Pickering arm, RARE Cossor turntable - info & value?

[twocoaster]

Hi gang,

I have been watching the 'net for several years for any reference to this Cossor turntable, to no avail. It was part of a setup given to me by my now-deceased uncle. He always referred to it as "a World's Fair winner" sometime before the 1970's, but without further detail. Platter alone weighs over 10lbs and rides on a single ball bearing. Belt (gone) would run around perimeter, and can be adjusted for four speeds. There is a leveling bubble built into the deck. The motor was made by The General Industries Co, Elyria, Ohio, and is suspended with surgical tubing from a sliding deck on wheels to allow for speed adjustment. The whole machine is fascinating and in great condition, except no belt, and the cartridge/stylus is yet to be tested.

The arm is a Pickering 190D and is seen occasionally on the 'net, as is the GE VR22 cartiridge.

Any info you may have about these items, and what they may be worth, would be appreciated. Thanks. :yes:

tc

 

[Nat]

I wouldn't guess a belt would be hard to come up with -- MCM or PartsExpress has a wide selection, but you could also try a thread -- just make a loop of the dacron core cotton thread. It will probably get you up and running, and it will certainly help to establish what size belt you need. What it probably won't do is be able to get the platter spinning, so you have to help it by hand.
In desperation I tried a belt on my Micro Seiki when the belt died, and was so struck by the improvement that I've never considered going back. Granted, the Micro has a groove in the pulley for a thread, so thread drive was always an option (though it was supposed to be a Kevlar thread -- it would have been cheaper if it were gold or platinum). But just as a temporary expedient, the thread would probably work for you.
I worry about the motot location -- its near enough to the arm that some cartridges (Grados, for example) might pick up a lot of hum. As long as you stick to the arm and cartridge you have, you probably won't have any problem, though.

 

[totem]

Further to what NAT said re belt options, you can also use what is commonly called super glue to fab a new rubber belt to any length. I have done this and also have used this method on a VACUUM. It is dependant on material used.
May get you up and running. :thmbsp:

 

[twocoaster]

Thanks Nat and Totem. I will give those tricks a go when I get a chance, maybe on the weekend.

 

[twocoaster]

A "bump" for the weekend. This Cossor is an odd one. :scratch2: