Record player ID and repair.

[JimFromSurrey]

Could anyone tell me what model this is, please?

The mechanics seem to be working ok, record spins and plays but the output from the speaker seems barely louder than the sound coming directly from the stylus - anyone got an idea if that's an easy fix?

I'm presuming is probably a duff amplification valve, I've applied switch cleaner to the 2 knobs, so crackles or anything, but very little sound too!

Thanks in advance

regards

Jim

[Station X]

What valves are fitted?

[Cobaltblue]

The deck is possibly a BSR UA8 not very well up on record decks.

The most likely suspect for the low sound output is the cartridge.
Does this have the usual UL84 UY85 amplifier or something else?

Cheers

Mike T

[JimFromSurrey]

Hi Mike

thanks for your comments, in terms of what's inside, i have no idea - i haven't looked yet

I've got a number of projects vying for my attention, was thinking of selling this but i didn't even know what deck it has!

I think you might be right, googling the UA8 it certainly looks like the one.

Would you have any idea of the material used for the outer of the 'suitcase' ? my wife said "that's not REAL snakeskin is it?" when she saw it ... looking at the uniformity i doubt that it's real anything but it's an interesting effect

Not sure if I'll delve any further or pass it on as it is

thanks again

Jim

[JimFromSurrey]

Doh, i thought i posted this in this thread, but it ended up somewhere else...

So far figured out this might be a UA8 can anyone confirm this, please?

The mechanics seem to be working ok, the record spins at the various speeds and plays but the output from the speaker seems barely louder than the sound coming directly from the stylus - anyone got an idea if that's an easy fix?

I'm presuming is probably a duff amplification valve, but that's just an assumption

The 2 rotary controls on one end, i'm presuming one is volume, the other is a tone control?

I've applied switch cleaner to the 2 knobs, so there's no crackles or anything, but very little sound either!

My wife said "that's not REAL snakeskin is it?" when she saw it ... looking at the uniformity i doubt that it's 'real' anything but it's an interesting effect, anyone know what material the covering is made of?

Thanks in advance

regards

Jim

[JimFromSurrey]

sorry, i think the speed dial is the clincher between UA6 and UA8, 4 speeds and neutral being the UA8, is that right?

[Nickthedentist]

Yes!

[brymac]

Jim - it's possible that the cartridge has failed.

With the amplifier on, touch each of the terminals at the back of the cartridge with a thin metal screwdriver and then put your finger on the shaft of the screwdriver. If you get a loud hum, the amp is not the problem and the cartridge is. I've just resolved a similar problem with a 1970s Bush portable record player brought into the Repair Cafe I run. Replacing the cartridge did the trick!!

[davidw]

Should there be a mat on the turntable?

[Edward Huggins]

It definitely is a BSR UA8. The platter mat is missing. I'm guessing the that record player is an early, and very scarce, FIDELITY dating from 1957. The UA8 was launched in the Summer for 1956 and ran until 1959. If is is a Fidelity player, the valve line is liable to be EL84 and EZ90. The covering may well be ICI "Rexine".

[Records]

Yes there should be a rubber matt, they go brittle and fall apart, or sometimes get lost over time

[Ekcoman]

There is a company that will cut to size on eBay. I have replaced a couple and am very happy of what arrived. Classic Neoprene Rubber T/T Mat 2mm Thick is what you need to find.

[Restoration73]

The design and styling suggests that it is a Baird (missing badge) and made at the
G N Fitton factory after acquisition by Hartley-Baird - i.e. post 1954.

I did a similar one with a Garrard RC120 a year back, I had thought there was no data
but it appears on Vol 2 on the above Radio Servicing DVD.

[JimFromSurrey]

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated!


@Station X : i don't know, i haven't looked inside yet... might get a chance this week

@Nickthedentist : Excellent, handy it's got such an identifying feature!

@brymac : Thats a great tip, i will try that when i get a chance... it's just arrived with me so i haven't got beyond bringing it up gradually on a variac and playing the record you see in the photos

@davidw & Records : Shame about the mat, i guess it got discarded along the way somewhere.

@Edward Huggins : Interesting that i could be an early, and very scarce, FIDELITY dating from 1957, i guess if the valves are the ones you mention, that makes it more definate? Google shows me that Rexine looks like the stuff, indeed

@Ekcoman : Thanks, i will check that out, it should definately have a mat

@Restoration73 : Interesting... is there anything i can look for that might firm-up it being a Baird? Did they have a set valve line for those? Sadly my DVD drive is defunct, not that i have that disc anyway!


Looks like this one will be staying with me a little longer, it's got me intrigued now

Regards, Jim

[Station X]

Google "Baird RC120" and you'll find some very similar players.

It's just a matter as to whether the valve line up in your player is the same.

[Restoration73]

According to the standard "Record Players" chassis shown,it is the usual transformerless
type, UY85, UL84, UF89.If you have a 2 core mains lead ensure black wire is neutral.
Note the record deck chassis is connected to the amp by a wax capacitor which may well be defective, so check or replace. As I had a spare small mains transformer, I fitted this using silicon diode rectifier, and EL84 and EF89. A new 3 core mains lead earths the deck and the amp chassis, so there are now no safety issues to worry about.

You don't need a dvd ;

https://www.service-data.com/search....&search=Search

[Herald1360]

Would an EF86 not be more logical? There never was a UF86, it would have made a nonsense of the low hum heater concept so one couldn't be specified and a UF89 had to do.

[Restoration73]

I'm not sure that "logic" is a concept always associated with manufacture. It seems
senseless to use an ac/dc amplifier design with turntables that can only run on ac.

[crackle]

New replacement mats available on Ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173486280784
Mike

[Edward Huggins]

We are still awaiting the amplifier details from the OP. What makes me think it might be a Fidelity is the orientation of the UA8 deck, the curved amp/speaker cover and the grille cloth. But I still could be wrong!