I have an empire table that has a cover over the motor with numbers under it. The model number is obscured a little in the middle digit. I can't tell if the number is A 108 or A 168. Next to that is a date of 10-16-62. Any idea of the correct model number? I upgraded it a little with a jury-rigged anti-skating mech, with a thread hooked to the outside edge of the tone arm, strectched to the back and hung down with a small weight and get a good neutral force cancellation with it, as it has no factory anti-skate and really did need one....thanks, edd
empire turntable question
- Thread starter midmoe
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Have a look at the big Empire thread (sticky above). I would venture a guess and say that yours is basically a Model 208/298 or maybe it's a 398 since it's gold. I think the gold finish on your table and arm are later-production (and desirable to collectors), but it still appears to be an un-suspended model. The 498 and later were suspended.
If you have not already checked, the rubber motor suspension bushings should be soft and pliable, and the turntable belt should be uncracked and unstretched. You should probably also check to see that there's some lubrication in the main bearing as well. There's a procedure in the thread (search thread for Marcmorin) for polishing the ball on the spindle and replacing the thrust washer at the bearing base.
If you're trying to get the model number for a belt, you should order the 208 belt from Alexatalier.
Nice table! That arm is killer with a Denon DL-103 moving coil cartridge (if you have a high-gain phono stage) or a Denon DL-160 if not. It's highly underrated, but can really sing when set up properly.
Hope this helps!
If you have not already checked, the rubber motor suspension bushings should be soft and pliable, and the turntable belt should be uncracked and unstretched. You should probably also check to see that there's some lubrication in the main bearing as well. There's a procedure in the thread (search thread for Marcmorin) for polishing the ball on the spindle and replacing the thrust washer at the bearing base.
If you're trying to get the model number for a belt, you should order the 208 belt from Alexatalier.
Nice table! That arm is killer with a Denon DL-103 moving coil cartridge (if you have a high-gain phono stage) or a Denon DL-160 if not. It's highly underrated, but can really sing when set up properly.
Hope this helps!
the underside of the cover very clearly shows the model number in positive relief on the casting....the number is very legible except the middle number, so it is definitely starting with a one as in 108 or 168. It's just that the dremel tool might have slipped when the factory set up the original casting master. It looks like a six they then changed to be a zero, or vise-versa. I will check out the thread, but it is definitely in the 100 series...yes, it is unsuspended with a funny magnetic lifter to pick up the arm at the trail off, but I don't use it. I did add a makeshift anti-skating compensator as described in the original posting...it has a pickering V-15/ace3 cartridge and I have the extra stylus for 78 rpm, which I used today as I found a muddy waters chess #1630 (don't go no farther/diamonds at you feet) that sounds amazingly good on the macintosh C26 preamp / circlotron amp / triple bose 901 stack.
CasualKiller
Active Member
Each part of an empire turntable has it's own part number. You're probably just seeing the number for that piece. Looks like a 208 to me.
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