Commonwealth idler drive - any experience?

Ovenmitt

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Nov 21, 2017
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Recently I have become quite curious about the Commonwealth idler drive turntables that were made in Australia. There seems to be so few of these produced that I am having trouble finding much information. Has anyone compared any of their models to the usual Garrard or Thorens contenders? I also worry that parts might be hard to come by if any restoration is needed.

Maybe the WBF community can offer words of wisdom? Maybe someone has ideas on how to source one of these vintage turntables that’s in nice condition.

Any input is appreciated :)
 
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Solypsa

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I wonder if Audiosilente in Italy could also be of some help?

Love to see a Commonwealth build in one of your uber-tasty plinth designs :)
 
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Ovenmitt

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Thanks Erik and @pcosta .... those are good ideas. I hadn’t actually thought of it but Audiosilente is someone I definitely need to check out. These decks seem like they could be really great. I do realize they’re kinda rare but it still seems as if there’s a real lack of info out there on them.
 

Ovenmitt

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Nov 21, 2017
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@volken can you share any more details on your build? have you put it in a plinth yet?…. I’m curious to hear your thoughts….. I had to put my commonwealth project on the back burner for a while to take care of some other things. I’m very anxious to get back to it soon.
 

volken

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Apr 30, 2018
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@volken can you share any more details on your build? have you put it in a plinth yet?…. I’m curious to hear your thoughts….. I had to put my commonwealth project on the back burner for a while to take care of some other things. I’m very anxious to get back to it soon.
20201221_114322.jpg 20201221_161749.jpg 20210104_102056.jpg 20201221_154751.jpg 20201221_180610.jpg 20210104_105843.jpg
 

volken

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Apr 30, 2018
18
10
108
Netherlands
@volken can you share any more details on your build? have you put it in a plinth yet?…. I’m curious to hear your thoughts….. I had to put my commonwealth project on the back burner for a while to take care of some other things. I’m very anxious to get back to it soon.
The revision was done for a customer who made his own console for it can't publish that .
But let me know when you are going to start with the revision the pictures showing the motor , main bearing and two pictures from the motor current spectrum the first is asis the motor does not lock on speed its a reluctance motor ,
Second after overhaul and perfect stable speed , got more pictures also from the power supply and the influence on the vibration.
 

Ovenmitt

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A long time has passed since I started on this project... sigh. I thought I'd post some quick pics of the final outcome - actually, not final because I still have some more work that I want/need to do to get this sounding it's best, I think...

IMG_0940.jpeg
 
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Ovenmitt

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IMG_0943.jpeg
 

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Solypsa

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How is it sounding now vs your others?
 

bonzo75

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How is it sounding now vs your others?
The Commonwealth that Schick had in the Western electric room in Munich in 2015 or so was worth paying him for it there and then
 

bonzo75

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Andy Moore in Australia has one in which Mark Dohmann installed a Schroeder s CB. Maybe @awsmone can go and listen
 

Ovenmitt

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Nov 21, 2017
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How is it sounding now vs your others?
Hi
How is it sounding now vs your others?
Hi Erik,

Comparing the Commonwealth to my other tables…. It‘s insanely dynamic. It kinda out Garrards the Garrard. It really has a sense of momentum that I’ve not experienced from a turntable before. I feel like a faucet has been opened all the way and music is pouring out of my speakers; it’s very exhilarating to listen to.

It does still sound a bit coarse compared to my other tables though - wow and flutter isn’t measuring quite as low, and I’m thinking this is at least part of what I’m hearing.

I still have some tuning and some other new parts to have made. All to say, I think it has incredible potential. I don’t think it’s all the way where it can be yet.
 

Ovenmitt

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Nov 21, 2017
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Andy Moore in Australia has one in which Mark Dohmann installed a Schroeder s CB. Maybe @awsmone can go and listen
Ked,

The Schroeder CB looks super interesting. I wonder if you have any experience with it?
 

bonzo75

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Ked,

The Schroeder CB looks super interesting. I wonder if you have any experience with it?

At Anamighty, and at TZBC's on the Dohmann. Anamighty we had done a compare with the Schick and it was quite better. I cannot say how it compares to other arms like FR, glanz, etc. Schroeder does love idlers and vintage so all these arms might work on yours.
 

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