[Wayner]

I just took in a trade for my Marantz 6110 table, a Dual 1218. It has no base, and the linkages are gone, So it could be made to work, but totally manual. The motor is good as well as the rubber drive. All parts for the tonearm work (anti-skate, cue lever) and the removable headshell is there too.

So I guess I can do it one of 2 ways. First, not even start the project, and give the whole thing away to someone, and they can work on it. Or I guess I can work on it, but I really am not interested in it that much. If you want it, I'd take care of shipping, even. It's in good shape, cosmetically.

Electrically, the table would need a switch installed. the power connector has lost one pin, and maybe that whole thing needs to go (but it has the start capacitor in it), so at the least, it needs to be re-worked to get the motor to run.

The platter is heavy die-cast, so it might actually be a fairly quiet TT.

Wayner

[orthobiz]

I have a base for a 1216, it might be small for the 1218. And I have an uncut Masonite "plinth" for the 12xx series TT. Someone can have them for the price of shipping.

Paul

[AVnerdguy]

I just took in a trade for my Marantz 6110 table, a Dual 1218. It has no base, and the linkages are gone, So it could be made to work, but totally manual. The motor is good as well as the rubber drive. All parts for the tonearm work (anti-skate, cue lever) and the removable headshell is there too.

So I guess I can do it one of 2 ways. First, not even start the project, and give the whole thing away to someone, and they can work on it. Or I guess I can work on it, but I really am not interested in it that much. If you want it, I'd take care of shipping, even. It's in good shape, cosmetically.

Electrically, the table would need a switch installed. the power connector has lost one pin, and maybe that whole thing needs to go (but it has the start capacitor in it), so at the least, it needs to be re-worked to get the motor to run.

The platter is heavy die-cast, so it might actually be a fairly quiet TT.

Wayner

pm sent

[Wayner]

Table has gone to a good home!

Wayner

[bregez]

Did that Dual have an Idler wheel?  Which brings up my next question, what are the advantages/disadvantages of the idler wheel versus a belt drive system.

Brad

[Wayner]

Yes it has an idler wheel. All Duals from that era were of this design. Was there an advantage? The Duals were a mechanized wonder. It must have taken hours to assemble one. The idler wheel allowed the user to change speeds with a control lever. The idler ran against a brass collar on the motor shaft that had the various diameters required to change the speed. Each one was truncated into the next, to allow for speed change. The idler wheel then ran against the inside rim of the platter, was spring loaded to keep contact with the platter. There was also a speed control mechanism the moved the motor shaft up and down to set the speed/and or minor adjustments of the speed.

Now we see VPI re-discovering the "rim drive" on their top tables, and I had to chuckle when I first saw one. Of course they didn't have all the linkages that the Duals had.

Duals are also a cluster F__K to work on.

Wayner

[orthobiz]

I acquired a non-working 1216 from my buddy and thought for sure I could get it to work. I mean, I have the willingness, I'm somewhat mechanically inclined and I have access to the owner's manual AND the service manual. What could be hard? Well, it was easy until I turned the damn thing upside down:



Talk about complex!!!!

To make matters worse, the mechanisms were sticking when I manually rotated them and the service manual implies that four or five different kinds of grease/lubricants are needed! Plus, I couldn't get the motor to spin at all.

That made me send it to Bill at fixmydual.com. Now it's up and running in my daughter's room (her Denon has a screwy speed switch problem that I'm gonna fix).

Somehow I wound up with an extra base that will follow Wayner's old table later this week!

Paul

[orthobiz]

This going out to AVnerdguy today: (a bit blurry from my iPhone)





The Masonite support of the old base gave way as the broken ring shows. I elected to buy another base from Bill Neumann at fixmydual.com so I have this one to give to AV'guy. Bill sent me a new Masonite support piece but it is generically oversized as you can see. It fits in a groove in the base but the base has to be knocked apart and reassembled once that oversized piece is pared down to the right size. A good evening project, to be sure.

Paul

[guest1632]

I just took in a trade for my Marantz 6110 table, a Dual 1218. It has no base, and the linkages are gone, So it could be made to work, but totally manual. The motor is good as well as the rubber drive. All parts for the tonearm work (anti-skate, cue lever) and the removable headshell is there too.

So I guess I can do it one of 2 ways. First, not even start the project, and give the whole thing away to someone, and they can work on it. Or I guess I can work on it, but I really am not interested in it that much. If you want it, I'd take care of shipping, even. It's in good shape, cosmetically.

Electrically, the table would need a switch installed. the power connector has lost one pin, and maybe that whole thing needs to go (but it has the start capacitor in it), so at the least, it needs to be re-worked to get the motor to run.

The platter is heavy die-cast, so it might actually be a fairly quiet TT.

Wayner

Hi Wayner,

Hmmm, not to sure you got the good end of the bargain there. Still has an idler wheel, not to quiet compared to belt drive. Had one of those when I first started out. They're actually to light. The 1219 was a much more substantial table. No Base, hmmm.

Ray

[Wayner]

Ray, I buy and sell TTs like some people buy stock. They come and they go. I keep the ones that I like and get rid of the ones that I don't. While the Marantz is not high on the performance list, it worked unlike the Dual I took in on trade. I do not like Duals, I don't like working on them, nor do I like even owning them. They are what Pink Floyd calls Cluster one. At least in my books.

Wayner 

[guest1632]

Ray, I buy and sell TTs like some people buy stock. They come and they go. I keep the ones that I like and get rid of the ones that I don't. While the Marantz is not high on the performance list, it worked unlike the Dual I took in on trade. I do not like Duals, I don't like working on them, nor do I like even owning them. They are what Pink Floyd calls Cluster one. At least in my books.

Wayner 

Hi Wayner,

I agree with you. When Dual was in its hayday, the 1218 and 1219 were the best of the automatic tables. I hope you find a suitable home for it. Not my choice. I'd keep an eye out for the Empire tables. They were very quiet, and built like a tank.

Ray Bronk

[Wayner]

This table is gone to a fellow AC'r who has a friend in need of a table. It's a project for him to do.

I have one Empire 598mkII that I bought when I was a kid. It stays with me.

When I come upon turntables in my daily travels, I usually scarf them up, do a clean up and maintenance on them and usually within a short period of time, someone is looking for a table.

Wayner

[guest1632]

This table is gone to a fellow AC'r who has a friend in need of a table. It's a project for him to do.

I have one Empire 598mkII that I bought when I was a kid. It stays with me.

When I come upon turntables in my daily travels, I usually scarf them up, do a clean up and maintenance on them and usually within a short period of time, someone is looking for a table.

Wayner

Do you look for cartridges too? I ask because I have a Micro Accoustic one of there Shibata stylus tips. Still have the original box, but not the screwdriver.

Ray Bronk

[Wayner]

I have a drawer full of them, like Shure M92ed's and crap like that. Nothing fancy.

Wayner

[AVnerdguy]

Thanks to Paul and Wayner. The old Dual will be tuned up and go to a worthy fellow audiogeek that needs something to play vinyl on but doesn't have the funds right now.

Those Dual mechanisms don't scare me in the least. Grew up servicing those (and others). In any case this one will be totally manual when I get done with it. As long as the motor speed is accurate (and the AC synchronous usually are right on) and the arm pivots correctly it will perform it's purpose. Thanks again guys. I'll send some photos when I get back in town and can get a chance to work on it.