First of, this is my first post and I am not completely familiar with all the technical stuff in record decks + my tecnichal vocabulary is not so wide. I'll try to make my self understandable so please bear with me ;)

I just got my first B&O product. The BeoGram1203 which hasn't been used for a while. In first it seemed to work perfectly for the first run and the sound was beautiful.

But quickly I noticed that all the records sounded a bit off (as in not turning fast enough) so I looked for a tuning knob to better the situation.

Found a wheelie thing under the wooden frame but it only made it turn slower. So with the tuning wheelie thing maxed out it is far from being the right rpm which really sucks :(

Oh, and when playing 7" records it stops before finishing the record 

Any ideas? Are there workshops that can repair oldies like this one? 

- Reynhorn

-EDIT-

-R  

Reynhorn,

Welcome to Beoworld and thanks for joining as a silver member !  

The Beogram 1203 is a lovely deck but the motors have started to show signs of age in that the lubrication hardens in them. The motor and speed setting mechanism needs a good service. The symptom of ending prematurely is probably a matter of lack of usage. There are adjustments for this but they are better left alone if not already messed with. It's all mechanical and no levers, rods, pivots or anything changes length, function or anything else over time.

Repairshops accepting the older stuff is getting far between but if you'd let us know in which country you are, we may (or may not) be able to guide you to a repairer.

Martin

I am currently living in Copenhagen Denmark . But I have no idea where I can find repair shop. So if you know of one (or more) it would be awesome.

Repair shop might be expensive and it might take long to repair. Is it possible to re-lubricate at home. Im pretty handy so if it is not some huge operation it would be great to get some info.

Thx for the quick reply  

 - Reynhorn 

I found a repair shop near by that specializes in B&O products and they just laughed at me. 

They told me they had a stack of those 1203 and just threw them away.  

We are living in a material world. 

-Reynhorn 

Reynhorn:

I found a repair shop near by that specializes in B&O products and they just laughed at me. 

They told me they had a stack of those 1203 and just threw them away.  

We are living in a material world. 

-Reynhorn 

Criminals! If I ever get me another Beogram, it will be one of this series. It's so good looking.

Perhaps you could try to fix it yourself? The service manual is on site, and although they usually never discuss old age problems, it will help with disassembly & assembly as well as points of lubrication.

If the motor is with bronze bearings, relubricating it might involve some cooking in the kitchen , I'm sure someone can help you with that (I've never done it).

We've heard this song before. It's not because they don't want to repair your Beogram. It's because they don't know how.

Martin

Found the coolest guy that has been repairing and building speakers, amps, turntables, monitors, tape deks etc for a gazillion years.

looks more like a machine than a man. I will get my turntable back next week, and hopefully it will be as good as new.

I'll keep you posted  

Reynhorn:

I found a repair shop near by that specializes in B&O products and they just laughed at me. 

They told me they had a stack of those 1203 and just threw them away.  

We are living in a material world. 

-Reynhorn 

Tell them "oh, next time you get a stack of any B&O stuff you're about to throw away just let me know and I'll come take some of it for you."   

so my BG1203 has been running smoothly since the last time I posted :)

but there is one minor thing bugging me. I get this rapid ticking sound when I press the "lift" button that stops when the needle hits the record.

don't know how to describe the sound. kinda like the sound from the gadgets used to do tattoos, or how I imagine what electricity sounds like.

so every time I turn on my 1203 I have to turn the volume down to 0 which is no biggie but it would be nice if I didn't have to.

any ideas?

 thanks in advance.

(also one little thing. are the dots on the edge of the turntable used to tune the rpm's? if so can someone explain how :)) 

-R 

Hi Scott. Can't help you with the ticking noise, but the dot thingy I think is like this.
Presuming they are set for 50 hz power supply, when viewed with normal domestic lighting, they should appear stationary at the correct speed.
I don't think it works as well with flourescent lighting or energy saving bulbs.

If I am speaking rubbish, I'm sure someone will correct me.

Andy T.

Jandyt:

Hi Scott. Can't help you with the ticking noise, but the dot thingy I think is like this.
Presuming they are set for 50 hz power supply, when viewed with normal domestic lighting, they should appear stationary at the correct speed.
I don't think it works as well with flourescent lighting or energy saving bulbs.

If I am speaking rubbish, I'm sure someone will correct me.

Andy T.

Rubbish or not it works. Thanks for that dude  No one seems to have any answers to my other problem. 

ohh and by the way, my name isn't Scott, my signature is a quote from a guy named Scott Vogel  

bump

If the ticking sound comes from the speakers (electronic rather than mechanic), then the muting switch in the Beogram is at fault, probably oxidized. Clean it and check that it operates correctly.

Martin

I agree, it sounds like a problem with the mute as Martin said.  The mute is supposed mute the output of the turntable during the touchdown of the needle, so you don't hear the touchdown and instead just the start of the music.

And yes, the little dots around the platter are for calibrating the speed.  You need a calibration strobe though.  If you don't have one I recommend just going by ear on a record you know well.

Austin

bump

scott, i dont know much about your turntable but suggest the following..

1. is there a service manual for this turntable available in the User and Service manuals section of this site? if so, then im sure you will find the mute switch in the service manual.

2. if there is no manual, i would suggest looking inside the turntable, follow the mechanics and somewhere in the linkages you will find a small switch which is either connected or disconnected when the arm of the turntable is raised, and then either connected or disconnected when the arm is loweded onto a record... this will be your switch and it may either be faulty (ie damaged) or dirty and therefore not making the correct connection.

As martin said, these decks are largely mechanical, the muting switch is electrical, therefore look for wires running to the forementioned switch.

Andrew

page 4 of the service manual, its called a "Silent Switch".

The term open used in the manual means the switches are not pushed together.

There should be sufficient detail in the service manual for you to investigate yourself.

Find service manuals by going to the Main Site page and then going to the products section, you will find a link to the user and service manuals.

Andrew

Here's my take on the 1203. I bought one new, with speakers and an amp tuner, at a discount, from Beaver Radio Liverpool, some time in the 70's just when Beaver were ending their B&O franchise.

Soon found that it wouldn't quite finish playing a record, and of more concern, had a tendency to snatch the stylus across the tracks before the arm lifted clear. Took it back to Beaver who allegedly had it on a 'Soak' test for about a week, after which I collected it, supposedly fixed. It wasn't. Then resorted to some investigations myself, and took a close look at all those brass sliding plates near the centre of the turntable, visible on lifting the platter. The very tip of one plate had been bent, and when the bent bit engaged with the plate over which it slid, caused the arm to snatch back prematurely. Some very careful squeezing with thin-nosed bent pliers removed the problem.

Chances are that this was a factory assembly caused problem.... but I lost all faith in Beaver Radio (who survived, I think, until 2004 (closing after 80 years in business).) It didn't say much for B&O quality control at the time either!