INFO wanted: SABC Mark3 TT

[Shonver]

-well the image of Esme Euvrard kicking a Studer A80 into action with a toe is too much to bear

She would have done it twice.
She would have done it twice.

[Steerpike]

well the image of Esme Euvrard kicking a Studer A80 into action with a toe

Do not dis ons Bosmoedertjie!
I think in Esmé's time they would have been Ampex 350 or 351 would they not?
The one I have might even have actually been touched by her!!!

Springbok Radio was what I was remembering - dual studios; I didn't know the SABC proper was organised differently.

[Steerpike]

I've been tracing out the circuit boads. It'll be rewarding to have the authentic arrangement working, but I think the audio stages aren't going to be as spectacular peformers as the  mechanical parts. uA739 RIAA input stage, followed by cascaded uA709 line level amps.

(But no reason not to have other, better pre-amps installed as well, and selectable)

JDZA, what cartridge was in yours when you got it?
I have a NOS Philips GP411 (1969) and  AG3404 (1964) one of which I think might be nice in the Mk3.

[Steerpike]

I'm looking forward to playing this on it:

[mafioso]

What was her husband's name? Gilberto Bonegio?

mafioso

[jdza]

JDZA, what cartridge was in yours when you got it?

Neither had cartridges or headshells. My EMTs had Stanton 681s .So I assume the Mk3s would have had the same?

Parts posted today to your P.O.Box-Hope it helps

[Steerpike]

What was her husband's name? Gilberto Bonegio?

I believe so. A bit before my time. Apparently he died in a very ugly car crash, and she immediately gave up live performances altogether after that.

Parts posted today to your P.O.Box-Hope it helps

Yippeee! Thank you so much! I'll watch for that 'You have a parcel waiting' slip eagerly!

[Steerpike]

I've fully traced out the circuitry on all the cards in the control box Shonver sent me, so when your parcel arrives JD, I'll set to work cloning the right-hand pushbutton panel. Electrically its easy enough, but I want it to look authentic too - so that's a bit more work.

The multipin plugs are made by "Souriau" but nothing like that in their current catalogue.

The black knob seems to control the 'on air' audio level - hence the "((("  symbol next to it on the control panel in JD's photo.
This seems an odd arrangement -  controls like 'level' and 'mute/on air' on the turntable itself; I imagined these would be on a mixing console.

JD: That blue disc - the "upper platter" if you will - what is it made from? Is a single disc, or is it layered with a rubberised surface and a more rigid material underneath?

[jdza]

Stuff not there yet?

The blue disc is aluminium  with squares of thin cork glued to the bottom.The holes in the disc had little hard rubber dots that the record rest on. I find it sounds much better with a rubber mat.

[Steerpike]

Stuff not there yet?

The post sorters are apparently on strike; no post at all for this week.

The blue disc is aluminium  with squares of thin cork glued to the bottom.The holes in the disc had little hard rubber dots that the record rest on. I find it sounds much better with a rubber mat.

Ah, thank you for that. Some sort of rubber damping being an improvement makes sense. I have wondered on occasion if those blue discs for the Kreepy Krauly would be good platter mats.
If the need for hand cueing & instant start is not there, I can't see why the blue alminium disc cannot be removed altogether.

[jdza]

IMO what makes the Mk 3 unique is the lowering/raising platter.The blue disc must stay! I am sure once yours is running you'll become equally fond of that function ,it is just the coolest thing ever! I am not sure if the platter is magnetic and the absence of the disc may create havoc with some carts a la Thorens TD 124?

[Steerpike]

IMO what makes the Mk 3 unique is the lowering/raising platter.

Unique to the Dok Viljoens - probably. But exactly the same mechanism was added to Garrard 301s by the BBC. They didn't use a solenoid, but rather a motor-driven cam attached to the bearing thrust plate.

[ludo]

Good golly!

(Fixed the link to the bigger image in the quote.)

[Steerpike]

(Fixed the link to the bigger image in the quote.)

Thanks!
(I noticed the typing error, checked the workability of the link - and it worked! Only now do I realise I was getting a locally cached image - & local filesystem doesn't mind the '/' instead of the '\'. Something to be aware of in future )

[jdza]

That is scary. Looks like a prop from Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.

What does the light bulb do?