Help identifying my first project - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

MagicalGammon · 28th Feb 2021, 3:02 pm

Hello, I'm looking for some info on the record player belonging to my late mother, with a view to restoring it with help from the resources on this site and elsewhere online.

Visually, the appearance is very similar to an Alba 209 with a few differences in the placing of the knobs. The cartridge is a TC8H but the needle needs replacing, possibly the whole cartridge too.

It powers up and the speed selector seems to work, but without being able to test a record, I can't report any more than that so far.

I'd appreciate anyone being able to offer any insight to get me started.

First of all, wondering if there is an option to replace the cartridge with a stereo one and any guidance on compatibility.

Thank you in advance.

Wellington · 28th Feb 2021, 4:32 pm

Can't help with an identification, I'm afraid.

You may have already found these (apologies if you have), but if you have a look here there's a few 'Sticky' posts that deal with record players. I've only given one of these ('Reviving your old record player') a brief skim but it seems pretty detailed, so should give you some insight to help you get started.

Edward Huggins · 28th Feb 2021, 5:05 pm

Is there any amplified noise coming from the cartridge when you touch it? If so, it's likely to be working. You asked about a Stereo cartridge. Well you can fit one, but it will give only a low output and running this at full volume will show up any residual hum. As it is, this player is only really suitable for playing 78s, 45s or old Mono LPs?

ms660 · 28th Feb 2021, 5:27 pm

It looks very similar to a Fidelity HF22.

Lawrence.

Station X · 28th Feb 2021, 6:14 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

Is there any amplified noise coming from the cartridge when you touch it? If so, it's likely to be working.

I'd hardly think so Edward. The picture shows that there are no wires connected to the cartridge!!

Edward Huggins · 28th Feb 2021, 6:34 pm

Oppps, I really missed that. But it's just as well the topic has come up as no way should the OP then touch those red and black wires in case the mains plug wiring is incorrect and the chassis does not go to Mains Neutral. This has a live Chassis!

Techman · 28th Feb 2021, 7:30 pm

Yes, it's a Fidelity.

It's certainly been really mangled by someone who didn't know what they were doing - wires pulled off the cartridge and pulled out of the arm with the flag on the cartridge bent right round!

Don't attempt to solder directly to the cartridge tags as any heat whatsoever will kill it, that's if it isn't dead already - most of them are by now and it's non-stereo compatible so can only be used for playing old 60s singles.

The bad news is that there's no stereo compatible high output cartridge (which this player needs) available to buy now, as they went out of production in the early 70s.

As has already been said, this player has a 'live chassis' with absolutely no pickup isolation and one of those two pickup wires connects directly to the mains input, so depending on which way the mains plug has been wired up you could be be electrocuted if you touch one of them!

Having just said all that, it's not all bad. You can fit a medium output stereo compatible cartridge, but you'll have to crank the volume control all the way up for normal listening volume on some records. There's very little to go wrong with these players once working and they actually perform and sound a lot better than you might think for something in what's basically a cardboard box - good luck with it.

MagicalGammon · 4th Mar 2021, 12:24 am

Thanks to all for advice so far. I'm not confident that I'll be able to find the cartridge I need easily but will go through any guides to ensure electrical safety, especially the wiring!

Would be nice to get it going again. Have a few old players with various issues that I can be busying with until I learn more.

Edward Huggins · 4th Mar 2021, 11:19 am

I'm afraid you will not be able to find a Stereo or Stereo-Mono Compatible cartridge for this at all "easily". However, if you just confine your listening to 78s, 45s and old Mono LPs, (of which there are not many) you can still buy a cartridge for this.

MagicalGammon · 4th Mar 2021, 1:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

I'm afraid you will not be able to find a Stereo or Stereo-Mono Compatible cartridge for this at all "easily". However, if you just confine your listening to 78s, 45s and old Mono LPs, (of which there are not many) you can still buy a cartridge for this.

Yeah, I mean its a small unit anyway so maybe just accept that it's to be used for 45s only and that's still a success

barretter · 4th Mar 2021, 2:16 pm

Mono LPs were made in this country from 1950 to the middle 1960s so they are not scarce.

Edward Huggins · 4th Mar 2021, 2:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by barretter

Mono LPs were made in this country from 1950 to the middle 1960s so they are not scarce.

That is true, but the ratio of extant Mono LPs to Stereo LPs is about 15/85. In terms of the OP just using it for 45s, well that's fine - that was precisely what these "Vanity Case" players were designed for!

barretter · 4th Mar 2021, 4:11 pm

I would be intrigued to know how you derived that ratio.

Edward Huggins · 4th Mar 2021, 5:30 pm

I have a significant experience of the second hand and new vinyl market. Infinitely more Stereo records were produced from 1958 to around 1996 (38 years) than ever were produced in Mono from 1950 to the mid 1960s (15 years). Remember, there was no real volume sales of 10" and 12" LPs until about from 1955 onwards (10 years). Note my use of the word "extant" now in 2021. Most people's record collections will have very few Mono LPs in them by now....

cheerfulcharlie · 4th Mar 2021, 5:45 pm

Have a look for 'BSR' stereo cartridges instead of the fancy named modern ones. In-car terms they were like the Ford of the era, ie frowned on by some for quality, but ubiquitous and able to endure a hard life in say a jukebox.

barretter · 4th Mar 2021, 8:05 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Huggins

I have a significant experience of the second hand and new vinyl market. Infinitely more Stereo records were produced from 1958 to around 1996 (38 years) than ever were produced in Mono from 1950 to the mid 1960s (15 years). Remember, there was no real volume sales of 10" and 12" LPs until about from 1955 onwards (10 years). Note my use of the word "extant" now in 2021. Most people's record collections will have very few Mono LPs in them by now....

I've got 10,00 LPs and more than 15% of them are mono.

Edward Huggins · 4th Mar 2021, 8:56 pm

As a serious Collector you will have a high proportion of Mono LPs collected over time as I do, but the average "Dansette" type buyer or in this case, an even more basic Fidelity, is highly unlikely to. Anyway, I think we are getting way off topic and this will be of no help to the OP.

barretter · 5th Mar 2021, 12:08 am

You have no idea what "the average Dansette owner" has in his/her collection much as you don't know what the word "extant" means.

28th Feb 2021, 3:02 pm	#1
MagicalGammon Triode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Fife, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, UK Posts: 17	Help identifying my first project Hello, I'm looking for some info on the record player belonging to my late mother, with a view to restoring it with help from the resources on this site and elsewhere online. Visually, the appearance is very similar to an Alba 209 with a few differences in the placing of the knobs. The cartridge is a TC8H but the needle needs replacing, possibly the whole cartridge too. It powers up and the speed selector seems to work, but without being able to test a record, I can't report any more than that so far. I'd appreciate anyone being able to offer any insight to get me started. First of all, wondering if there is an option to replace the cartridge with a stereo one and any guidance on compatibility. Thank you in advance. Attached Thumbnails

28th Feb 2021, 4:32 pm	#2
Wellington Hexode Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cheshire, UK. Posts: 363	Re: Help identifying my first project Can't help with an identification, I'm afraid. You may have already found these (apologies if you have), but if you have a look here there's a few 'Sticky' posts that deal with record players. I've only given one of these ('Reviving your old record player') a brief skim but it seems pretty detailed, so should give you some insight to help you get started.

28th Feb 2021, 5:05 pm	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help identifying my first project Is there any amplified noise coming from the cartridge when you touch it? If so, it's likely to be working. You asked about a Stereo cartridge. Well you can fit one, but it will give only a low output and running this at full volume will show up any residual hum. As it is, this player is only really suitable for playing 78s, 45s or old Mono LPs? __________________ Edward.

28th Feb 2021, 5:27 pm	#4
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Help identifying my first project It looks very similar to a Fidelity HF22. Lawrence.

28th Feb 2021, 6:34 pm	#6
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help identifying my first project Oppps, I really missed that. But it's just as well the topic has come up as no way should the OP then touch those red and black wires in case the mains plug wiring is incorrect and the chassis does not go to Mains Neutral. This has a live Chassis! __________________ Edward.

28th Feb 2021, 7:30 pm	#7
Techman Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 5,000	Re: Help identifying my first project Yes, it's a Fidelity. It's certainly been really mangled by someone who didn't know what they were doing - wires pulled off the cartridge and pulled out of the arm with the flag on the cartridge bent right round! Don't attempt to solder directly to the cartridge tags as any heat whatsoever will kill it, that's if it isn't dead already - most of them are by now and it's non-stereo compatible so can only be used for playing old 60s singles. The bad news is that there's no stereo compatible high output cartridge (which this player needs) available to buy now, as they went out of production in the early 70s. As has already been said, this player has a 'live chassis' with absolutely no pickup isolation and one of those two pickup wires connects directly to the mains input, so depending on which way the mains plug has been wired up you could be be electrocuted if you touch one of them! Having just said all that, it's not all bad. You can fit a medium output stereo compatible cartridge, but you'll have to crank the volume control all the way up for normal listening volume on some records. There's very little to go wrong with these players once working and they actually perform and sound a lot better than you might think for something in what's basically a cardboard box - good luck with it.

4th Mar 2021, 12:24 am	#8
MagicalGammon Triode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Fife, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, UK Posts: 17	Re: Help identifying my first project Thanks to all for advice so far. I'm not confident that I'll be able to find the cartridge I need easily but will go through any guides to ensure electrical safety, especially the wiring! Would be nice to get it going again. Have a few old players with various issues that I can be busying with until I learn more.

4th Mar 2021, 11:19 am	#9
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help identifying my first project I'm afraid you will not be able to find a Stereo or Stereo-Mono Compatible cartridge for this at all "easily". However, if you just confine your listening to 78s, 45s and old Mono LPs, (of which there are not many) you can still buy a cartridge for this. __________________ Edward.

4th Mar 2021, 2:16 pm	#11
barretter Heptode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 870	Re: Help identifying my first project Mono LPs were made in this country from 1950 to the middle 1960s so they are not scarce.

4th Mar 2021, 4:11 pm	#13
barretter Heptode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 870	Re: Help identifying my first project I would be intrigued to know how you derived that ratio.

4th Mar 2021, 5:30 pm	#14
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help identifying my first project I have a significant experience of the second hand and new vinyl market. Infinitely more Stereo records were produced from 1958 to around 1996 (38 years) than ever were produced in Mono from 1950 to the mid 1960s (15 years). Remember, there was no real volume sales of 10" and 12" LPs until about from 1955 onwards (10 years). Note my use of the word "extant" now in 2021. Most people's record collections will have very few Mono LPs in them by now.... __________________ Edward.

4th Mar 2021, 5:45 pm	#15
cheerfulcharlie Heptode Join Date: May 2009 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 708	Re: Help identifying my first project Have a look for 'BSR' stereo cartridges instead of the fancy named modern ones. In-car terms they were like the Ford of the era, ie frowned on by some for quality, but ubiquitous and able to endure a hard life in say a jukebox.

4th Mar 2021, 8:56 pm	#17
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: Help identifying my first project As a serious Collector you will have a high proportion of Mono LPs collected over time as I do, but the average "Dansette" type buyer or in this case, an even more basic Fidelity, is highly unlikely to. Anyway, I think we are getting way off topic and this will be of no help to the OP. __________________ Edward.

5th Mar 2021, 12:08 am	#18
barretter Heptode Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 870	Re: Help identifying my first project You have no idea what "the average Dansette owner" has in his/her collection much as you don't know what the word "extant" means.