Commonwealth Electronics restoration

[davidsss]

Wow, looks great. Have you tested the speed to see if it's ok? ALso, how is the idler wheel, is it still ok?

DS

[cafe latte]

Nice work, cl

Be careful about propring up on cartons. I once did this with a 301 and had the motor only about 6" off the ground while running it before it skedaddled off the boxes and onto a carpet, breaking the motor frame

Also interesting to see all those burglar bars and grids. Here, we are quite used to them.

Is yours to keep out cows or Yasis

ba

I wondered if anyone woud notice the bars.. Back in the UK I was robbed 9 times in a matter of weeks in Manchester and each time I thought there was nothing more to take.... The last time they took my cloths and the light bulbs and I am 6 foot 3 inches, it is not like they would fit many people!!! Here most people leave the doors open, but we go away some weekends and memories of the UK are still with me, also as much as Aus is safe just the other week a neigbour found someone in there house at night(not locked of course) so I prefere the safe option so I made the shutters. Also good in cyclones
Any ideas on the plinth Ba?
Trying to decide on an arm with replaceble headshell..
The speed is perfect . I am still using the tyre on the idler, but I am going to a friends to machine it when we have sorted the fences.... So many trees down..

[bakelite2]

Hardly recognisable from what you rescued a few weeks ago. Can't wait to see it mounted on a nice piece of Atherton Tablelands hardwood. What tonearm are you going to match up to the Commonwealth Electronics?

[Spinnr]

Cafe.

Agree with Blue and Bakelight, this is looking magnificent. Can't believe the before and after images. The hammertone and black look stunning, serious, and industrial strength. Can't wait for your comments on how this sounds. It deserves the best tonearm and cartridge from its period, not something cosmetically new. So a Denon103 is in, and an SME is its partner.

What was the white metal comment from the friend of yours? What does this repair?

Vinyl forever.

[cafe latte]

Thanks guys!!
I am going to mount a s shaped 12" with removable headshell of some type, not sure what yet. It is going to be for my birthday so it is a few months off yet.. grumble grumble As I want replacement headshell i can mount any of my carts, but I am going to get my Decca super gold serviced soon, so it may spend quite a bit of time bolted on
The white metal is on the main bearing. The bearing is a long tube with two ball barings at the bottom. The walls of the tube are coated in white metal( the stuff they used to repaire big ends with on cars before they invented replacable shells). The shaft from the platter is very accurately machined for close clearance with the white metal.The whole thing is filled with oil. As the white metal is soft it prevents rumble and the surfaces look fine, but until I bolt an arm on I cant be sure it is perfect so I asked my friend who has an engine reconditioning company and still has some white metal so he said if it needs doing he will do it for me, but as I cant hear anything even with a screwdriver to my ear I think it will be fine.
Still not sure what will sound the best plinth wise, but if I can get a huge block of Aus hardwood it would be hard to resist. I am also thinking tho buy some thick perspex which can be cut to size to order, so I will give them the sizes I need to make a cover as perspex is easily glued(not hinged, just to keep the dust off when not in use).
Cant wait to get it all set up

[scho2684]

I am going to mount a s shaped 12" with removable headshell of some type

Jelco 750L?

Marco

[cafe latte]

Been working on the Black bean plinth with my friend today I have taken a few pics, but I will keep you all waiting a bit longer and post a few together There is the basic box and one layer of infill, the hole for the TT. There needs to be another 2 layers each 1.5 inches thick yet inside and I think we must be touching 30kg already It is looking really magic now things are shaping up I really must pull my finger out so to speak and find an arm
Getting excited now to see this project finally looking like records could be played soon!!
CL

[dlaloum]

That is looking great, every thing I have heard about these TTs tells me it will be worth the effort. Sure you don't want to bring it down to Melbourne so I can have a listen Really, with all those floods and cyclones up in Queensland it would be much safer down here!

DS

Heh just noticed the date on this one - did you post this exactly one week before we got the floods in Melbourne??

[dlaloum]

Hi CL,

saw one of these come up on ebay last week for a bit over $1000.... in good nick obviously!

Maybe you have started a run on them....

Brilliant job - can't wait to see the plinthed and armed result

bye for now

David

[cafe latte]

Hi CL,

saw one of these come up on ebay last week for a bit over $1000.... in good nick obviously!

Maybe you have started a run on them....

Brilliant job - can't wait to see the plinthed and armed result

bye for now

David

Hi David,
I have changed my mind so many times on the arm it is not true . Any ideas to muddy the waters further (10 or 12 inch only) So far Jelco 750 10 and 12 inch are possible as is an old old grace 860 or a victor ua7082. Really torn between old and new.. I will be fitting a lighter arm at the rear maybe next year to use my lower compliance carts. Any cart ideas for the heavier arm?
CL

[dlaloum]

I have some biases which I readily admit...

1) I prefer Linear tracking.....
2) I think damping is critically important and often forgotten

I've also heard some debate that says that in terms of balancing the conflicting needs of low inertia, and tracking error -pivoted arms of around 10" is about right...

I do like the look of the Jelco 750's and you can also get the earlier version the 370 at very reasonable prices....

I wouldn't go for the UA7082 because though I think it a great arm, it lacks damping - for me that would kill it.
JVC's top TT's all had an arm with oil damping built in, much like the Jelco's, (when they weren't servo damped that is) but I don't know that they ever had those arms available stand-alone.

If game to tackle the complexities involved, I would look at the Advanced Analog MG1.. with the optional damping trough...
http://adanalog.com/index.php

I am really fond of my Revox Linatrak arm, and am planning a Shure V15V with damping brush for it.... - an alternative to having arm damping... - Revox did have some patents for adding servo damping to that arm - but never put it into production... (could have been my dream arm!)

Ahh also a little confusion - you are planning a lighter arm for lower compliance carts???

Another interesting arm range is the arms from Moerch - UP4 & DP6 - available in different masses & lengths and with the bearings damped in a silicone bath. - there are reviews at:
http://www.regonaudio.com/Morch%20DP-6%20Tonearm.html
http://www.regonaudio.com/Morch%20UP-4% ... 20Arm.html


If the main arm is damped it will be more flexible in terms of handling varying compliances....

If going for undamped - I would perhaps go for that JVC UA7082, and either a black widow or the ADC LMF tonearms...


Bye for now.... and remember - I have opinions based on reading - but limited real life experience with different arms...

bye for now

David

[steve195527]

just to say that given from where you started(a mess)you've done a great job:-I'd have probably just skipped it!

[cafe latte]

I have some biases which I readily admit...

1) I prefer Linear tracking.....
2) I think damping is critically important and often forgotten

I've also heard some debate that says that in terms of balancing the conflicting needs of low inertia, and tracking error -pivoted arms of around 10" is about right...

I do like the look of the Jelco 750's and you can also get the earlier version the 370 at very reasonable prices....

I wouldn't go for the UA7082 because though I think it a great arm, it lacks damping - for me that would kill it.
JVC's top TT's all had an arm with oil damping built in, much like the Jelco's, (when they weren't servo damped that is) but I don't know that they ever had those arms available stand-alone.

If game to tackle the complexities involved, I would look at the Advanced Analog MG1.. with the optional damping trough...
http://adanalog.com/index.php

I am really fond of my Revox Linatrak arm, and am planning a Shure V15V with damping brush for it.... - an alternative to having arm damping... - Revox did have some patents for adding servo damping to that arm - but never put it into production... (could have been my dream arm!)

Ahh also a little confusion - you are planning a lighter arm for lower compliance carts???

Another interesting arm range is the arms from Moerch - UP4 & DP6 - available in different masses & lengths and with the bearings damped in a silicone bath. - there are reviews at:
http://www.regonaudio.com/Morch%20DP-6%20Tonearm.html
http://www.regonaudio.com/Morch%20UP-4% ... 20Arm.html


If the main arm is damped it will be more flexible in terms of handling varying compliances....

If going for undamped - I would perhaps go for that JVC UA7082, and either a black widow or the ADC LMF tonearms...


Bye for now.... and remember - I have opinions based on reading - but limited real life experience with different arms...

bye for now

David

Opps typo Higher compliance lighter arm lighter That extra glass of wine with my Sunday dinner
CL

[cafe latte]

Here it is!!!! I will post more pics later!!

I cant here any speed issues, but I supose if it is less than 1% I am unlikely too. How does it sound??? Totally completely amazing!! No rumble at all very open and staggering bass Does it sound better than the Technics?? I might take the fifth on that one
Post more later
CL
Edit What is going on with my pic????
It is fine in the misc section of the gallery?? Any help on what is going on?
CL