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Garrard 301 auction watching

23.184.64.54
Posted on August 22, 2023 at 05:24:53
B.K.
Audiophile

Posts: 1082
Location: California
Joined: February 18, 2007
Contributor
  Since: March 12, 2007



So I was watching this auction. It is a Schedule 1 Garrard 301 that looks to be as close as it gets to mint for a ~65 year old turntable.

The first time I looked at this auction, I assumed the chassis was re-painted, but on closer inspection it is original.

There are so many examples of the 301 that have been beat up over the years. The home user in the UK did not put much thought into the impact of modifications. Drilling holes in the chassis, or mounting the infamous dustbug which damaged the paint. And there were various other 'upgrades' that were carried out.

Bidding closed at ~ 4900 pounds sterling - that is about 10x the price of a used Garrard 301 that could be easily found in the back of the British HiFi magazines in 2003.

 

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The grease bearing and the condition are largely responsible for that price., posted on August 22, 2023 at 16:24:24
alaskahiatt
Audiophile

Posts: 7297
Joined: December 9, 2000
Contributor
  Since: November 1, 2005
 The grease bearing and hammertone finish also indicates the first 301s produced, if a buyer is looking for a first edition.

A Garrard oil bearing 301 only sells for 1/3 of the grease bearing 301 from my eBay search.

 

RE: Garrard 301 auction watching, posted on August 28, 2023 at 19:20:25
Joe Backer
Audiophile

Posts: 1033
Joined: July 10, 2011
 I never understand that kind of collecting. You can get a messed up 301 grease and have it rebuilt and painted for so much less. This is treating it like a classic car.

 

RE: Garrard 301 auction watching, posted on August 30, 2023 at 07:57:46
6bq5
Audiophile

Posts: 4213
Location: SF Bay
Joined: August 16, 2001
 but THIS 301 was driven by Bob Ludwig!
Happy Listening

 

RE: Garrard 301 auction watching, posted on September 11, 2023 at 08:57:09
SLL
Audiophile

Posts: 244
Joined: July 22, 2002
 but you always have to adjust for inflation. do, according to bank of england calculator, it's a mere 5.75 times as expensive in current pounds.

 

RE: Garrard 301 auction watching, posted on September 15, 2023 at 19:05:31
FSonicSmith
Audiophile

Posts: 528
Location: Midwest
Joined: February 18, 2009
 I have a very similar early grease bearing 301 purchased from Greg Metz about five year ago.
I doubt very much looking at the photos of the underside that this drive unit is "as manufactured". It imho has been disassembled and cleaned up. The pristine dustless look of the mechanical levers and the paint finish of the motor are giveaways. The original drive units had a thin layer of oil applied to the levers that over 65 plus years can not look that clean without disassembly and a rebuild.
Is any of that bad? Of course not. But to imply that it has never been rebuilt (though the seller was silent on the subject) is a bit tough to swallow. Stating that the unit runs but likely could use service implies that it has not been overhauled recently if ever.

 

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