BSR C1 cartridge problems - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

EF80TVVALVE · 5th Sep 2016, 11:48 am

Hi, just recently bought one of these old stock cartridges and upon fitting it isn't picking up from the stylus. It isn't actually 'dead' as it is making noise if I rub my finger across it but other than that it is just not picking up from the record. I just wondered what it could be and if it could be repaired. I had the same problem with the X3M cartridge that it was supposed to replace. There is no problem with the player as I have hooked up a new cartridge which worked fine. Any ideas anyone?

Cheers

Edward Huggins · 5th Sep 2016, 12:10 pm

If you are quite sure that the connections to the 4 pins are good and that there is NO FAULT at all on the amplifier, then there is a mechanical problem with the way the styus is sitting on its pad to make a good contact to the ceramic/crystal elelment. But you said this has happened before with a BSR X3M cartridge. Can you post a pic of the cartridge please and state what player you are using. Is C1 the correct model number for that cartridge? Edward

Audio1950 · 5th Sep 2016, 3:13 pm

If you have tried a new cartridge and it works, then I suspect that both the C1 and the X3M are dead. Both these cartridges date to the late 1960s, so I wouldn't expect either of them to have survived, as they have both been obsolete for many years. In the case of the C1 at least, NOS doesn't guarantee that an item is working, just that is has never been sold, and has been lying in a drawer somewhere for the last forty eight years, where it has been gradually disintegrating.

sp10mk11 · 5th Sep 2016, 8:14 pm

What Audio1950 has said is sad but often true of old cartridges like this, I have had mint in box sealed ones that were dead :-(

Nickthedentist · 5th Sep 2016, 8:18 pm

Sometimes repair is possible though.

electrogram · 5th Sep 2016, 9:53 pm

I've had both of the above mention cartridges where the foils and the pins are tarnished where they contact each other. If these are carefully cleaned and care is taken to ensure a good contact on reassembly you may end up with a working cartridge

ben · 6th Sep 2016, 2:46 pm

Likewise. With care they can be opened by drilling out the rivet, gently clean the tarnished parts and reassamble. I have done tis with Sonotones many times. The c1 is ceramic not crystal, so you have a fighting chance!

sp10mk11 · 6th Sep 2016, 6:32 pm

Good point about possibly repairing them chaps

I will have a go some time
Gary

EF80TVVALVE · 7th Sep 2016, 9:39 am

Thanks for all of the help everyone! I have managed to get it working now, it was due to badly tarnished pins. I know there's always a risk with NOS but it was only £10 compared to £40+ for a replica so I thought I'd take the gamble!

Cheers everyone

5th Sep 2016, 11:48 am	#1
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	BSR C1 cartridge problems Hi, just recently bought one of these old stock cartridges and upon fitting it isn't picking up from the stylus. It isn't actually 'dead' as it is making noise if I rub my finger across it but other than that it is just not picking up from the record. I just wondered what it could be and if it could be repaired. I had the same problem with the X3M cartridge that it was supposed to replace. There is no problem with the player as I have hooked up a new cartridge which worked fine. Any ideas anyone? Cheers

5th Sep 2016, 12:10 pm	#2
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,336	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems If you are quite sure that the connections to the 4 pins are good and that there is NO FAULT at all on the amplifier, then there is a mechanical problem with the way the styus is sitting on its pad to make a good contact to the ceramic/crystal elelment. But you said this has happened before with a BSR X3M cartridge. Can you post a pic of the cartridge please and state what player you are using. Is C1 the correct model number for that cartridge? Edward

5th Sep 2016, 3:13 pm	#3
Audio1950 Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Whittlesey, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. Posts: 3,763	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems If you have tried a new cartridge and it works, then I suspect that both the C1 and the X3M are dead. Both these cartridges date to the late 1960s, so I wouldn't expect either of them to have survived, as they have both been obsolete for many years. In the case of the C1 at least, NOS doesn't guarantee that an item is working, just that is has never been sold, and has been lying in a drawer somewhere for the last forty eight years, where it has been gradually disintegrating. Last edited by Audio1950; 5th Sep 2016 at 3:18 pm.

5th Sep 2016, 8:14 pm	#4
sp10mk11 Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 1,275	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems What Audio1950 has said is sad but often true of old cartridges like this, I have had mint in box sealed ones that were dead :-(

5th Sep 2016, 8:18 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,861	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems Sometimes repair is possible though.

5th Sep 2016, 9:53 pm	#6
electrogram Heptode Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hereford, UK. Posts: 719	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems I've had both of the above mention cartridges where the foils and the pins are tarnished where they contact each other. If these are carefully cleaned and care is taken to ensure a good contact on reassembly you may end up with a working cartridge

6th Sep 2016, 2:46 pm	#7
ben Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK Posts: 7,498	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems Likewise. With care they can be opened by drilling out the rivet, gently clean the tarnished parts and reassamble. I have done tis with Sonotones many times. The c1 is ceramic not crystal, so you have a fighting chance! __________________ Regards, Ben.

6th Sep 2016, 6:32 pm	#8
sp10mk11 Octode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 1,275	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems Good point about possibly repairing them chaps I will have a go some time Gary

7th Sep 2016, 9:39 am	#9
EF80TVVALVE Octode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Leicester, UK. Posts: 1,433	Re: BSR C1 cartridge problems Thanks for all of the help everyone! I have managed to get it working now, it was due to badly tarnished pins. I know there's always a risk with NOS but it was only £10 compared to £40+ for a replica so I thought I'd take the gamble! Cheers everyone