Decca Decola. Deck type? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

vinrads · 25th May 2019, 8:40 am

Hi, did the Decca Decola have a Collaro deck fitted?

Mick.

RojDW48 · 25th May 2019, 11:01 am

The mono Decola had a Garrard RC80 fitted (to at least some of them). The Stereo Decola had a beautiful transcription deck by Collaro - same as their 4T100.

Hartley118 · 25th May 2019, 11:44 am

I believe that the original post-war Decola was fitted with a Garrard RC60 or RC65 78 only autochanger. Initially fitted with a Garrard 'miniature' 78 head for steel needles, some were later (1948?) fitted with the bayonet-fitting Decca 'C' head, the predecessor of the plug-in XMS head (1950). Interestingly, the plug-in Garrard 'miniature' 78 magnetic head is physically interchangeable with the Decca XMS head. Whether any Decolas were fitted with the Garrard 'High Fidelity' head (late 1940s), I don't know.

The Decola uses a step-up input transformer, so would have used a low-impedance version XMS head - presumably gold sole plate (30 ohm) or red (170 ohm).

Below is a picture of my RC60 which I've fitted with an XMS head instead of the original Garrard steel needle head. It's as good a player of 78s as one could reasonably wish for.

Martin

25th May 2019, 8:40 am	#1
vinrads Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 3,760	Decca Decola. Deck type? Hi, did the Decca Decola have a Collaro deck fitted? Mick.

25th May 2019, 11:01 am	#2
RojDW48 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bristol, UK. Posts: 2,074	Re: Decca Decola. Deck type? The mono Decola had a Garrard RC80 fitted (to at least some of them). The Stereo Decola had a beautiful transcription deck by Collaro - same as their 4T100. __________________ '....don't go mistaking Paradise for that home across the road!' (Bob Dylan)

25th May 2019, 11:44 am	#3
Hartley118 Nonode Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Cambridge, Cambs. UK. Posts: 2,198	Re: Decca Decola. Deck type? I believe that the original post-war Decola was fitted with a Garrard RC60 or RC65 78 only autochanger. Initially fitted with a Garrard 'miniature' 78 head for steel needles, some were later (1948?) fitted with the bayonet-fitting Decca 'C' head, the predecessor of the plug-in XMS head (1950). Interestingly, the plug-in Garrard 'miniature' 78 magnetic head is physically interchangeable with the Decca XMS head. Whether any Decolas were fitted with the Garrard 'High Fidelity' head (late 1940s), I don't know. The Decola uses a step-up input transformer, so would have used a low-impedance version XMS head - presumably gold sole plate (30 ohm) or red (170 ohm). Below is a picture of my RC60 which I've fitted with an XMS head instead of the original Garrard steel needle head. It's as good a player of 78s as one could reasonably wish for. Martin Attached Thumbnails __________________ BVWS Member