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Dating a Thorens TD 124?

C

Chip - HP

Super Member
Recently I picked up a Thorens TD 124 with a SME 3009 tonearm. The serial number is 56174. The numbers 5 63 appear on the bottom of the back of the Owners Manual. Is it possible to tell when the turntable was made by the serial number?

Is there an owner's manual for the tonearm online?
 

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That's a beautiful one... Deserves to be well taken care of...

I'm curious as well, mine's a 43XXX. I've tried researching it's manufacture date without success... If you find out, let us know!
 
I've never picked up a Swiss beauty. There was a German backpacker many years ago. I dated her for a short while. She was made in the late '60s.

Never could find her serial number. Not for lack of looking everywhere. :thmbsp:
 
Thanks kt66brooklyn for the link ... I knew when I worded the title the way I did that some of the "comics" would show up :) ...
 
man td124's seem to be falling from the sky, everyone seems to be finding them but me! one day....(pumps fist to the sky) ONNNE DAAAAY!!
 
I'm not sure if the OP is still around...

Nice, that one has a '60s SME 3009 on it too!

My TD-124 is #29304 and it was originally purchased in December 1961 (I have the original receipt), so 1963-64 doesn't seem out of line for #56174.

The MK1 was produced until 1966 IIRC.
 
I totally stumbled into mine. I think the key is be ready to pounce if you find one, and have several wants instead of one. Say, either a 124 or a Garrard 301 or 401. You double your chances that way. I think you will pay more if you focus on a 124 only. I was ready to buy the either/or when I happened on my first choice.

Of course I now have my eye out for a Garrard.
 
With this serial number, 1965. It's the last run before the model change.

Anyway, take the platter off, and look underneath, you will see the month and year of production, if nobody put theirs little fingers on it. It's ink, easily rub-off.
 
moinau said:
With this serial number, 1965. It's the last run before the model change.

Anyway, take the platter off, and look underneath, you will see the month and year of production, if nobody put theirs little fingers on it. It's ink, easily rub-off.
Click to expand...

Really? This is my TD-124 with the platter removed... where should I look exactly?

 
Under the platter, (on the platter itself, not the bowl)
There usually is a month and year stamped in ink, and as I mentioned, since it's stamped with ink, it easily rubs-off if someone before you, or you, cleaned the platter or whatever.
 
moinau said:
Under the platter, (on the platter itself, not the bowl)
There usually is a month and year stamped in ink, and as I mentioned, since it's stamped with ink, it easily rubs-off if someone before you, or you, cleaned the platter or whatever.
Click to expand...

No kidding? The aluminum platter or the main platter? There's nothing on either of my platters, but at least I have the sales receipt!



 
The main platter, the one you spin your record on.
Now having said this, if you did'nt see a number on the main platter, it is now gone.

The photo shows a ferrous (left) and the optional non-ferrous (right)

The month and date should be on the ferrous type platter.

I've no info on the non-ferrous one.


 
You obviously have a middle run of the 124. Not too many people have a receipt to go with their 124, that's pretty neat.
 
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