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I picked up a Thorens TD 160 for $40 at an estate sale Thursday, and it is the first time I have seen a Thorens close up. Every part of the table seems so beautifully designed,and I hope it will sound the same when I finally hook it up after my Christmas move.
Of course I had to do a lot of clean up and adjusting. The dust cover was filthy as well as heavily scratched on the top. I used the Novus scratch compounds on the plexiglas, but I will have to research more about scratch removal. I only eliminated about 15% of the total scratches.
I also had to order a belt from Q Audio and two dustcover hinges from Dave at Vinyl Nirvana. I also had to find two missing set screws on the tonearm pivot, but they were easily found at a hobby store.
I cleaned and oiled the spindle bearing, as it was dry! I tried to place one drop of turbine oil next to the motor shaft, but that may need to be dealt with later.
The RCA connectors were almost totally black, so I had to use a heavy solvent as well as #600 wet sand paper to bring back the silver color.
I set the VTF, the VTA, aligned the Shure V15 III/ VN35HE stylus, and reset the cueing lever. The motor is quiet, the platter spins easily even after shutdown, and the speed select lever works perfectly. I'm feeling pretty lucky right now, and I will consider many of the upgrades later.
I was also fortunate to pick up 25 LPs at the same sale with most of them still sealed. The LPs with the obi are the french reissues by Cadre Rouge. Almost all of the LPs are reissues. There were other unsealed Jazz LPs with some of them original issues, but they were all too scratched for my taste. Judging by the amount of dirt I cleaned off the Thorens dust cover, this person did not take good care of his collection.
I earned this find however, as I did all the searching on my knee on the garage cement floor, for two hours in 20 degree weather, with no heat, and no light(used a flash light). Fortunately, I had on my parka, a stocking cap, a pair of gloves, and I wasn't in Buffalo, New York.
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Topic - Vintage Thorens tables sure are beautiful . . . - alaskahiatt 21:41:12 11/25/14 (21)
- RE: Vintage Thorens tables sure are beautiful . . . - Munkie_NL 03:36:40 11/29/14 (1)
- Hi Munkie. These were found at an estate sale after - alaskahiatt 11:35:34 11/29/14 (0)
- Never owned one but I love the looks of the TD-160 in particular - nt - AbeCollins 14:34:37 11/26/14 (0)
- I do nto know - Penguin 13:14:50 11/26/14 (2)
- I see hats on Lou Donaldson, John Hurt, and Sonny Stitt, but - alaskahiatt 15:56:44 11/26/14 (1)
- I love the dude - Penguin 17:14:32 11/26/14 (0)
- Yes they are ! Very nice. (nt) - reelsmith. 10:18:28 11/26/14 (0)
- nicely done! - dean man jim 09:36:57 11/26/14 (0)
- RE: Vintage Thorens tables sure are beautiful . . . - rbolaw 06:58:05 11/26/14 (0)
- Kinda partial to the early Thorens myself . . . - Opus 33 1/3 06:24:08 11/26/14 (2)
- I can see that the TD 150 certainly has an armboard advantage. - alaskahiatt 08:19:28 11/26/14 (1)
- Good experience on just about every table I've used them on. - Opus 33 1/3 09:24:45 11/26/14 (0)
- Nice buy. - Biff 05:44:26 11/26/14 (1)
- Whoa, nice buy as well. I initially offered $30 apiece for the Dual and Thorens, - alaskahiatt 08:23:02 11/26/14 (0)
- RE: Vintage Thorens tables sure are beautiful . . . - AudioSoul 04:38:33 11/26/14 (0)
- I have quite a few of those Cadre Rouge Blue Notes. - olddude55 03:03:56 11/26/14 (0)
- RE: Vintage Thorens tables sure are beautiful . . . - sanman 23:06:59 11/25/14 (0)
- Excellent score!!! - fishy 22:05:39 11/25/14 (1)
- I was definitely fortunate, as the 25 LPs only cost me $30. - alaskahiatt 00:37:41 11/26/14 (0)
- Nicely bought. - hcman 21:50:19 11/25/14 (1)
- Yes it was, and the guy's wife now has bronchitis from that cold night. - alaskahiatt 00:34:47 11/26/14 (0)