A fully restored Thorens TD-124 mk1, with an early SME 3012 series II

A Thorens TD-124 mk1 (s/n 45564) turntable with a SME 3012 Series II (s/n 7534) tonearm in top condition, with the motor mounts modified to the quieter mk II design.

The main bearing was already in very good shape before restoration; a new paper gasket for the for the bearing well was the only necessary replacement. The bearing is properly cleaned, and the spindle polished. The sintered bronze bushings are then reoiled in a vacuum chamber with an unalloyed mineral oil, just as these bearings were once designed for. (A spare flask of the same oil is included; use it for most of the bearings, but not in the motor).

Original cast iron subplatter and aluminium top platter: centered and plane; rubber mat and platter lift in good condition.

The motor has a polished spindle, and new bearing bushings from Audiosilente. It has been run in for one week, then adjusted with a stetoscope for lowest rumble. The Audiosilente bushings are pre-oiled with a thin synthetic turbine oil; a flask with a suitable oil for future maintenance is included. Do not use the main bearing oil for the motor or vice versa!

Grounded power wiring, new spark suppressor capacitor.

Motor mounts are modified with metal parts from Audiosilente for the mk II-type setup for double rubber bushings; 2x3 bushings instead of 3. (This was the main improvement from mk I to mk II on these turntables). The rubber parts are a special design of my own, with two sets of silicone grommets in different hardnesses, reducing motor rumble with about 5 dB compared to standard silicone parts; even more compared to rubber ones. Rumble level is now at about the same level as the background noise from the records, which is a bit below what is described in the TD-124 user manual as normal for these machines.

The belt and idler wheel are also from Audiosilente; the idler is their new model with the silicone edge glued and precision ground, thus avoiding the audible "thump" from the joint in other o-ring idler wheels. Spare rings are included, intended as future replacements.

All mechanical parts have been taken apart, cleaned and correctly lubricated.

Silicone rubber isolating mushrooms between the cast metal chassis and the cabinet; my own slightly redesigned copies of the original parts. New standard rubber feet under the the cabinet. This standard combination of isolators can be improved by the included additional silicone domes to be placed between the cabinet feet and the bench. They are cast in ca 20 thin layers of silicones in varying hardnesses, making for a clearly audible improvement in the isolation from floor-borne vibrations. (These parts are not sold separately, but included with restored turntables suitable for them).

The tonearm is an early SME Series II, but with the series I type of headshell mount, which can be pivoted for use with both the SME type of headshells, and with the ESL, EMT and mono Ortofon ones. Included are a rare S3 headshell, and an Ortofon-made bakelite SME-labeled one.

The arm is in very good condition without any notable wear. The entire arm has been taken apart and restored.

The original knife edge bearings were in very good shape, and have only been polished. The horizontal bearings were still perfectly adjusted, and have not been touched. The internal wiring is replaced with Audiosilente wires; the headshell wiring is made by me using Audiosilente connectors.

One important feature with this arm is that I now make copies of the original long rubber decouplers for the back end stub of the arm. These parts are necessary for the correct function of any early SME arm, but have been unavailable for years, if not decades. The only other available replacements have been too hard plastic parts, devoid of their intended function.

The tonearm lift runs perfectly. It is refilled with new silicone oil using a vacuum chamber, just as it was originally made. The rubber mushroom between the arm and the lift is replaced with a new one, also made by me.

Low capacitance signal wiring (Mogami Neglex W2549), with polished silver plated original connectors at the arm, and new Amphenol RCA plugs. The wiring is connected quasibalanced (a.k.a an instrumentation connection), with the signal leads separated from the wire shields for better isolation from external electric fields.

The turntable has original black laquered wooden parts, with an Ortofon type of cabinet, and a tonearm board for the 3012. It is in good cosemtic condition for its age; the most notable defects are some scratch marks at the backside of the cabinet, and paint damage at the back side left corner from a badly glued dust bug.

An audition can be arranged in Gustavsberg, east of Stockholm, with the Ortofon OM40 as shown in the photos. That cartridge is not included; the turntable is sold without cartridge, but if needed, a used Denon DL-103 in good condition can be added to it. Good 200x microscope photos of the stylus and diamond can be sent on request.

Ideally the buyer will audition and pick up the the turntable personally. Delivery and installation can be arranged within a couple of hundred kilometers from Stockholm. Alternatively an insured shipment within EU with Schenker, with the turntable shipped with all sensitive parts disassembled, requiring the buyer to be able to reassemble it.