301 Serial number

by **Plummet** » 05 Jun 2005 19:00

Hi I have a cream finish/ grease bearing 301, are they the rarest model being a transition model? Now for the interesting bit, the serial number is 30001 and the schedule number is 51200/1.A 301 with the number 30001 must be a bit special but does anyone have any info/ ideas? Ta.

by **frankwm** » 05 Jun 2005 20:36

I certainly think that they are the most desirable model - being late production G-B versions.

However, are these numbers legit??

Mine is Ser # 171** (have seen another cream G-B with a similar # on eBay recently) and a Schedule # 51400/1.

Something seems a bit 'odd' - and I'm not referring to mine!!! :lol:

by **ebreckpo** » 06 Jun 2005 11:09

I have a cream coloured 301 Schedule 1 serial 26xxx. Which I am almost certain it is not a recomposed unit. The control panel plates are silver with black lettering. Looks like a long transition... A list with the production badges would be a help.

by **frankwm** » 06 Jun 2005 12:28

"Looks like a long transition... A list with the production badges would be a help."

Certainly seems that way!!

My badges are the Black enamelled ones (anyone know where these can be 'refurbished' - my deck is mint other than some wear on them..)

However, as there has been quite a lot of 're-building' of 301's you can never be certain that an earlier Grease Bearing hasn't been attached to a nicer later chassis - or even that the plates are not copies!!

As you say, some more info on what is correct appearance for particular series of serial numbers/schedules would certainly be useful....

Frank

by **Plummet** » 06 Jun 2005 15:27

The serial no's are correct ( I have the manual and templates plus the inspection report with the same numbers ) The deck has the silver controls with black edges and a ribbed mat. It was bought as part of a system that included a Garrard arm ,a Leak Varislope 2 pre/ TL10 power amp, Rodgers Tuner ( long gone ) and an early Leak Sandwich Speaker , the one with the tweeter mounted on the grill. £25 the lot!!!!!
It's now mounted in a homemade maple plinth and sports a Burns-Jones arm with a Tannoy cartridge. I will upload some pictures soon. Plum

by **frankwm** » 06 Jun 2005 16:24

Out of curiousity, does the manual show the Grease Bearing in the diagram?

For my early (1st edition) manual - ser.#1450 - it's drawn as diagram 5, opp. page 10.

Frank

by **Plummet** » 06 Jun 2005 17:28

Yes its a grease bearing in the manual. Third edition 1957

by **frankwm** » 06 Jun 2005 17:41

Then the mystery deepens..

...13,000 or so models manufactured in just a short (<1year) time...

...seems odd.... :roll:

- apparently almost as many as in the previous 5 years!

by **Plummet** » 06 Jun 2005 17:56

All I can say is it seems genuine. Is there anything else I can tell you?

by **frankwm** » 06 Jun 2005 18:00

Well, as they say, 'A Picture is worth a 1000 Words'...or even 30001 words!

I think I'll have mine sprayed Grey & double its value...LOL

by **Plummet** » 06 Jun 2005 18:09

Tomorrow I will get out the camera and have a try.

by **Plummet** » 07 Jun 2005 12:22

I have some pics and if you give me your e-mail address I will send them. I am mick.hill@ntlworld.com. I would really like to find out more about this deck's history. I've had it around 15 years and it was in a garden shed before that. I think the whole system was bought as a complete set but I don't know for sure.Hope you can help. Pass the pics around if you like.

by **Audie** » 24 Jul 2005 06:31

Other 301 grease bearing owners have reported owning 30 plus serial numbers, so I don't think it is strange at all.

I also have a cream grease bearing Garrard 301, Schedule 51400/1, with Serial Number 34.
I purchased it from an Englishman in Sydney, Australia, in 1969.
The control panel plates are silver with black edging and lettering.
. The control knobs are black

301 Serial number

301 Serial number

Serial no

Manual

30001

Photos