Big Bill
Summertime Rolls.....
Where is it?
Some Empire Turntable History
- Thread starter empirelvr
- Start date
Where is it?
MrMonster
Totally Lost In The 70's
New Anodizng
Hello Lads
The problem in having things anodized, is that the tonearm is made from different metals, I count, Brass, Aluminum, Pot Metal, and I think, steel,
all react differently to anodizing, and the arm would need to be disassembled,
and that you just can not do, period. It takes proprietary tools to take apart the 990 arm, and a service manual, of which there aren't any
I found that your best route is to polish what you have, the anodize on the tonearm is thin and will polish off, leaving a nice brass/gold finish underneath, as the brass plating is very thick. go back a few messages and look at the arm I polished on mine.
IF you want dome full photos I can put them up.
I had at one time thought of having the arm on one gold plated, but after taking apart a trashed parts arm I found on Ebay, that is not possible as most of the parts are all press fit, with specialty retainers. This arm was designed to be a factory repair only.
Donald Bowman
Donald Bowman
Hello Lads
The problem in having things anodized, is that the tonearm is made from different metals, I count, Brass, Aluminum, Pot Metal, and I think, steel,
all react differently to anodizing, and the arm would need to be disassembled,
and that you just can not do, period. It takes proprietary tools to take apart the 990 arm, and a service manual, of which there aren't any
I found that your best route is to polish what you have, the anodize on the tonearm is thin and will polish off, leaving a nice brass/gold finish underneath, as the brass plating is very thick. go back a few messages and look at the arm I polished on mine.
IF you want dome full photos I can put them up.
I had at one time thought of having the arm on one gold plated, but after taking apart a trashed parts arm I found on Ebay, that is not possible as most of the parts are all press fit, with specialty retainers. This arm was designed to be a factory repair only.
Donald Bowman
Donald Bowman
Naptown Rob
Ponographer
Donald -
It was just the outer platter piece I was thinking of new anodizing for. What are your thoughts on that?
- Rob
It was just the outer platter piece I was thinking of new anodizing for. What are your thoughts on that?
- Rob
I don't think I ever responded to this post. EVERYTHING on the table is covered in gold leaf, including every bit of the tonearm. I stripped the platter and verified that it's silver anodized aluminum underneath (I actually think it's just plain lightly polished aluminum that was clear anodized).
The easiest sign is the on/off lighted push button is green as opposed to red, and off to the right side instead of being in the middle of the plinth.
The other surest sign is the platter is very "thin" as opposed to the platter on the 208/298/398 and the belt is not visible. (See attached picture.)
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Flammaster
DrumCorpsZappaFreak
Wow these are beautiful. I never saw them before.
Empirelover, looking at these, they are definitely different than the other tables.
According to your earlier comments, they were the best of both world. Might you iterate a bit more? What could be advantages, etc.. I kind of like the taller platter with the belt showing. Could you sell me on pluses of the other.
Don't get me wrong, I'm already sold, just trying to hash out my purchase.
According to your earlier comments, they were the best of both world. Might you iterate a bit more? What could be advantages, etc.. I kind of like the taller platter with the belt showing. Could you sell me on pluses of the other.
Don't get me wrong, I'm already sold, just trying to hash out my purchase.
It has to do with the bearing and the flywheel effect. The 498 shares the same type of bearing the 208/398 had, which has really stood the test of time. It was really a work of art. Close toleranced, machined immaculately, and built to last a lifetime. That's not to say the bearing on the 598/698 is junk...it's just that the earlier bearing was superior.
As for the flywheel effect, while the weight of the platter's of Empire's various models didn't change much, (about seven pounds) the *diameter* varied, which influences the flywheel effect. (The more, the better.)
On the 208 turntable, the bulk of the weight is on the periphery of it's 12" plus platter, making it quite a massive flywheel. Whereas on the 598/698, the diameter of the platter is smaller so the flywheel effect isn't quite the same. (The gold "rim" exposed on the 598/698 is not all that heavy.)
But on the 498, the platter is still one piece, the diameter, while smaller than the 208, isa bit greater than the 598/698 and has some weight on the edge because it's a one piece casting. So it splits the difference.
Is it audible? I don't know. I've never seen a 498 "in the flesh" much less used one. But I HAVE owned a 298 and the differences I heard between it and the 598 seemed to be more of a suspended vs. rigid mounting variety than a bearing/flywheel issue.
(BTW...Pix not mine. Gathered from the internet. I take no credit for them.)
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I've seen on in person, it used to sit on the display shelf of my local audio store. I like the looks of the other series better, both the 208/398 and 598 with its beautiful cabinet...but the 498 is a looker, too, in comparison to most anything else. I noticed it was gone the last time I was in there, but the manager, who I'm friendly with, wasn't there to ask where it went. He had alluded to the fact that he might take it home to play with about a month ago. This is a guy with some really fantastic turntables, who made fun of me when I talked him out of the 208 that was on display. Hmm...
cepheuskappa
New Member
I have a 498 coming in shortly 
. Let you know how it stacks up against my other Empires:298 & 398.
Cheers!
Rolly
. Let you know how it stacks up against my other Empires:298 & 398.Cheers!
Rolly
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I have a 498 coming in shortly
Cheers!
Rolly
Interesting hybrid. It's a 498 with a 98 arm, and a replacment power switch, a configuration that never existed at the time of the 498's lifespan. The original owner must have had trouble with the stock 980 arm or had two incomplete units and made this hybrid up. It's still VERY sweet though. :tresbon:
More importantly though, if you havent, you MUST make the seller aware that he HAS to ship the turntable with the platter and tonearm off with each packed seperately. This is an absolute if you want this turntable to arrive in useable condition. That arm has to come off and be wrapped in it's own pile of bubble wrap, even if he has to undo the jack on the base. Otherwise you better pile on the insurance and be prepared to get the unit in unusable and ruined condition. Double boxing and lots of bubble wrap will NOT work.
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The platter is said to weigh 4#, and to run out for an eternity.
We'll know more as I tear into it.
That is really, really sweet. Looks like a late production 498 too with the 980 arm that had the anti-skate adjustment. :tresbon:
Thanks guys, and thanks for all the info. this came with a home built box, table shipping shims and extra belts, sweet it is. With the scratching(front right) I'll definitely strip and polish it. I do like the look of bare Al. so no problem there. And, a new base is easily built. It ran flawlessly:thmbsp: solid and quiet as a,
well nothing actually.
well nothing actually.
