1951 Garrard RC-80 record changer

I picked this up at a garage sale for $25 about 2 months ago. It was in a large cabinet that I threw on the fire. The idler wheel was shot and I was lucky enough to find one on ebay for $30. After much fiddling and lubing it started to show signs of life. I made a few adjustments and here we are. My neighbor is making a base for it but I couldn't wait to make this video. In the video it is playing through a Technics amplifier pushing a pair of old PA speakers. The underneath is incredibly complicated. It looks like clockworks and is a marvel of engineering.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• RC80
• kay
• starr
• rock
• and
• roll
• waltz
• danleers
• one
• summer
• night
• 45
• rpm
• 78

[poppakind1]

@dave631bnetzero, I know, it's my player, records and video.

[poppakind1]

@td1238 it is playing the 78 with an lp diamond stylus, obviously.

[RaymondTVinyl]

Super neat, Poppa! Reminds me of my Phillips that needs tons of work to get going again. I'm hopeful! I was going to get rid of it. Can't wait to see it in it's new cabinet! :-)

[poppakind1]

This one took a fair amount of coaxing to get going. My neighbor still hasn't gotten the base done, hopefully soon. I'll post another video when it's all together.

[sideshowtink]

Wow, Bryan! That is BEAUTIFUL! Sounds awesome as well!

[poppakind1]

Thanks, I was actually surprised at how nice it sounds. They sure could build 'em back then and built 'em to last. It makes you wonder why they don't sound at least as good now.

[TwinMillMC]

I'm a turntable collector as you can tell by watching my videos. I never understood why, at that time when American companies were very innovative, not one of them produced high quality turntables like Garrard & Dual did. I do believe that the Shure M3D & M7D was the 1st HQ magnetic stereo phono cartridge, but they are always mounted on a Garrard or Dual. Any thoughts on that? BTW, beautiful RC/80. I have many but I don't think I have that model, I have to check.

[dave631bnetzero]

@poppakind1 2nd track is 78 mono



[dave631bnetzero]

@poppakind1 45 RPM Mono



[td1238]

The 78 needle is doing obvious damage to the 78 record. You should only use 3 mil diamond needles Sapphire needles are junk. They chip easily, and will destroy records. Most 78 needles are sapphire, unfortunately, even if the LP needle is diamond.

[littlemikey1954]

There's a magic about old records on an old changer. My dad had a 1956 Garrard changer, similar to the RC80 except the spindle was straight and a record arm rest was used instead of the pusher platform. It even had a feeler arm. In 2000, the changer was dead. So with love n patience along with some WD40, grease, alcohol n Q-tips, I brought the changer back to life. I even found a 78 stylus for its VR-II magnetic cartridge! So it played both LPs and 78s the way they were meant to sound! 

[SecretCashFlow101]

lol back to the future :p 

[paulvernon100]

Garrard also made clocks. I have a beautiful Westminster chime art deco mantle clock I inherited from my grandfather and it still works beautifully. Those guys knew engineering!

[livesteamfan1]

You just can't kill a Garrard.