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Vintage DD turntables. Are we living dangerously?

I have just acquired a 32 year old JVC/Victor TT-101 DD turntable after having its lesser brother, the TT-81 for the last year.
TT-101
This is one of the great DD designs made at a time when the giant Japanese electronics companies like Technics, Denon, JVC/Victor and Pioneer could pour millions of dollars into 'flagship' models to 'enhance' their lower range models which often sold in the millions.
Because of their complexity however.......if they malfunction.....parts are 'unobtanium'....and they often cannot be repaired.
128x128halcro
jpjones3318's avatar
jpjones3318
149 posts
 
Hi Halcro, 

The top on this one isn't painted like most - it's brushed and anodized.  The discoloration you see is what the raw casting looks like. 

http://fidelisanalog.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2016/11/IMG_2102.jpg
totem395
390 posts
 
JP and I had a conversation regarding his TT-101 outer rim not being painted but brushed, where as mine and others we have seen are the painted version.

His serial # is shown in the pic's so I'm curious if anyone has a later serial # than that shown and is painted. Unfortunately the location 
is awkward to see if mounted in a plinth.



halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Hi JP,

It's so valuable seeing a complete NOS boxed TT-101....
Just like a vintage car 'barnyard' find.....
The finish I'm referring to is INSIDE the casing with the turntable removed where you can see on mine there is no tarnishing on the aluminium?
It would be great to hear the full story of how you came upon this 'virgin' example...👀❓
I hope I don't get reprimanded like Lew did for using that word....😎

jpjones3318's avatar
jpjones3318
149 posts
 
Hi Halcro,

Not NOS, but rather good shape considering.  The main bearing in this one is in spectacular shape - extraordinarily smooth. 

Yes, we're talking about the same area.  The exposed bit is brushed, and the inside bit is unprepped.  The full piece is anodized and therefore protected.  On the other two TT-101 I resurrected that area was painted. 
halcro's avatar
halcro OP
2,664 posts
 
Oh...ok..
My Serial No. is 07301160.
Yours is 11100690.
Now they can't have made over 12 million TT-101 turntables so did Victor just number consecutively every turntable they made?

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