Philips UFO Record Player - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Dr-Watts · 3rd Sep 2018, 8:34 am

Hello guys and gals

I wonder if anyone can help me.
I've been asked to repair the managing directors wife's record player.
It's the Philips UFO record player that works on both the mains and batteries.
The problem is that I can't figure out how to get the blasted thing apart.
The manual I downloaded doesn't tell me how to do it either and I've exhausted any ideas I had

I notice that there have been a couple on here in the past but again it seems that they're already apart.
It's a lovely little thing and I'd love to get it up and running for her.
Can anyone please help me solve the mystery of this thing ?

Kind Regards
Dave W.

Lloyd 1985 · 3rd Sep 2018, 10:22 am

Hi Dave,

Not ever worked on one of these before, but having a look through some pictures of some in various disassembled states it looks to me like the platter has to come off and there are some screws under it, not sure if there are any more hidden anywhere.

Regards
Lloyd

camtechman · 3rd Sep 2018, 11:15 am

Could this model have the "Snap Fit" method of securing the case parts ?

Nuvistor · 3rd Sep 2018, 11:38 am

There are photos of one on eBay, the platter has been removed on one photo to show the voltage adjustment and a screw that could hold the cabinet together.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F183362398284

Dr-Watts · 3rd Sep 2018, 11:56 am

Thanks guys

You can't remove the platter without taking it apart as it's secured underneath...

Lloyd 1985 · 3rd Sep 2018, 1:49 pm

I was wondering if the silver bit in the centre pops out to reveal a circlip?

Studio263 · 3rd Sep 2018, 2:15 pm

Take the mat off. There are holes in the pressed metal platter through which you can reach a springy piece of wire which you pull back, the other end of this is in a groove in the platter hub. With the springy wire pulled back you can lift the platter off. The screws to split the cabinet are then visible.

Dr-Watts · 4th Sep 2018, 8:29 am

Give that man a drink

Thank you so much

After getting it apart it seems all transistors are shorted.
This is gonna be interesting

Sideband · 4th Sep 2018, 8:58 am

All transistors shorted? That seems pretty unusual. As it runs on mains and batteries there should be a changeover switch (possibly part of the mains inlet socket if there is one). Maybe mains was applied in battery mode?

Studio263 · 4th Sep 2018, 8:59 am

I'm glad it worked! Other models have a strip of metal which you slide back after loosening a screw in a slot, also visible through a hole in the platter.

The spring catch is also found in the Philips 'briefcase' record player, very frustrating if you don't know about it.

It sounds like yours was used with the polarity reversed, not an uncommon situation with the confusing plugs used with adaptors.

Herald1360 · 4th Sep 2018, 10:31 am

Well the lockfits were probably tired and the ACs growing whiskers. Nothing very expensive or hard to sub for.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philip...22gf30313.html

John10b · 4th Sep 2018, 11:36 am

I remember a Sony Music Centre having a similar method of releasing the deck, if you didn’t know how or have a service manual it would have been very frustrating.
Cheers
John

3rd Sep 2018, 8:34 am	#1
Dr-Watts Heptode Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 696	Philips UFO Record Player Hello guys and gals I wonder if anyone can help me. I've been asked to repair the managing directors wife's record player. It's the Philips UFO record player that works on both the mains and batteries. The problem is that I can't figure out how to get the blasted thing apart. The manual I downloaded doesn't tell me how to do it either and I've exhausted any ideas I had I notice that there have been a couple on here in the past but again it seems that they're already apart. It's a lovely little thing and I'd love to get it up and running for her. Can anyone please help me solve the mystery of this thing ? Kind Regards Dave W. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Do you have the scope to be a TV repair man

3rd Sep 2018, 10:22 am	#2
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,820	Re: Philips UFO Record Player Hi Dave, Not ever worked on one of these before, but having a look through some pictures of some in various disassembled states it looks to me like the platter has to come off and there are some screws under it, not sure if there are any more hidden anywhere. Regards Lloyd

3rd Sep 2018, 11:15 am	#3
camtechman Nonode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milton Keynes, Bucks. UK. Posts: 2,552	Re: Philips UFO Record Player Could this model have the "Snap Fit" method of securing the case parts ? __________________ When I die, please don't let my Wife sell my collection for the amount I told her I paid for it!

3rd Sep 2018, 11:38 am	#4
Nuvistor Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 9,433	Re: Philips UFO Record Player There are photos of one on eBay, the platter has been removed on one photo to show the voltage adjustment and a screw that could hold the cabinet together. https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F183362398284 __________________ Frank

3rd Sep 2018, 11:56 am	#5
Dr-Watts Heptode Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 696	Re: Philips UFO Record Player Thanks guys You can't remove the platter without taking it apart as it's secured underneath... __________________ Do you have the scope to be a TV repair man

3rd Sep 2018, 1:49 pm	#6
Lloyd 1985 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 2,820	Re: Philips UFO Record Player I was wondering if the silver bit in the centre pops out to reveal a circlip?

3rd Sep 2018, 2:15 pm	#7
Studio263 Octode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,578	Re: Philips UFO Record Player Take the mat off. There are holes in the pressed metal platter through which you can reach a springy piece of wire which you pull back, the other end of this is in a groove in the platter hub. With the springy wire pulled back you can lift the platter off. The screws to split the cabinet are then visible.

4th Sep 2018, 8:29 am	#8
Dr-Watts Heptode Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, UK. Posts: 696	Re: Philips UFO Record Player Give that man a drink Thank you so much After getting it apart it seems all transistors are shorted. This is gonna be interesting __________________ Do you have the scope to be a TV repair man

4th Sep 2018, 8:58 am	#9
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,580	Re: Philips UFO Record Player All transistors shorted? That seems pretty unusual. As it runs on mains and batteries there should be a changeover switch (possibly part of the mains inlet socket if there is one). Maybe mains was applied in battery mode? __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

4th Sep 2018, 8:59 am	#10
Studio263 Octode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1,578	Re: Philips UFO Record Player I'm glad it worked! Other models have a strip of metal which you slide back after loosening a screw in a slot, also visible through a hole in the platter. The spring catch is also found in the Philips 'briefcase' record player, very frustrating if you don't know about it. It sounds like yours was used with the polarity reversed, not an uncommon situation with the confusing plugs used with adaptors.

4th Sep 2018, 10:31 am	#11
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Philips UFO Record Player Well the lockfits were probably tired and the ACs growing whiskers. Nothing very expensive or hard to sub for. https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/philip...22gf30313.html __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

4th Sep 2018, 11:36 am	#12
John10b Nonode Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Aberaeron, Ceredigion, Wales, UK. Posts: 2,887	Re: Philips UFO Record Player I remember a Sony Music Centre having a similar method of releasing the deck, if you didn’t know how or have a service manual it would have been very frustrating. Cheers John