60s No-Name Record Player - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

paolo · 26th Jan 2022, 12:41 pm

Hi All,

I have spent a fair bit of today resurrecting this no-name suitcase record player. Great sentimental value as it is the same model bought by my parents in 1961 for my older brothers and sister and subsequently passed down to me many years later. It lasted until the mid 70s and then went to the great gramfest in the sky.

Fast forward and many many years later I decided to track down the same model. Not easy when there is no manufacturer information to go on! I eventually stumbled across this one about 17 years ago that had apparently been restored.

It turned out that restoration comprised a new rexine covering and mains lead. About 15 years ago the smoothing cap failed and it just sat on my “round tuit” pile. Until today that is!

Some new caps and resistors along with a thorough clean and lube of the UA14 deck and she is singing once again. It isn’t hi-fi by any stretch of the imagination but the memories it generates are priceless!

Paul

Welsh Anorak · 26th Jan 2022, 1:37 pm

Looks great - just the thing to listen to The Archies on! In fact, the internals are usually the easier bit, as cabinets can be tricky. Looks like they'd done a nice job of it. AND there's a tone control! I assume it's a one-valve plus rectifier?

paolo · 26th Jan 2022, 2:43 pm

Yes, UCL82 and a UY85 rectifier. Surprising amount of volume from it too. When I got it, the tone sounded anaemic. I just put it down to my memory being kinder than reality. However, having changed the caps and some very out of spec resistors it is sounding really decent!

Sideband · 26th Jan 2022, 2:50 pm

Ooh a posh one! Most of these no-name models had just a UL84 and UY85. Yours has actually got a two-stage amp so should sound better than the average no-name type. I hope that nasty Wima cap has been consigned to the bin?

paolo · 26th Jan 2022, 3:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sideband

I hope that nasty Wima cap has been consigned to the bin?

It was the first casualty in the battle

Welsh Anorak · 26th Jan 2022, 5:26 pm

I've just done a no-name with the same type of amplifier which actually seemed too loud when I'd finished it! Mine actually had a PCB and a slightly isolated chassis.

Edward Huggins · 29th Jan 2022, 2:05 pm

This is a CIVIC 999 model. One of many record players made under the CIVIC brand for Department Store sale and as a "No-Name" (such as yours) for Mail Order. Yes, unusual to find a 2 stage amplifier which does not need those rarer-than-rare high-output cartridges. The sound can be dramatically improved by fitting a 7" x 4" or 6.5" speaker as that FANE unit is only a 4.5".

paolo · 2nd Feb 2022, 2:37 pm

Thank you so much Edward! It has been a lifelong mystery as to the model/manufacturer. I saw similarities to RGD/Alba/Tellux models but this is a major piece of the puzzle!

Thank you once again

26th Jan 2022, 12:41 pm	#1
paolo Heptode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 615	60s No-Name Record Player Hi All, I have spent a fair bit of today resurrecting this no-name suitcase record player. Great sentimental value as it is the same model bought by my parents in 1961 for my older brothers and sister and subsequently passed down to me many years later. It lasted until the mid 70s and then went to the great gramfest in the sky. Fast forward and many many years later I decided to track down the same model. Not easy when there is no manufacturer information to go on! I eventually stumbled across this one about 17 years ago that had apparently been restored. It turned out that restoration comprised a new rexine covering and mains lead. About 15 years ago the smoothing cap failed and it just sat on my “round tuit” pile. Until today that is! Some new caps and resistors along with a thorough clean and lube of the UA14 deck and she is singing once again. It isn’t hi-fi by any stretch of the imagination but the memories it generates are priceless! Paul Attached Thumbnails

26th Jan 2022, 1:37 pm	#2
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,916	Re: 60s No-Name Record Player Looks great - just the thing to listen to The Archies on! In fact, the internals are usually the easier bit, as cabinets can be tricky. Looks like they'd done a nice job of it. AND there's a tone control! I assume it's a one-valve plus rectifier? __________________ Glyn www.gdelectronics.wales

26th Jan 2022, 2:43 pm	#3
paolo Heptode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 615	Re: 60s No-Name Record Player Yes, UCL82 and a UY85 rectifier. Surprising amount of volume from it too. When I got it, the tone sounded anaemic. I just put it down to my memory being kinder than reality. However, having changed the caps and some very out of spec resistors it is sounding really decent!

26th Jan 2022, 2:50 pm	#4
Sideband Dekatron Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Croydon, Surrey, UK. Posts: 7,567	Re: 60s No-Name Record Player Ooh a posh one! Most of these no-name models had just a UL84 and UY85. Yours has actually got a two-stage amp so should sound better than the average no-name type. I hope that nasty Wima cap has been consigned to the bin? __________________ There are lots of brilliant keyboard players and then there is Rick Wakeman.....

26th Jan 2022, 5:26 pm	#6
Welsh Anorak Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: North Wales, UK. Posts: 6,916	Re: 60s No-Name Record Player I've just done a no-name with the same type of amplifier which actually seemed too loud when I'd finished it! Mine actually had a PCB and a slightly isolated chassis. __________________ Glyn www.gdelectronics.wales

29th Jan 2022, 2:05 pm	#7
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,327	Re: 60s No-Name Record Player This is a CIVIC 999 model. One of many record players made under the CIVIC brand for Department Store sale and as a "No-Name" (such as yours) for Mail Order. Yes, unusual to find a 2 stage amplifier which does not need those rarer-than-rare high-output cartridges. The sound can be dramatically improved by fitting a 7" x 4" or 6.5" speaker as that FANE unit is only a 4.5". __________________ Edward.

2nd Feb 2022, 2:37 pm	#8
paolo Heptode Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 615	Re: 60s No-Name Record Player Thank you so much Edward! It has been a lifelong mystery as to the model/manufacturer. I saw similarities to RGD/Alba/Tellux models but this is a major piece of the puzzle! Thank you once again