Restoration of Gates Harris CB77 turntables

[wolfiesblues]

Hello, everyone,

I received two Gates Harris CB77 turntables as a gift last week. No plynth, but both with Shure tonearms. The nearest hifi audio shop, Just Audio (in Baltimore MD) says they don't work on these broadcast turntables. Can anyone point me in the direction of a repair/restoration shop? I'm in NE Maryland (south of Baltimore).

Thanks.

 

[adnick]

Hello, everyone,

I received two Gates Harris CB77 turntables as a gift last week. No plynth, but both with Shure tonearms. The nearest hifi audio shop, Just Audio (in Baltimore MD) says they don't work on these broadcast turntables. Can anyone point me in the direction of a repair/restoration shop? I'm in NE Maryland (south of Baltimore).

Thanks.

That’s a very fine table and not difficult to bring up to speed, probably need a new or rebuilt idler, possibly motor mounts, and polish the platter.

The hardest thing that you may or may not need to do is disassemble the motor and clean.

It’s also gonna need a heavy plinth, not much of a way around that if you want it at its best.

Again, an excellent table, if I were close I’d certainly help you out….

VR
Andy

 

[BillWojo]

What Andy said. If you have any mechanical ability it might be a fun project to take on yourself. Leave one table fully intact so you can refer to it as you put it back together. That one is going to take a bit of cleaning and polishing to make it look nice, that's not something you really want to pay a service tech for.
There are plenty of idler fans on this site who will help and prod you along if you so desire.

BillWojo

 

[KentTeffeteller]

Call your friendly neighborhood broadcast engineer. Also if you don't have one, get a copy of the operations/maintenance manual. It's very well written and also functions as a service manual. Mechanically, the Gates broadcast idler turntables are simple machines. The motor other than lubrication as called for the main exception. Do bear in mind, Gates/Harris is now GatesAir. And doesn't support these classics anymore.

 

[sfrost]

Harris restored with a solid walnut plinth and Gates 16” with Jelco 12” arm, not as much fun as rebuilding AR tables.

 

[KentTeffeteller]

"The Only Stick Shift Kent Can Drive".

 

[wolfiesblues]

What Andy said. If you have any mechanical ability it might be a fun project to take on yourself. Leave one table fully intact so you can refer to it as you put it back together. That one is going to take a bit of cleaning and polishing to make it look nice, that's not something you really want to pay a service tech for.
There are plenty of idler fans on this site who will help and prod you along if you so desire.

BillWojo

You make valid points. However, the way I see it, I'd need someone to build a plynth for it and a technician to restore/clean the mechanical and electrical parts. I'm not that mechanically inclined and I prefer to work with a turntable hobbyist who enjoys working with these unique turntables.

 

[wolfiesblues]

Harris restored with a solid walnut plinth and Gates 16” with Jelco 12” arm, not as much fun as rebuilding AR tables.

Those are very fine examples of restored turntables.

 

[131east23]

Harris restored with a solid walnut plinth and Gates 16” with Jelco 12” arm, not as much fun as rebuilding AR tables.

Does that Harris have the Ashland hysteresis synchronous motor? If so, how do you like it? Can it be a main table and would it be on the same level as Garrard 401 or a Rek-O-Kut B12GH?

 

[timofred]

love the gear shift knob

 

[wolfiesblues]

Does that Harris have the Ashland hysteresis synchronous motor? If so, how do you like it? Can it be a main table and would it be on the same level as Garrard 401 or a Rek-O-Kut B12GH?

No idea what make of motor my Gates Harris turntable has. I haven't plugged them in or tested them in any way, and my local hifi audio shop (Just Audio, north of Baltimore) doesn't work with broadcast turntables, sadly.