorter arm but your photo didn't show the complete arm. Now you can compare these measurements with yours. This obviously shows an RC80 deck and arm setup.

All the heads will fit - I don't understand the comment about one type not fitting as there's an adjustment in the arm plug to compensate for plug length. The cartridges can be adjusted in their 'slots' for exact tracking angle if necessary and then the set down position can be re-adjusted if needed.

[electrogram]

The problem is the diameter of the bakelite spigot. It is slightly larger on the short headshell, so it wont fit in an arm designed for the large headshell. This is difficult to believe just looking at them, try it and see, it just won't fit.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Hello David,
Just seen your thread. There are so many Garrard heads and headshells. The pictures here show my RC65A that I have recently overhauled with two short stubby magnetic pick-ups. One is fitted with a permanent sapphire and the other with conventional steel needles. The later had an O/C coil that I rewound and re rubbered by hand with complete success. The sound quality is honestly incredible when feeding my 20 watt 807 push pull amp via a matching transformer. It's about as good as it gets.
I think your burgundy head may be the 33/45 one as my 78 version is brown. If you are only going to play 78's and you have the brown head I would suggest you use this with the ARG134 and the RC72A.
I have the same gram and must confess I use an X5M with 78's but they do not sound as good as a magnetic but very passable. The problems arise with modern LP's of course.
The short arm requiring an extension was also employed with the slide on interchangeable tiny ACOS box type crystal pick-ups that date from around 1950/1 and the splendid Decca XMS. Regards, John.

[Techman]

Originally Posted by electrogram

The problem is the diameter of the bakelite spigot. It is slightly larger on the short headshell, so it wont fit in an arm designed for the large headshell. This is difficult to believe just looking at them, try it and see, it just won't fit.

They do all fit - see my second picture in my previous post showing that head shell fitted to the arm. However, I think I know what you mean and it's to do with manufacturing tolerances or swelling of the Bakelite over time - the arm is metal by the way. I've found the odd head that's been a swine to pull out of the arm and also a very tight fit to get in the arm as you describe. Also, remember the adjustable ball setting just below the arm plug for setting the socket grip. It's probable that Garrard out-sourced the manufacturing of certain parts to different plants and some took more care with dimensions than others. I've found the odd head that has a slightly different angle than most others in that the set down position will be slightly further in than most others of exactly the same type. I find it useful to have one of these for plugging in to auto play all those 78s that have a chunk out of the edge, without having to muck about with the set down position on the deck

Even the head from an RC65 that John has shown will fit that arm, although the tracking is likely to be a bit out without the extender as I've shown below. Sorry about the bad focus on the last photo showing the 'ball' in the arm socket, but you get the idea.