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Old 6th May 2019, 5:06 pm   #1
G3VKM_Roger
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Default ID a Dansette Record Player (Dansette "Popular")

Hi All,

Whilst clearing the loft in a deceased family member's house I unearthed a Dansette record player that my wife was given back in the 60s. I cannot find any identifying markings on it and past postings on the various models haven't helped. I have attached a couple of photos. Any info much appreciated.

The front panel has the maker's name and that is all, nothing on the turntable upper side and no label on the inside of the lid. The power plug has been cut off the lead (red/black twin core) so I suspect the set may be faulty.

Cheers

Roger
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Old 6th May 2019, 5:41 pm   #2
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

This is a Dansette "Popular" record player from 1961/62. It has been fitted with a later, stereo-compatible cartridge. Be aware this model uses a "live" amplifier chassis and if connected up, the red wire goes to "LIVE" and the black wire goes to "NEUTRAL".
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Old 6th May 2019, 7:31 pm   #3
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Edward,

Many thanks for that info, and I can see from the cct diagram that it's a live chassis beast. I'd like to open it up and check the smoothing caps and other components but after removing the knobs and the six cross-head wood screws I find that the deck refuses to lift off the cabinet. Is there a technique to this or am I missing something? My wife thinks that at some point the original mains lead was swapped for the present one and the deck would have been out for that to be done, but I think it unlikely that the deck would have been glued in place.

Regards

Roger
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Old 6th May 2019, 8:15 pm   #4
Edward Huggins
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

The motor board (not the actual 4 speed motor unit/plate itself) is what you remove. It will just be a tight fit. These were never glued in place. Lever out if necessary.
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Old 6th May 2019, 9:30 pm   #5
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edward Huggins View Post
It will just be a tight fit. These were never glued in place. Lever out if necessary.

...and probably since it hasn't been removed for decades, the rexine will make it more sticky since it will be folded under the motorboard as well....a certain amount of extra leverage may be required!
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Old 6th May 2019, 9:40 pm   #6
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Thanks chaps, I will try what you suggest and see if I get away with not ripping the rexine!

Cheers

Roger
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Old 7th May 2019, 7:44 am   #7
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Seeing that deck reminds me of the first RP that I ever made. I first made the cabinet, then the amp etc. However when I tested the completed RP I soon learned about acoustic feedback, when I closed the lid and turned the volume up it stared to howl. I had to modify the cabinet, drilling holes etc, happy days.
Cheers
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Old 7th May 2019, 10:30 am   #8
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Hi All.

Following advice about removing the baseboard and deck, I went around the edges of the board with a wide flat-blade driver and eventually extracted the whole without major damage.

There are several areas around the screw-holes where what looks like some sort of mastic tape has been applied, that is what made the extraction hard. The rexine has torn slightly in two of the screw hole areas but is restorable.

Interestingly, there are two asbestos "cooking mats" on the bottom of the cabinet, presumably to protect the wooden bottom, these will be removed, unless anyone knows if that was a "standard fit"? The circuitry seems all clean and unmolested, so I will confine my restoration to changing the 'orrible 'unts capacitors and checking the valves.

Thanks to those who commented, photos attached.

Cheers

Roger
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Old 7th May 2019, 11:40 am   #9
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Is that a dropper section or something else in the 1st photo?

Lawrence.
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Old 7th May 2019, 11:59 am   #10
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Hi Lawrence,

If you mean the thing held on by a piece of green wire, it is indeed a dropper of 180 Ohms connected between the on/off switch and the rectifier.

Cheers

Roger
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Old 7th May 2019, 12:06 pm   #11
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Cheers, I thought it might be.

Lawrence.
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Old 7th May 2019, 12:08 pm   #12
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

It looks like a replacement, the yellow capacitor doesn't look original either. Perhaps the player has "received attention" at some time in the past?

What's the valve line up?
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Old 7th May 2019, 12:15 pm   #13
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

The dropper section looks like the Radiospares type from back in the day, a replacement for the rectifiers surge limiter, the original would have been 175 ohms according to the schematic I'm looking at.

EDIT: This one has something in the base of the cabinet as well:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=17389

Lawrence.

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Old 7th May 2019, 3:40 pm   #14
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Seeing the inside of the cabinet reminded me of how they fitted their Loudspeaker, I’m surprised it didn’t cause acoustic feedback.
I would not disturb the asbestos but coat it with PVA, that seems the preferred option.
Cheers
John
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Old 7th May 2019, 4:28 pm   #15
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Lawrence and John,

I can't see a maker's name on the resistor, the only marks are "180 Ohm 0.3 amp", which is close enough to the 175 Ohms on the cct diagram.

The asbestos is taken from a "Best-Aid" cooking mat and I'll be checking with my local council re disposal arrangements. It's not glued in, just laid on the bottom of the cabinet. Best removed I think!

Cheers

Roger
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Old 7th May 2019, 6:54 pm   #16
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Hi Roger, I know from previous posts that asbestos is left untouched and coated with PVA, it is not a problem left like that, but if you feel uncomfortable about this that’s up to you.
Cheers
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Old 8th May 2019, 6:27 am   #17
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

OK John,

Well, that would solve the disposal problem, thanks for that. Any particular brand of PVA that you know of as being suitable?

Cheers

Roger
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Old 8th May 2019, 10:07 am   #18
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

No particular brand comes to mind. I use a craft PVA for fixing Rexine to cabinets, this seems to do the trick, I’m sure it would also be suitable for your requirements.
Cheers
John
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Old 10th May 2019, 6:33 am   #19
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player?

Thanks John,

All the best,

Roger

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Old 17th May 2019, 3:27 pm   #20
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Default Re: ID a Dansette Record Player (Dansette "Popular")

I know that the added piece says asbestos on it, but surely the original piece usually found in some record players is cement based and not asbestos?
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