Buying a used Thorens TD 124
Four speeds, a heavy two-piece platter and a lit strobe, built from 1957 to 1965. Here's what to check on a used TD 124, and how to avoid buying the wrong one.
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At a glance
- Produced
- 1957–1965
- Drive
- Belt and idler wheel (with idler disengage)
- Speeds
- 16⅔, 33⅓, 45 and 78 rpm, with fine speed adjustment
- Strobe
- Built-in, illuminated
- Platter
- Two-piece, 300 mm (cast iron or zinc outer platter, depending on version)
- Motor
- 4-pole AC motor
- Tonearm mounting
- Separate armboard
- Weight
- About 10 kg
What to check before you pay
- Make sure it's the original. Thorens also sells a modern turntable called the TD 124 DD, which is a completely different, direct-drive design. Check the listing and the deck itself so you know exactly which one you're buying.
- Mains. The motor runs on AC mains. Ask which voltage and mains frequency the deck has been set up for, and whether that matches your country.
- Idler wheel and drive. With the deck running and no record playing, listen close to the platter. A thump or rumble often comes from a hardened or flattened idler wheel or a worn belt. Parts exist, but price them in.
- All four speeds and the strobe. Run every speed and watch the strobe. Use the fine adjustment to bring the markings to a standstill; you should be able to do that on each speed.
- Bearing and motor. Listen for grinding from the platter bearing and buzzing from the motor, and ask when the bearing was last cleaned and oiled.
- Armboard and tonearm. Check what arm is fitted and whether the armboard has been cut for a different one. Modified armboards are common, and the right arm adds a lot to the value.
- Plinth. Many TD 124s live in custom plinths. Ask what the plinth is made of and who built it, and check the deck sits firmly in it.
Reported faults
Problems reported in the sources listed with each item. Not every unit has them, but they are worth asking about.
Hardened idler wheel O-ring
- What you notice
- Noisy running.
- What the source says
- In this overhaul the idler O-ring had gone "rock hard" with age; a softer replacement ran quieter.
- What to check
- Listen close to the platter with the deck running and no record playing. Ask whether the idler has been refreshed.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Worn main bearing ball and thrust pad
- What you notice
- Bearing noise or rumble.
- What the source says
- One deck had a badly worn spindle ball and thrust pad, even though the pad had been replaced years earlier.
- What to check
- Ask what bearing work has been done and when.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Rubber belt residue on the pulleys
- What you notice
- Black deposits on the motor and stepped pulleys.
- What the source says
- The black rubber belt had shed material onto the pulleys.
- What to check
- Ask for a photo of the pulleys and belt if the platter can be lifted.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Ageing spark suppressor capacitor
- What you notice
- May show no symptom until it fails.
- What the source says
- One deck had a bulging suppressor capacitor; on the other, an earlier repair had fitted a type the repairer considered unreliable.
- What to check
- Ask whether the capacitor has been replaced with a modern part.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Perished mounts and motor suspension
- What you notice
- Motor noise, or a motor that is no longer held properly.
- What the source says
- Rubber mounts were found hardened and collapsed, and one motor suspension rubber had sheared off.
- What to check
- Ask whether the rubber parts have been replaced.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Corroded wiring, gummed-up parts and oil leaks
- What you notice
- Unreliable switching, sticky controls, oil weeping from bearings.
- What the source says
- Green corrosion on wiring, oxidised and gummed-up parts after damp storage, and oil weeping from the bearing cap and stepped pulley were reported.
- What to check
- Ask how and where the deck was stored, and whether it has been stripped, cleaned and re-lubricated.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Dim strobe lamp
- What you notice
- The strobe is hard to read in daylight.
- What the source says
- The original neon lamp was found almost useless in bright light; it was replaced with an LED.
- What to check
- Check the strobe in normal room light.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Poor earlier repairs
- What you notice
- Odd screws, washers or damaged threads.
- What the source says
- One deck had stripped threads and makeshift parts from a previous repair.
- What to check
- Look underneath for signs of rough repair work, and ask who serviced it.
Repair report: Pink Fish Media forum, "Another Thorens TD124 overhaul" (two decks, February–March 2024)
Why people still go looking for one
The TD 124 was made from 1957 to 1965, and one look at the spec sheet shows the appeal: a heavy two-piece platter, four speeds from 16⅔ all the way up to 78 rpm with fine adjustment, an illuminated strobe so you can see the speed at a glance, and a separate armboard that makes it easier to fit a different tonearm. Drive comes from a belt and an idler wheel, which you can disengage.
Put simply, it’s a deck that invites you to tinker, and plenty have been rebuilt into new plinths with a modern arm on top.
Project or finished deck?
Used TD 124s range from untouched units straight out of a loft to fully restored decks in custom plinths. Both can be good buys, but they’re very different purchases. An unrestored deck almost always needs the idler wheel, bearing and motor looking at before it will run at its best. A restored one should come with a clear account of what was done, and by whom. If a “restored” deck comes with no details at all, ask why.
Don’t mix it up with the TD 124 DD
Thorens also makes a modern turntable called the TD 124 DD. It shares the name but it’s a different, direct-drive design. Listings occasionally blur the two, so double-check exactly what’s on offer.
What to ask the seller
- Is it an original TD 124 or a MK II? Can you see the model label?
- What has been restored or replaced (idler wheel, belt, bearing, motor)?
- Which voltage and mains frequency is it set up for?
- Which tonearm is fitted, and is the original armboard included?
Which version is it?
| Model | Key difference |
|---|---|
| TD 124 | Original version, produced 1957–1965 (source above) |
| TD 124 MK II | Later version; differences not covered by the sources used here, so ask the seller and check the model label |
| TD 124 DD | Modern Thorens direct-drive turntable, a different design that shares the name |
Related guides
Sources
- hifi-wiki.com, Thorens TD 124, production years, drive, speeds, strobe, platter, motor, weight (secondary source)
- Thorens, TD 124 DD Exclusive (product document), confirms the modern TD 124 DD is a separate product