Just rescued a Forsell Air Reference Turntable

[everglades]

Here is some nice progress. I've got the chasis all back together. It's amazing how well it cleaned up. The two part plastic polish I used sure worked well. There is barely a scratch or swirl mark in sight. I di notice the platter doesn't spin as freely as before, I'll have to take a look tomorrow.

 

[everglades]

Anybody know what the second cutout in the back plate is for? One of them had the plate holding the RCA terminals but e other was empty.

 

[pfcs49]

Please tell us how you stumbled on to this so we can all live vicariously.
Gloating is allowed although not greatly appreciated.
Me? I'd be rubbing it in hard, to make up for all the past deprivation!

 

[Grbluen]

Please tell us how you stumbled on to this so we can all live vicariously.
Gloating is allowed although not greatly appreciated.
Me? I'd be rubbing it in hard, to make up for all the past deprivation!

I've been waiting patiently for the story to come out. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

 

[everglades]

Also I'm a bit confused about the motors. It came with two.

One is the original motor that is controlled by a set of switches on the bottom side (now installed a just visible in the picture above). It gets its power from a the same transformer that powers one of the pumps.

The second I removed and seemed to be aftermarket. It is a two box affair with a little AC motor. The first box was a AC/CD transformer and the second the speed regulator see bellow. Seems to be made by origin live.



What I'm confused by is this additional box bellow. It's made in France with very high quality and seems to regulate both input voltage and frequency. Seems to be a motor control but I have no easy means of hooking it up. Sure I can cut the exiting leads, make new connector and require the onboard TT switches but I'm not sure how the previous owner used it or connected it. Perhaps it wasn't part of this turntable? Any thoughts?

 

[bob06]

Also I'm a bit confused about the motors. It came with two.

One is the original motor that is controlled by a set of switches on the bottom side (now installed a just visible in the picture above). It gets its power from a the same transformer that powers one of the pumps.

The second I removed and seemed to be aftermarket. It is a two box affair with a little AC motor. The first box was a AC/CD transformer and the second the speed regulator see bellow. Seems to be made by origin live.

View attachment 675217

What I'm confused by is this additional box bellow. It's made in France with very high quality and seems to regulate both input voltage and frequency. Seems to be a motor control but I have no easy means of hooking it up. Sure I can cut the exiting leads, make new connector and require the onboard TT switches but I'm not sure how the previous owner used it or connected it. Perhaps it wasn't part of this turntable? Any thoughts?

View attachment 675220


View attachment 675222

The bottom box with the big heat sink on the back looks like DIY motor controller. It is used to regulate voltage and frequency. I take it your TT motor won't plug into the back of it. Its designed that the TT plugs in the back of the controller then the controller into the outlet in your house. It could have been an extra item.

 

[Pio1980]

The bottom box with the big heat sink on the back looks like DIY motor controller. It is used to regulate voltage and frequency. I take it your TT motor won't plug into the back of it. Its designed that the TT plugs in the back of the controller then the controller into the outlet in your house. It could have been an extra item.

Seems to make sense, concidering the two multi turn pots are probably 33/3 and 45 fine speed adjust. Given the multiple motors, I wonder for which it was intended.

 

[bob06]

Seems to make sense, concidering the two multi turn pots are probably 33/3 and 45 fine speed adjust. Given the multiple motors, I wonder for which it was intended.

Yes that's what it's for. Some guys put meters in them so you can see the voltage and the frequency numbers. I don't think it's store bought or it would have the manufactures name all over it. I have a couple of PC boards to build a controller just like it but haven't had the time. On Lenco Heaven there's a thread on how to build them.

 

[Pio1980]

These controllers need be used with a strobe disc to verify speed, as there is no tach feedback to meter it or to use the controller to maintain exact speed, regardless of mechanical and load changes during play.
I have to mention here that Phoenix Engineering offers afaik the only speed controller for AC belt drives that includes rim tach speed feedback control and quartz clock locked verification. Otherwise one must use a strobe disc for speed verification, but this could change under playing load. This newer variable controller system, with the direct reading tach, is considerably smaller than brute force regeneration controllers like this one. I mention this to say that there have been advances in the technology since this controller was made.

 

[Descartridge]

Subscribed, good luck with your gem.

 

[bob06]

These controllers need be used with a strobe disc to verify speed, as there is no tach feedback to meter it or to use the controller to maintain exact speed, regardless of mechanical and load changes during play.
I have to mention here that Phoenix Engineering offers afaik the only speed controller for AC belt drives that includes rim tach speed feedback control and quartz clock locked verification. Otherwise one must use a strobe disc for speed verification, but this could change under playing load. This newer variable controller system, with the direct reading tach, is considerably smaller than brute force regeneration controllers like this one. I mention this to say that there have been advances in the technology since this controller was made.

Yes the Phoenix is nice but doesn't work on all tables. It will only power up to a 15w motor. I do know the Phoenix wont work on Lenco's they require more power to spin there motors. That's when the Brute Force Controllers come into play. You can buy the Rim Tach Speed control to add to the BFC.

 

[joshnich]

The motor control units appear to be redundant. I have used the origin live controller with a linn turntable. It came with a DC motor. I would imagine if you look at the motor that is installed you could tell if it is a dc replacement for the original. I bought the origin live unit because the power supply in the linn I bought was blown and this was a cost effective way to deal with that.
If you go to the origin live web site there are pictures of the entire package. Maybe compare the motor to what is pictured there.
Very very cool table. I know that Arthur Salvador of High End Audio fame had the forsell as his reference table for years. Great job BTW on the restoration!

 

[Pio1980]

Yes the Phoenix is nice but doesn't work on all tables. It will only power up to a 15w motor. I do know the Phoenix wont work on Lenco's they require more power to spin there motors. That's when the Brute Force Controllers come into play. You can buy the Rim Tach Speed control to add to the BFC.

I think Phoenix introduced a higher power controller.

 

[everglades]

The motor control units appear to be redundant. I have used the origin live controller with a linn turntable. It came with a DC motor. I would imagine if you look at the motor that is installed you could tell if it is a dc replacement for the original. I bought the origin live unit because the power supply in the linn I bought was blown and this was a cost effective way to deal with that.
If you go to the origin live web site there are pictures of the entire package. Maybe compare the motor to what is pictured there.
Very very cool table. I know that Arthur Salvador of High End Audio fame had the forsell as his reference table for years. Great job BTW on the restoration!

Thanks Joshnich. I think your right on spot with this being a redundant controller. They way this is wired up, using the larger speed box would in fact also alter the pump voltage and frequency.

 

[everglades]

Yes that's what it's for. Some guys put meters in them so you can see the voltage and the frequency numbers. I don't think it's store bought or it would have the manufactures name all over it. I have a couple of PC boards to build a controller just like it but haven't had the time. On Lenco Heaven there's a thread on how to build them.

Funny you should say that. I did in fact see a similar controller on the Lenco forums website. It was part of of a DIY project. Must be a coincidence the writing on the PC board is in French. I would think thats what they speak where the Forsell is made.

 

[bob06]

Funny you should say that. I did in fact see a similar controller on the Lenco forums website. It was part of of a DIY project. Must be a coincidence the writing on the PC board is in French. I would think thats what they speak where the Forsell is made.

The reason I say it's DIY is I would think if it was from a manufacture it would be Silk Screened with numbers and such and have there name on it.

 

[totem]

Yes the Phoenix is nice but doesn't work on all tables. It will only power up to a 15w motor.

I think Phoenix introduced a higher power controller.

Yes they did, Garrard 301 etc users have commented on them in their systems. Seem happy with one user posting that
he did not realize it had the ability to run at reduced voltage thereby lowering vibration and noise.

 

[bob06]

Funny you should say that. I did in fact see a similar controller on the Lenco forums website. It was part of of a DIY project. Must be a coincidence the writing on the PC board is in French. I would think thats what they speak where the Forsell is made.

I just took a picture of the two boards I have to make two controllers . Check out the writing is it in French?

 

[Pio1980]

I just took a picture of the two boards I have to make two controllersView attachment 675647 View attachment 675648 . Check out the writing is it in French?

French and English, may be Canadian origin.

 

[bob06]

French and English, may be Canadian origin.

I bought them from the UK. It just confirms that the OP's controller is a DIY'r.