Dansette Record Players for sale - Dansette & Radiogram Restoration - Dansette Products & Spares
Dance around a Dansette!
Uber-cool and highly desirable, no self-respecting mid-century household could have imagined being without a Dansette record player. Listening to music on this portable, suitcase sized icon whenever and wherever to took your fancy, quickly become a way of life in the 50’s and 60’s, particularly for teenagers, no doubt buoyed by the emergence of Rock and Roll and the Beatles.
Today we are witnessing an unprecedented resurgence in the popularity of vinyl, mid-century furnishings and with it, the desire to own a working vintage Dansette, especially one with a nice pair of ‘Sputnik’ legs! Make no mistake these pop icons are once again in great demand with not too dissimilar prices being paid in real terms to what they cost 50 to 60 years ago. For example, 25 Gns (Guineas) in 1955 is equivalent to circa £650 today.
Although not necessarily ‘hi-fi’ in the true sense, ownership clearly suggests a wise investment and with it, a cool, attention-grabbing showpiece, come talking point in any home or boudoir! Oh, and it’s pretty good at playing those 45’s and albums you haven’t touched in decades! So escape the soulless, virtual word of downloads and re-connect with music as originally intended.
Why gamble when you can buy in confidence from Tutti Audio with a 12 month warranty - totally unequalled!
Highly Acclaimed
Peerlessly and professionally reawakened, stunning vintage Dansette record players by Bob Amos of Tutti Audio to exemplary workmanship standards. All players come with an unparalleled 12 month warranty and ‘anytime’ personal telephone support.
Bob Amos is a time served, fully qualified electronics engineer and designer of the sensational 'Contemporary Audiophile Stereogram', and revolutionary Dansette 'Bridgit Box' streaming and digital recording interface gismo.
What's more every Dansette sold and restored by Tutti Audio is 'Bridgit Box' ready...
This groundbreaking versatile product designed and hand built by Tutti Audio allows you for the very first time to stream your vintage Dansette to any Bluetooth speaker or music system for amazing Hi-Fi boosted sound.
Just a small but stunning selection of our highly acclaimed Dansette work...
And there's more...
Source & Restore Service...
Looking for a particular Dansette model in a certain colour? Then why not take full advantage of our highly acclaimed source and restore service. You'll soon have the Dansette of your dreams professionally restored and in exemplary condition. What's more, you can relax with our free 12 month warranty.
Bluetooth Stream Your Dansette & Much More with Bridgit Box!
You'll be blown away too!
Yes, our clients have been blown away with our Bridgit Box. An ingenious box of tricks that simply plugs into Dansette record players and opens up a whole new world of Dansette enjoyment and capability. You can even use it with our Digitiser to record your vinyl collection onto a USB stick or SD card in MP3 format! Vintage audio equipment has never been so versatile!
Why Gamble?
Why gamble when you can buy Dansette record players and other vintage audio equipment in confidence from Tutti Audio with our unequalled 12 month warranty? Yes 12 months! Exactly the same term as you would get on brand new products, let alone 60 year old vintage equipment!
- Every vintage record player purchased from Tutti Audio is brought up to current safety standards in terms of electrical isolation, earth bonding including a 3 core mains flex and 2A fused plug.
- The valve amplifier stage is thoroughly checked through and rebuilt. All faulty or suspect components are replaced. These typically include resistors, capacitors and occasionally valves as well. All potentiometer internal contacts are thoroughly cleaned with 'Servisol' a professional cleaning agent. Similarly, all valve bases are cleaned and re-soldered.
- Thorough attention is made to electrical safety with a detailed wiring integrity check with all interconnections being either renewed, sleeved, supported or re-terminated as necessary.
- The turntable/auto-changer assembly is always stripped, cleaned, lubricated and checked for correct operation along with the tone arm stylus force being set in accordance with the cartridge manufacturers recommendations. The idler/jockey wheel is often refurbished or replaced as well.
- We always ensure that the cartridge is compatible for use with stereo and mono recordings.
Important point to note on cartridge compatibility with vintage players
Mono only cartridges needed the stylus to move laterally in the record groove whereas the arrival of stereo recordings necessitated the stylus to move both laterally and vertically. It would therefore be unwise to play a stereo record using a mono only cartridge as little or no compliancy in the vertical axis could cause irreparable damage to the vinyl itself.
- To preserve originality we always prefer to clean and keep the original cabinet covering (rexine) whenever possible. Occasionally though we have to replace part or all of the covering material with one in keeping with Dansette tradition. We are often able to revitalise tired and faded coverings with a dedicated professional vinyl colour restorer.
- We invariably always fit a brand new loudspeaker cloth in keeping with the traditional Dansette weave and style.
- After five to six decades metal catches, hinges and trims pieces etc. often become badly tarnished and corroded which can naturally detract from a Dansette’s overall appearance. We therefore frequently fit new, matching brass furniture. Depending on the degree of deterioration we have become rather adept at re-polishing fittings that are no longer available.
- Similarly high quality replica Dansette labels and nomenclatures are often used when necessary.
- Finally, accompanying every record player we sell, you’ll find a comprehensive, dedicated quality control checklist and schedule of work that has been carried out along with a photographic history
Your Important Guide To Buying A Dansette Record Player
That Dansette record player you’ve got your eyes on may appear good superficially, but like all vintage audio equipment and record players there’s much more to consider, as Tutti Audio’s Bob Amos explains…
It may look cool but make sure it doesn’t get you hot under the collar by following some straightforward and less straightforward, honest advice. Unarguably, electrical safety should be a prime consideration when buying a vintage record player.
Context
Chances are that over time the player you have in mind has received attention from the trained and untrained. In all probability, it has stood idle for a few decades having been stored away in a loft, garage or even a garden shed.Unlike modern day ‘solid-state’ electronics operating at low, intrinsically safe voltages, thermionic valve technology requires far greater voltages to function. Moreover, electrical safety norms have come a long way since the 50’ and 60’s when these players were designed and built.
Buying from a private seller; Remember you have no comeback or guarantee of it being fit and safe for purpose. Before using the player, get it checked out by a competent electronics engineer conversant with thermionic valve technology. Get it updated as much as reasonably possible by ensuring the following points listed immediately below are used as a checklist.
Buying from a company, dealer or trader; Safety first
Whether new or secondhand, all electrical goods sold must meet the Electrical Equipment Safety Regulations 1994 (Low Voltage Directive).
1) We will never sell, restore or repair the Dansette models listed below on the grounds that they are intrinsically unsafe to use, as they do not incorporate a mains isolation transformer. Their early topology utilises what is known as a hot (live) chassis, whereby the common ground including the amplifier’s chassis metalwork is directly connected to one half of the 240V mains supply. This should be the NEUTRAL line but faulty player, plug or house wiring or damaged/incorrect rated safety ‘Y’ capacitors could be lethal. Furthermore, there’s no way that without a mains isolation transformer being retrofitted the models listed below can meet modern day electrical safety norms (Low Voltage Directive). Just one simple example of the potential danger is illustrated by using one of these players with a broken control knob (very common on vintage equipment). The metal control spindle protruding from the player will be directly connected to one side of the 240V mains supply!
Some of the popular models that do not include a mains isolation transformer include:
Dansette Viva
Dansette Thames
Dansette Tonesta
Dansette Conquest Non Auto (The later Dansette Conquest Auto’s are perfectly safe in this respect)
Dansette Popular
Dansette Prince
Dansette Junior
Dansette Transit
Dansette Capri
Suffice it to say, we refuse to sell, restore or repair any of the above models on the grounds of electrical safety.
This list is not exhaustive so it’s always wise to check before purchase. A good indicator will be the valves (tubes) incorporated in the player. If their designations start with ‘U’; UL84/UY85/UCL82 for example the record player will have live chassis topology. Valve designations starting with ‘E’; EL84/ECL83/EZ80 for example your Dansette player will be fitted with an isolation transformer.
REST ASSURED, EVERY DANSETTE MODEL WE SELL IS INTRINSICALLY SAFE TO USE AS THEIR DESIGN TOPOLOGY INCLUDES A MAINS ISOLATION TRANSFORMER AND ALL METALWORK IS SAFELY EARTH BONDED.
Other important aspects to consider...
2) Make sure an up to date modern, three core mains lead is fitted (brown, blue, green/yellow) with a minimum rating of 3 Amps
3) Ensure internal mains power is supplied to the amplifier via an isolation transformer. This is usually intrinsic to the original design, whereby many comprise a transformer with separate primary and secondary windings. However, some players simply have a mains dropper/auto transformer set up and unless they are retrofitted with a dedicated isolation transformer, they cannot be intrinsically safe – the Dansette Viva model is one example. See 1 above for detailed explanation and list of 'live chassis' Dansette players.
4) The plug top is fitted with a maximum 2A fuse (not 3A or higher as the fuse must be rated lower than the current rating of the mains cable).
5) A label is applied to the plug top advising a maximum 2A fuse.
6) The main amplifier chassis is independently earth bonded.
7) The metal turntable assembly is independently earth bonded (see also 1 above)
8) The motor casing is independently earth bonded.
9) The earth bonding resistance/continuity is checked through to the earth pin on the plug top.
10) Due to the hazardous voltages inside, a suitable warning label is applied.Internal wiring integrity is thoroughly checked through.
11) Two stage valve amplifiers (pre amp anode to output stage control grid) are coupled via a high voltage rated capacitor that often fails with age – as a matter of course it is strongly recommended to get this replaced (Dansettes – typically 10nF to 47nF/600V).
Other important housekeeping matters
12) Get the amplifier discrete components checked out – there’s not many of them but old carbon resistors frequently increase in value and electrolytic capacitors may need reforming or changing.
13) Ensure the cartridge is compatible with stereo recordings. If it is an original mono only cartridge, the chances are the stylus will have no vertical compliancy, which may damage stereo records.
14) Get the stylus force correctly set in accordance within the cartridge manufacturers recommendation – too heavy can cause excessive wear.
15) A good repair company will have a special gauge for this. BSR and Garrard turntables have proven to be amazingly robust and reliable given their age.
16) The vast majority of issues are attributed to thickening of the grease applied when new. This needs to be carefully removed, the mechanism cleaned and lightly re-lubricated with fine oil.
17) Control potentiometers (volume & tone) that cause a crackling sound from the loudspeakers when turned is invariably due to tarnishing/dirt on wiper/contacts within the control itself – exacerbated by lack of use. Correct cleaning usually cures this problem but occasionally the control will need replacing.
18) House cladding or render can hide a multitude of sins so can new Rexine coverings. It is not uncommon to find old players riddled with holes from wood boring insects. Therefore it’s always worth checking this less obvious aspect as well. After all, many would have been stored in lofts, garages and barns.
19) Finally…Don’t forget that when transporting your player, to make sure that the two turntable transit screws are turned fully anticlockWise so that the turntable is hard to its mounting board (not springy). They will of course need releasing (clockwise) before operating the unit again.
Why risk it? When buying a Dansette from Tutti Audio you can be assured that all of the above has been properly attended to. What’s more you’ll receive a detailed report to prove it. We’re always available, 7 days a week, daytime and evenings to answer any questions you may have. Our advice is totally free and without any obligation whatsoever. You could say it’s our passion!
Dansette warranty information...
Applicable to all Dansette Record Player sales & Refurbishments
Amazing warranty on all Dansette record players we sell & refurnish.
Exclusive free 12 month warranty – only from Tutti Audio! We are confident that our refurbishment process is second to none and extends way beyond attention to aesthetics. Indeed, it’s what you can’t see that is vitally important to the player’s longevity and safe operation.Therefore you can take the worry out of vintage Dansette ownership with Tutti Audio’s exclusive 12 month warranty. What’s more, it’s free with every vintage Dansette Record player we sell or restore.
The only exclusions are:
- Damage due to misuse or through postage.
- Cartridge and stylus
- Courier/postage to and from Tutti Audio
- Pilot lamps and valves
In the unlikely event of a return we are more than happy to advise on preparing your equipment for transit and choosing a suitable parcel delivery company.
Did you know...
Tutti Audio has supplied Dansettes around the world. Closer to home these include celebrities and even John Lennon's childhood home in Woolton, Liverpool. It has also been noted that many songwriters including John Lennon & Paul McCartney produced their work listening to records on their Dansettes!