Small Thorens Music Box
By Nancy Fratti
Hi! In answer to Craig Jaakkola's question about replacing a 4.5" Thorens disc box -- I can get new _movements_, exactly the same as the old ones, for $325.00. He could provide the box, _or_ I can get the movement in a plain 'walnut' box with disc storage compartment for $525.00. No discs are included in these prices.
I just purchased a 1948 4.5" Thorens in a plain walnut box. A friend wanted to look at it so I sent it to him 'on approval'. It comes with twelve discs. Once upon a time it had the back hinges broken and they were replaced and the damage repaired. If you look with a discerning eye you can see the repairs: they were filled with a wood putty a little redder than the original wood. This one is priced at $550.00.
Now a word about new versus older Thorens movements and discs. Reuge (in Switzerland) bought Thorens a number of years ago. They are supposedly using the same dies and machinery to make the mechanisms. They are. *But*, for some reason when they make the new discs, those discs will, sometimes, not play on the older machines, and vice-versa.
It seems that they punched the new discs a little differently as to the alignment of the projections on the discs. They're a little 'off'. An adjustment to the star wheel gantry can be made so that you 'split the difference' between the new and old alignment. This can be done by the authorized Reuge repair department in California for about $35.00 plus postage.
You might ask, "Why did they change the alignment," and to this question you will not get an answer from Reuge! They did what they did and they're evidently not going to change it. So, ... if you buy an old Thorens, you might not be able to play new discs on it, and if you buy a new Thorens you might not be able to play old discs on it. Unless you get the adjustment made.
If you're interested in a new movement or new box we'd have to order new discs from Reuge at the same time we order the music box. I don't stock the new discs, as there are too many titles and I deal mainly in the old boxes and supplies for them. Reuge has a $150 minimum order; discs cost $9.50 each. I can send you a list of tune titles if you're interested.
Nancy Fratti
PO Box 210, Whitehall, NY 12887-0210
MusicBoxLady@Juno.com
http://www.quikpages.com/P/musicbox |
(Message sent Sat 15 Mar 1997, 14:30:06 GMT, from time zone GMT-0500.) |
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