1960s/70s record player identification - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

19Seventy7 · 11th Aug 2018, 1:54 am

Hi, as some of you may know I've just got into repairing old record players, I am now preparing to restore a second record player, which is only in need of cosmetic and very minor electrical work. I was wondering if anyone recognises the player as it seems to be missing its badge and I would like to know to get parts etc. I have a feeling it maybe Fidelity, or something similar, but I'm not sure.

Thanks

michamoo · 11th Aug 2018, 2:29 am

It's maybe a Tellux.

19Seventy7 · 11th Aug 2018, 2:30 am

Okay, thank you, I'll have a little look around.

Thanks

Edward Huggins · 11th Aug 2018, 11:45 am

This is far more likely to be a late model "Portadyne" from c. 1970 and is liable to have a transistor amplifier. It may well be an unbadged Portadyne model to be sold via Mail Order Catalogues. This is a budget, basic player, far removed from Portadyne's earlier products. In terms of getting parts, these will be of a generic nature as the company went out of production (as did BSR) by the early/mid 1970s.

19Seventy7 · 11th Aug 2018, 1:52 pm

Oh OK, I am fine with it not having a badge and being basic player. That's a plus having generic parts, I did notice it had the same hinges and clips as my Fidelity.

Thanks.

19Seventy7 · 22nd Aug 2018, 10:16 pm

Hi, I am creating a new post (some of you may have seen the original) but I am looking to identify this player, but fully, in terms of make, model and hopefully year.

On original post comments said it was possibly a Portadyne or a Tellux, but searching through all models of both makes, I cannot find, only ones very similar, but with obvious differences.

This is from an eBay ad with very little information about make and model, it just says it is unbranded/missing badge.

Thanks

RojDW48 · 22nd Aug 2018, 11:21 pm

I had a Tellux quite a long time ago that looked a lot like that. It was a transistor model and I recall that the transistors were very early (BC108s maybe?) and strapped to a rudimentary heatsink with (I think) riveted collars. Photos of the electronics would help us identify it I am sure.

19Seventy7 · 22nd Aug 2018, 11:23 pm

I'm afraid I don't have electronic photos at the moment, I haven't yet bought it, but as soon as I get it I'll post photos of the electronics.

RojDW48 · 22nd Aug 2018, 11:35 pm

I don't want to put you off - but if it's anything like the Tellux (if it is a Tellux) that I had.....you could do a lot better!

19Seventy7 · 22nd Aug 2018, 11:39 pm

Yeah, it's only really a money maker, I'm buying to do it up and sell on for a profit to buy a better autochanger.

Edward Huggins · 23rd Aug 2018, 7:54 am

You may not find this to be quite such a money maker as you think. Unbranded record players are not that easy to sell. People look for names typically "Dansette", "Bush", "HMV" et al. This player comes from 1968-70 and is likely to use a single chip or a UL84/UY85 amp. I note you say you want to buy a "better autochanger", I assume you mean a better record player?

19Seventy7 · 23rd Aug 2018, 11:40 pm

Ah I see, I mean it may be a branded record player with a missing badge, just got to hope really, I suppose. And when I mean a better autochanger I mean an record player with an autochange deck, I already have a manual deck, but I want an autochange record player too, for singles as such, and preferably 1960s. 1970s latest.

Edward Huggins · 24th Aug 2018, 7:38 am

No, I'm not talking about a missing badge. Many record players were made by named companies such as Fidelity and Alba to be sold, unbranded, via Mail Order Companies rather than the usual High Street Dealers. These are not the same as a Branded record players that have lost their badge.

Also, I understand that the record player you intend to buy is so that you can "do it up" to then sell on, so you can buy one with an autochanger. But surely the one you intend to buy first of all, already has an autochangeR deck?

19Seventy7 · 24th Aug 2018, 4:28 pm

Oh, okay, I see, I didn't realise that they had a difference, I just assumed it was the same without a badge.

Yes the one that I was going to buy already has an autochanger deck, BSR, but I've already had that deck in my fidelity which I have just repaired and sold. I want something a little bit different for myself.

Edward Huggins · 24th Aug 2018, 4:46 pm

Yes, here were slight cosmetic variations in the Mail Order variants to differentiate them. There are arguably better autochangers, better enginerered and with a better performance. Their downside is that these can br more complex to service. Both Garrard and Collaro are very well regarded. Avoid the early Philips decks and the later more rare Balfour model.

11th Aug 2018, 1:54 am	#1
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	1960s/70s record player identification Hi, as some of you may know I've just got into repairing old record players, I am now preparing to restore a second record player, which is only in need of cosmetic and very minor electrical work. I was wondering if anyone recognises the player as it seems to be missing its badge and I would like to know to get parts etc. I have a feeling it maybe Fidelity, or something similar, but I'm not sure. Thanks Attached Thumbnails

11th Aug 2018, 2:29 am	#2
michamoo Hexode Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 469	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification It's maybe a Tellux. __________________ If smoking is so bad for you, how come it cures kippers?

11th Aug 2018, 2:30 am	#3
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification Okay, thank you, I'll have a little look around. Thanks

11th Aug 2018, 11:45 am	#4
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification This is far more likely to be a late model "Portadyne" from c. 1970 and is liable to have a transistor amplifier. It may well be an unbadged Portadyne model to be sold via Mail Order Catalogues. This is a budget, basic player, far removed from Portadyne's earlier products. In terms of getting parts, these will be of a generic nature as the company went out of production (as did BSR) by the early/mid 1970s. __________________ Edward.

11th Aug 2018, 1:52 pm	#5
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification Oh OK, I am fine with it not having a badge and being basic player. That's a plus having generic parts, I did notice it had the same hinges and clips as my Fidelity. Thanks.

22nd Aug 2018, 10:16 pm	#6
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	1960s/70s Record Player Identification Hi, I am creating a new post (some of you may have seen the original) but I am looking to identify this player, but fully, in terms of make, model and hopefully year. On original post comments said it was possibly a Portadyne or a Tellux, but searching through all models of both makes, I cannot find, only ones very similar, but with obvious differences. This is from an eBay ad with very little information about make and model, it just says it is unbranded/missing badge. Thanks Attached Thumbnails

22nd Aug 2018, 11:21 pm	#7
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification I had a Tellux quite a long time ago that looked a lot like that. It was a transistor model and I recall that the transistors were very early (BC108s maybe?) and strapped to a rudimentary heatsink with (I think) riveted collars. Photos of the electronics would help us identify it I am sure. __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

22nd Aug 2018, 11:23 pm	#8
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification I'm afraid I don't have electronic photos at the moment, I haven't yet bought it, but as soon as I get it I'll post photos of the electronics.

22nd Aug 2018, 11:35 pm	#9
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification I don't want to put you off - but if it's anything like the Tellux (if it is a Tellux) that I had.....you could do a lot better! __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

22nd Aug 2018, 11:39 pm	#10
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification Yeah, it's only really a money maker, I'm buying to do it up and sell on for a profit to buy a better autochanger.

23rd Aug 2018, 7:54 am	#11
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification You may not find this to be quite such a money maker as you think. Unbranded record players are not that easy to sell. People look for names typically "Dansette", "Bush", "HMV" et al. This player comes from 1968-70 and is likely to use a single chip or a UL84/UY85 amp. I note you say you want to buy a "better autochanger", I assume you mean a better record player? __________________ Edward.

23rd Aug 2018, 11:40 pm	#12
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification Ah I see, I mean it may be a branded record player with a missing badge, just got to hope really, I suppose. And when I mean a better autochanger I mean an record player with an autochange deck, I already have a manual deck, but I want an autochange record player too, for singles as such, and preferably 1960s. 1970s latest.

24th Aug 2018, 7:38 am	#13
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification No, I'm not talking about a missing badge. Many record players were made by named companies such as Fidelity and Alba to be sold, unbranded, via Mail Order Companies rather than the usual High Street Dealers. These are not the same as a Branded record players that have lost their badge. Also, I understand that the record player you intend to buy is so that you can "do it up" to then sell on, so you can buy one with an autochanger. But surely the one you intend to buy first of all, already has an autochangeR deck? __________________ Edward.

24th Aug 2018, 4:28 pm	#14
19Seventy7 Octode Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Essex, UK. Posts: 1,307	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification Oh, okay, I see, I didn't realise that they had a difference, I just assumed it was the same without a badge. Yes the one that I was going to buy already has an autochanger deck, BSR, but I've already had that deck in my fidelity which I have just repaired and sold. I want something a little bit different for myself.

24th Aug 2018, 4:46 pm	#15
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: 1960s/70s record player identification Yes, here were slight cosmetic variations in the Mail Order variants to differentiate them. There are arguably better autochangers, better enginerered and with a better performance. Their downside is that these can br more complex to service. Both Garrard and Collaro are very well regarded. Avoid the early Philips decks and the later more rare Balfour model. __________________ Edward.