Those old portable players invariably had a tone control instead of the separate bass and treble controls that featured on the more sophisticated models. Even my mid-50s Pye Black Box with its excellent reproduction had only a tone control. But those sturdy warhorses of pop music 45rpms did a great job for their buyers.
Interesting book & portable. I live in the US and from what I've read on various sites Dansette was a very popular make in the UK and used BSR changers. This set looks very similar, right down to the color, of Webcor (Webster Chicago) portables from the early 50's. I'm very familiar with changers made in the UK. I have a Collaro in my '58 Magnavox and two Garrard changers RC98 & SL95b. I learned about your site from Ivoriesman's channel. Keep up the good work. - Ray
Hi Ray...Sorry for the slow reply...Just playing a little comment catch up tonight. Collaro made changers for Magnavox until they stopped making consoles. A friend of mine in the US has a late 60's Magnavox Console...It is transistorized but it is a beautiful quality piece of equipment! Yes Dansette was very popular here in the 1950's and 60's...They made cheap colourful players that people could afford...Still an amazing affection for them now. Thanks for the comment! :)
@GarrardAT6 I just had to go on eBay and buy this book.. What an interesting read. It's kept my dad occupied for a few hours too.. Glad to see I'm not the only one who has a love of old record players. My pride and joy (my Dansette Imperial) has pride of place in my lounge and gets played at least once a day.. Also, the officianados can correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the record player in this video one of the original Dansette Senior's, which I believe was their first model with the Monarc
I loved your video. I restore them, (mainly to keep them out of the trash), here in the U.S. I don't have enough room for them all, so I try to sell them off from time to time to a good home. One would think I was asking for them to pay my house off. Most people want these old gems, after restoration, for garage prices. I hope folks are not like that in the U.K. By the way, my other favorite record changer brand is Collaro, also made in the U.K. Thanks. Randy.
the old changers are the best the newer ones from the 70'sand 80's were very faul;ty and garrard dual and magnavox and tlelfunken and perpetuum ebner and elace miracord and grundig wre wonderful changers as well the were built to last in a time when manufactures cared about what they were making and selling not like the garbage that is made today all the best and have a happy new year and thank you for sharing this
@ChiefNolte Thanks...It did it's best for the video and gave up soon after...haha!!! Don't worry...It's all better now...I did a complete strip down and rebuild...Its been finished for months! :) It is dated inside...October 1952...So it really is an early Dansette! The valves used date from the 1930's! Next time I have a clear bench I'll make a video. Thanks for commenting! :)
@pyestudiocolour Can't wait to see the Bush in action! I have this Monarch spread far and wide at the moment...Turntable over there...Lid over there...All the screws and catches in a pot, and the empty case and amp on the bench...haha!!! I know the Automix was meant to be the first Dansette...But this appears older to me! Not a cross head screw in site and 3 valves from the 1930's...Better built quality than any other model I've ever seen! So pleased you have one too! :)
what a great turntable this is amazing for it's age it is amazing that it sounds that good it all looks completely original and enjoy and do not let this one go thank you for sharing this
@sablestable Thanks Andrew! As you could tell I got a little excited to find a genuine survivor with the very first BSR automatic deck in...haha!!! It's spread all over the bench right now...This very early 1950's Dansette is of far Superior quality than the later 60's mass produced machines! Hence still working at nearly 60 years old! The amp is a work of art and uses 3 valves dating from the 1930's! I'll do my up-most to keep it as original as I can! I'm honestly over the moon with it! :)
You can contact the author?! "bloody hell". Did I use that right? :). YES I would be very interested. Hopefully he's got one left. I have over 26 TT's all in mint or fully restored condition which are all made by BSR including some extremely rare models that I hope are mentioned in the book. Examples: Accuglide XR-50 (been looking for it's remote for years BTW), Quanta 450, XL-1400 programmable linear tracker and an Accutrac+6 from BSR's sister company ADC just to name a few. I guess I'm a fan
@PatSharpsNastyMullet It's a Great track! I have all of Ken's records! Such a shame he died so early! He only left a handful of tracks behind...All of them are Superb!!! Thanks for commenting! :)
@PatSharpsNastyMullet Yes...It is very clear...I was surprised that it was preselected...haha!!! I've never found that before on any other model of Dansette...They are all linear! I've fixed loads over the years and I have almost every model Dansette...But this is my first of the original Monarch's! It's in a million bits right now...The build quality and amp design is Superb!!! :)
@727JeffN If only you could see it now Jeff...You'd disagree! It's in a million pieces all over the bench right now...1950's wiring is well past it's best at 60 years old...haha!!! I got my first modern turntable for Christmas in 1979 (BSR Quanta 600) It's still running like a 'Stuck Pig'...Never even changed the belt...So some of them weren't all that bad...Maybe just the American ones...haha!!! :)
@zoltanbatiz It was listed on eBay until recently...If you genuinely want a copy let me know an I'll contact the author see if he has any left. It is a great book! :)
@zoltanbatiz I'll send Alan an email and see what comes back. The book is 'The History' of BSR. It doesn't cover all the models made, there is some very useful information in there though. There is a page on the Accutrac 4000 and mention of the later Accutrac+6...Sounds like an amazing turntable! I have had a BSR Quanta 600 from new...Its the turntable I've always used since I was a kid...Bought it in 1980 when I was 11 years old...haha!!! Still runs like new! Message to Alan is on it's way! :)
@zoltanbatiz No...Nothing at all! I've also been watching his eBay account...No activity! I just hope he's ok! If I here anything...I will of course let you know! :)
