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Official AR Turntable Owners Thread

How about a completely stock and original table I just purchased from the original owner as a project table to conquer with Marc? Almost a shame to modify it :sigh:
 

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sfrost said:
Anyone need parts, logos for $.50

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Incidentally, American Drive in Norwood, MA no longer exists. Or, I have been unable to find it on a map.

Curiously, AR's phone number is today assigned to a landline in Quincy, MA, which is a few towns east of Norwood.

One of my clients' office is in the old AR building at 24 Thorndike St. in Cambridge. They were not aware that it had once been a hifi factory.
 
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So, can you date an AR by the serial number? The inside of my cabinet is stamped 9-2-70 and my serial number is XA 170416.
 
Take a pic of the bottom of your turntable. Usually there will be two pieces of paper with information that will help date your table. Make sure you get both pieces and it's in focus and clear to read.
 
Theres an XA in this house that's a bit of a rat waiting for the word so it can be sent off and worked over.
 
Here is a pic of the bottom piece of my tt:
 

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12ax7 said:
Snip.

And Treker, the paint I used is Rust-Oleum dark bronze hammered. As you can see in the link above and the pic below, it does indeed change quite a bit in different light. I may redo it, I may copy Steve again.
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Which of Steve's finishes were you thinking of copying?
 
Treker said:
Which of Steve's finishes were you thinking of copying?
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Well, the man is such an artist and craftsman it's hard to choose which one of his designs to plagiarize. This particular table has been one of my favorites, all the elements work so well together. I especially like the deck finish.
 

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Yea I like that one too, wish I could find more AT cuing devices but seem to be very scarce.

Steve
 
tygr said:
So, can you date an AR by the serial number? The inside of my cabinet is stamped 9-2-70 and my serial number is XA 170416.
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I've tried to keep track of all the AR tables serial #s that have come through here but seems the numbers don't make sense, probably because of the different versions of the table.
 
XA with Micro-trak 303 and Sonus gold blue, very nice match, detailed and warm. Was my go to table for a long time.

 
Steve,

In case I never told you, you sir do some amazing work. The tables you have posted are different in their own rite and each one has their own soul. I would love to be able to do work on turntables. With no skills/talent, no tools, I would say it's best left to the masters of the craft.

If you have more pics of ARs you have done, by all means please post. I'm sure I can speak for the other AR fans and say we never get tired of seeing these beautiful works of art.
 
12ax7 said:
Well, the man is such an artist and craftsman it's hard to choose which one of his designs to plagiarize. This particular table has been one of my favorites, all the elements work so well together. I especially like the deck finish.
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That looks a little green or maybe a bit grey to my eyes, at least in this photo anyway. If you don't mind me asking, what was used to create this particular finish?
 
Once you change the are wand to a standard SME bayonet type you can make a shell like this to replicate the original look of the table.

 
Treker said:
That looks a little green or maybe a bit grey to my eyes, at least in this photo anyway. If you don't mind me asking, what was used to create this particular finish?
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It's more textured light sand brown, hard to see from the pics but reflexes a lot of different colors.

 
4Play said:
Just about every other turntable has an owners thread on AK. It is time for all AR turntable lovers to post pics of their table. This is for ALL AR Models that is either in original condition, or if they have been upgraded or modded.

This is my AR ES-1 that was restored and upgraded by Marc.





Ok guys and gals, post your pics of your AR turntable. :music:
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My ES-1 has a straight tonearm , yours does not , is that stock ..?
 
sfrost said:
It's more textured light sand brown, hard to see from the pics but reflexes a lot of different colors.

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I've seen this type of finish on several of your tables. May I be so bold as to ask what it is? I haven't spent much time in the paint department.

I may as well press my luck, what is that headshell?
 
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12ax7 said:
I've seen this type of finish on several of your tables. May I be so bold as to ask what it is? I haven't spent much time in the paint department.

I may as well press my luck, what is that headshell?
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If I remember, the tonearm and headshell are Pioneer. I love the color of the top plate.
 
a.wayne said:
My ES-1 has a straight tonearm , yours does not , is that stock ..?
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The original tonearm was a Sumiko made by Jelco, and the original had a removable headshell. The tonearm was damaged upon arrival. The seller bought the ES-1 without a tonearm, and he selected the Sumiko. Not sure if all ES-1s were made without a tonearm. According to the serial number, this was the second ES-1 made in 1985.
 
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