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Old 12th Jan 2013, 2:57 pm   #92
GP49000
Hexode
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sonoma County, California, USA.
Posts: 405
Default Re: Garrard record player deck identification.

The Small GT models

With the DD-75, GT-55 and the Unimech models, Garrard had fully committed to modular construction, where smaller subassemblies
were completed independently and then assembled to a main chassis on a shorter, simpler assembly line. An expansion of the GT series featured this type of construction in two different chassis, a larger one that would replace Garrard automatic turntables in the higher priced range, and a smaller one that would cover the lower range.

All of them had their entire automatic mechanism built upon a subchassis even smaller than that of the Unimech models, mounted underneath the tonearm. It was simplified from the GT-55 modular mechanism. Like the GT-55's modular mechanism, it was driven by a cogged belt from a pinion gear at the center of the platter. All its mechanical parts were moulded from low-friction DuPont Delrin® plastic. Garrard intended that the new GT modular mechanism never need lubrication throughout its service life.

The platter was driven by a rubber belt, which was moved between steps on the motor pulley to provide two speeds, 33 and 45. There was no fine speed adjustment.

The small GT models had their automatic module, motor, platter bearing assembly and controls assembled to a small main chassis just slightly larger than their platters. Only a squarish plastic panel for the tonearm and the controls projected out from under the platter, on the right side. The small GT models were mostly sold with this small chassis suspended by springs atop a plinth made from particleboard by an outside vendor, with its upper part finished in silver vinyl veneer, and a dedicated dust cover. The lower part of the plinth was trimmed in imitation wood vinyl veneer. The units sold with plinth and cover were referred to as "modules." However the small GTs were also sold as bare chassis, and could be assembled into consoles and phonographs as replacements for older record changers; these were called "chassis" versions.

The small GTs were built with brand names of phonograph and integrated-system manufacturers, as had been done with the lower-line Autoslim and Unimech models, and with custom model numbers and minor variations, as ordered by large retailers.

The small GT's controls were lined up along the right side of the chassis: a knob adjusted the spring-operated antiskating; a long lever controlled cueing lift/lower; there were shorter levers for operating mode (Off, Manual, Auto, Repeat) and for selection of speed (33/45); and a push button actuated Start/Reject.

The GT-10 was considered by Garrard to be the basic "small GT" model. It had a ten-inch stamped platter. Its tonearm was only partially counterbalanced by a fixed counterweight. Tracking weight was set by a spring that offset the dead weight of the cartridge end of the arm; the spring was adjusted by a knob, with settings assisted by a red pointer and a scale with calibrations at one-gram intervals; users would set the arm so the spring balanced the arm level (zero grams) and then could add weight using the one-gram calibrations as a guide. The cartridge mount was fixed in place, without a removable cartridge clip. Record changing was by a pusher spindle and a record side support to the right rear of the unit.

The GT-10P was a single-play version of the GT-10. It lacked the provision for a tall record-changing spindle, and had no record side support.

The upgrade model was the GT-15. It had a machined aluminum platter and a tonearm with a gimbaled pivot mount and a calibrated counterweight that was adjusted to set tracking weight. The user would balance the tonearm/cartridge, set a calibrated scale on the counterweight to zero without moving the counterweight itself, and then rotate the counterweight inward to the desired tracking weight. It also came in a single-play version, the GT-15P.

There were derivative "custom" models; I am not aware of all of them. As an example there was the GT-4, which was similar to the GT-10 but with a different-design headshell. The GT-12 was a fancied-up GT-10...or if you will, a fancied-down GT-15. It had the gimbaled tonearm of the GT-15 and an adjustable counterweight, with the platter of the GT-10; and its trim differed.

Photos:

GT-10
GT-10, platter removed
GT-10, showing cogged belt looped around center bearing shaft
GT-10P single player, chassis version
GT-10P single player, custom build with special nameplate
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