My Thorens TD160 Plinth was made by resin

[AhBen1970]

Hello,

I’m new member in this forum. Recently I bought Thorens TD160, everythings looks fine until I acknowleged that my TT plinth was made by resin (not wooden plinth as many and far as I know). Is anyone here some Thorens’ expert can help me and give some information what Thorens do I have? Really appreciate it for any information regarding this issue. Here I attached some picture of my TT.

Thanks

 

[r_brumett61]

No pictures

 

[AhBen1970]

Here’s I try to repost some images of my TT

 

[AhBen1970]

 

[AhBen1970]

 

[tnsilver]

That's a DIY attempt to save a falling apart stock plinth with possibly some original remains. The aluminum bar at the front was present only on the walnut veneered Mk-I and Mk-II. This isn't stock. Not a bad job on the outside...

 

[gadget73]

Not sure I agree it was ever a wood plinth. The corners are clearly plastic, and the two blocks holding the transit screws appear to be hollow as well. There are ribs molded in at regular placements around the inside as well. Everything about that looks like a molded plastic part to me.

 

[gadget73]

Didn't the MkII and later use the tonearm with the wand rather than the aluminum tube though? I also thought the paint scheme changed somewhere along the way. The whole top deck of that looks like my Mk 1 160, including the aluminum strip but that plinth is very much not what mine looks like. Mine is the typical particle board with veneer. Looks like the same dust cover too, hangs on pins on the side.

 

[tnsilver]

Yep, I've probably mixed the TD-160 Mk-II with the TD-165 Mk-I along with it's walnut veneer, pin hinged dust cover and the TP-11 tonearm, sorry for that. The IsoTrack TA's appeared later after the mid 70's with the 160 Mk-II. However, the 160 Mk-I had brass knob assemblies - not plastic. If you see plastic - it's not a Mk-I. The 7mm bearing and metal sub-platter are variations of the Mk-III (later ones). All had particle board plinths. The early ones had them walnut veneered but later on with the vinyl laminate came the white/black/silver (red?/blue?) color schemes that are common to the later 14X/16X variants. They're also lower profile plinths with plastic hinges - as opposed to the early metal pins. The "super" and some later various anniversary models had metal hinges. None other than the early 160/145/165 had the aluminum bar on the front.

 

[AhBen1970]

Yep, I've probably mixed the TD-160 Mk-II with the TD-165 Mk-I along with it's walnut veneer, pin hinged dust cover and the TP-11 tonearm, sorry for that. The IsoTrack TA's appeared later after the mid 70's with the 160 Mk-II. However, the 160 Mk-I had brass knob assemblies - not plastic. If you see plastic - it's not a Mk-I. The 7mm bearing and metal sub-platter are variations of the Mk-III (later ones). All had particle board plinths. The early ones had them walnut veneered but later on with the vinyl laminate came the white/black/silver (red?/blue?) color schemes that are common to the later 14X/16X variants. They're also lower profile plinths with plastic hinges - as opposed to the early metal pins. The "super" and some later various anniversary models had metal hinges. None other than the early 160/145/165 had the aluminum bar on the front.

Thanks for your information... So beside that aluminum bar and the resin plinth, my TT is trully legit TD160 mk-1 right? Since I bought it in auction on ebay from a seller in Germany, and the information is less beside it tells the conditions was good and well preserved. Because I don't want to buy a fake thing especially a Thorens turntable lol

 

[gadget73]

My MK1 has a safety post. Later ones had that. Mine has the sub-chassis locking screws too if thats what you mean.

 

[AhBen1970]

It's a hybrid. The plinth is DIY. The faceplate is a TD-160 Mk-1, the tonearm is a TP-16 Mk-I, the deck could be a Mk-I except having a safety post makes it at least a Mk-II which explains the plastic assemblies, the sub-chassis is likely not a Mk-I either. Can you show me the spindle? I think it's a 7mm, in which case it's a later Mk-III.

EDIT: well, I can see the sub-platter lock piece on the sub-chassis. This definitely isn't a Mk-I sub-chassis. Show me the spindle anyway. I'm curious... Oh, and get me a close up on the cue lifter. There's something funky with that too and it doesn't look stock...

Here you go..

 

[gadget73]

Definitely a MK1. No plastic sub-platter retainer thing. No plastic bits underneath besides the covers over the audio and electrical cables. Maybe the safety post was a late add-on, or possibly a refit by a previous owner but its got one and I didn't put it there.

 

[AhBen1970]

Never seen one on a Mk-I. They're famous for getting the motor spindle bent after having the heavy platter bumping the pulley. The safety post was added later to prevent that. AFAIK It did not exist on the Mk-I. Maybe added on later serials. Are you sure you have a Mk-I? Any plastic parts on the bottom? Whatever... It's just an elongated cylinder with a screw on the bottom. It could have also been added by a previous owner. That's easy enough to do.

I didn't mean transit screws. I meant what I said. A sub-platter latch that retains a plastic disk around the bearing and prevents the sub-platter from falling off. The Mk-I did not have it. The latch is visible on the OP's sub-chassis.

EDIT: Here, it looks like this:

Sorry, I meant the bearing shaft (the part of the spindle that's inside the bearing well) not the top part. The cue lift is kosher. For some reason it looked weird and gray on a previous picture. Just an illusion. Now with the sub-platter latch thing being dealt with, you're going to have to release it if you want to take the sub-platter out of the well and get to the bearing shaft.

I think mine is same with your picture, there is a plastic rounded bearing as it show in this picture:

 

[AhBen1970]

View attachment 1963083


I think mine is same with your picture, there is a plastic rounded bearing as it show in this picture:

View attachment 1963083

 

[tnsilver]

yeah, I knew that when I saw the sub-platter latch on the bottom of the sub-chassis. I just wanted to see if it's a 7mm or 10mm bearing but judging by the well housing - I'm pretty sure it's the 7mm. This isn't a TD-160 Mk-I. It's a mix of parts. Since those parts are rather all compatible - I don't see no harm in it, but the 7mm bearing is the least sought after variant. If this was sold as a Mk-I, it's a SNAD.

 

[AhBen1970]

yeah, I knew that when I saw the sub-platter latch on the bottom of the sub-chassis. I just wanted to see if it's a 7mm or 10mm bearing but judging by the well housing - I'm pretty sure it's the 7mm. This isn't a TD-160 Mk-I. It's a mix of parts. Since those parts are rather all compatible - I don't see no harm in it, but the 7mm bearing is the least sought after variant. If this was sold as a Mk-I, it's a SNAD.

Thanks for your information and analysis on my TT..now I know it's hybrid and that's satisfied me. As long as all parts are legit and runs very well then I'll keep this TT for years to come. My next project in short period is to change the cartridge and ofcourse change the plinth as well with proper wooden for it. Cheers

 

[gadget73]

honestly the plastic may not be a big problem. Even the standard wood base honestly is nothing special. I have one, it doesn't look all that fancy. Its cheap particle board with not very wonderful veneer. If you make one with a high quality wood that has a nice pattern it would be a nice visual upgrade.

 

[AhBen1970]

honestly the plastic may not be a big problem. Even the standard wood base honestly is nothing special. I have one, it doesn't look all that fancy. Its cheap particle board with not very wonderful veneer. If you make one with a high quality wood that has a nice pattern it would be a nice visual upgrade.

Yea, ok man thanks for your advice really appriciate it.. ✌

 

[Juzy]

Hello!
I'm new to the forum. I recently bought a thorens td 160 in very good condition. The thing is, that mine also have this plastic plinth and it looks exactly like this one. Does anybody have any idea what this is all about?