Project 2078: Receiving
Great cosmetics...! In the inital power up test, the neon strobe bulb did light up, but the platter would not come up to speed. More about that later.
sn# 2078 . This is an early TD124, indicated by some notable
features. The first clue is its 4 digit serial number. The production run
of the original TD124 ran with serial numbers climbing well into the 5 digit
quantities. Another really obvious clue to 2078's early origins is the squared
off armboard shoulder. Compare to this photo of a later model: 
that features an internal bevel where the bed for the armboard joins the main
chassis. Not also an extra reinforcing gusset at the cross
brace.
Another indicator of our project's early origins are the black nylon bushings
being used within the platter bearing housing. These were replaced with
porous bronze bushings somewhat later during the production history of the mk1. I don't
know the exact serial numbers that would indicate the time of change, but it is more common to
find the porous bronze bushings than it is the black nylon. It is also
more common to see the later armboard frame details than it is the early.
But what is wrong with this picture!
What is wrong is this: The cast aluminum chassis is bent in the vicinity of the armboard. The chassis does not lay flat over the plinth surface as it should. This indicates mistreatment in its previous life. In this photo it is seen that the bottom surface of the chassis, beneath the armboard area, lifts off the plinth surface by a dimension greater than 1/16th inch.
Side view of the cast chassis shows the area that is bent.
Front view of the cast chassis indicates that the chassis is flat except in the
area of the armboard.
This shot shows a straight edge (machinists rule) laying flat over the jig
surface. This is to indicate that the jig surface is flat.
Looking at the underneath. All very neat and tidy. No evidence of
abuse. The wire harness is intact and unmolested. All of the screws
appear original and for the most part, unmolested.
But there is evidence of the deck having been in for service.
The idler wheel rubber shows some cracking at the interior areas.