ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Does anyone know where I can get a drive belt for a Beogram 1000? The deck was bought new by my father, and is still in great condition - I even have a spare cartridge for it. But a few years ago the drive belt snapped, and B&O in the UK and in Denmark have both told me that the belt is no longer available.
Does anyone have a spare? Failing that, can anyone let me know the spec so that I can see if my local market stall has a generic one that will do the job?
Thanks
Axel has one!
Here
Wouter
www.elektro-ersatzteile.eu has one ( half the price). Select B&O on their website...
Brengen & Ophalen
If Axel can provide one, I would take that.I've seen and replaced far too many cheap belts...
Martin
Why do you think that Axels or yours is better. Did you do any comparison?
Leslie,
My first thought was that I couldn't be bothered answering your question but, hey, Iam a technical advisor and that comes with certain obligations so let me take thisopportunity to set some things straight;
First: I don't have this belt (EDIT: I do now - read on!). I haven't been able to find a producer capable of reproducing its tricky properties.I can get close - but not quite home and dry.Or in other words, not something I would put my name on.
Hardly a week goes by without requests for round belts. - I could have sold hundreds. But I didn't!
Second: Many - hundreds - bought cheap belts only to run into trouble. I know because I supplied and in some caseseven fitted correct belts later (and repaired whatever problems the wrong belts caused).I have a glass jar in my repairshop with cheap chinese or japanese (EDIT: and recently an alarmingly increasing number of portuguese) (no offense intended) belts "guaranteed to fit".I took them out of Beocords and Beograms arriving here for repairs.Next to the jar on the shelf is a cardboard carton with motors, about fourty or so, Beocord motors in particular, typically with theirdelicate sinter-bronze bearings damaged from a too strong sideways pull introduced by a wrong belt.
I haven't tested Axels belts myself (as far as I remember) but I've tried some other services of his andI've only heard good things about him and his work.
Leslie, I have tested and compared belts from more producers and suppliers than I care count.(That includes the supplier you linked to).I am not saying that the particular belt you link to is no good, but through all my years a clear pattern can be seen;Most belts (if not all) found on Ebay and elsewhere at about a 5 euro cost per belt (some even down to a few cents!),are all standard off-the-shelf sizes and they are typically only good for burger wrappings - no good in B&Os.The size may seem just about right (in some cases) but they either didn't test their products thoroughly or they simply didn'tcare about elasticity, friction, long time effects, let alone happy repeat buyers.Here on Beoworld alone, you will be able to find dozens of owners, who tried the cheapo belts first...Remember the other suppliers run business' and need to make a profit, - their belts must be really, (REALLY!) cheap products...
At some point I paused from selling belts on Ebay because buyers confused me for other seller(s) andcomplained to me about belts they bought elsewhere.I had enough of it.
And I know what the belts cost to produce because I am having most of my belts custom produced.Keep in mind that no supplier can safely count on a sale of 50.000 belts of one type within areasonable time frame of, say, two or three years to guarantee freshness.A typical minimum production count is normally in the 500.000 units range so anyproduction amount smaller than this will mean a higher unit-price.
About ten or fifteen years ago, B&O reproduced the round Beogram type belts.Their retail price was about DKK 440 (EUR 60).THEY worked! - And they were gone as quick as gin and lime.Buy one from each of the many suppliers, compare them to the original and you willknow exactly what I am talking about!There's a huge difference down to the junk you can buy for a handful of euros!I think Frede of Classic Audio in Struer also attempted a reproduction a few years ago, I remember he and I discussingit, but it seems to be stranded for some reason.
I make no profit on the belts, I sell.Or at least very little, and that mainly because I have to counter for minute swings incurrency exchange rates.
But it's a free world, you are free to buy whatever you like and where you like.And by all means, go buy the cheap stuff!Afterall you won't be using the units yourself for more than a few hours before selling them on, right ?The long-term effects isn't your problem, then.Hey - you will even save a few euros!
Frankly; It's comments like yours that makes me stop and think if this is reallyworth all the trouble.
I can use my belts myself.I don't have to sell anything.I don't have to recommend anything.I don't have to share my experience andI don't have to advice owners against buying something that will eventually cause damage.You are absolute right, it's not my problem. - So why do I care ?
Have a nice summer !
Most of the belts I buy and so do lots of other guys I know buy them for a price half as Axel's asking. He could have his expertise in needles but that does not mean his belts may justify the price he's asking. I placed belts from other sources as well and never had any complaints through the years. I must admit that some suppliers delivered belts that either were to tight or to loose. Cheaper does not always mean bad quality. Maybe he's asking to much for his belts? Could that be a possibility? Wish you a great summertime as well Martin...
Please carry on doing just exactly what you are doing, Martin. You have my complete confidence.
I buy all the belts that I use from Martin and they ALL fit properly.
I have tried others, in the distant past. usually because Martin was out of stock. The were all a disaster, usually too tight.
Nowadays, if I need a belt for anything B&O related, the first thing I do is fire an email off to Martin.
Since Martin cannot provide a belt for the Beogram 1000, I would be very wary of assuming that those advertised, on the net. by others, actually fit properly.
Regards Graham
And whereabouts Do i find Axel, sinde i have The same problem
Axels website is at www.schallplattennadeln.de but he no longer repairs B&O cartridges, he has passed that on to Franz Joseph (who as Iunderstand it, was the one actually doing the B&O repairs through the most recent years).Whether or not Axel still carries belts for Beogram 1000 (and whether they are good quality or not) I can't say, butI am working on a reproduction of this belt (currently prototype testing) and hopefully I will have something ready very soon.(EDIT - Ready now - read on!)
That's good to know Martin. I don't need one, my old Beograms still run on their - very sturdy - originals!
The only time I bought one (I was lucky, it worked perfectly) was because someone had snapped it, probably trying to extract it by force and chopping it on the edge of the platter (Beogram 3000).
That was my guess anyway!
Jacques
I have had several contacts and questions stemming from this ancient thread and its comments about Beogram belts;Yes, I managed to reproduce the above mentioned belt and I am able to supply correct belts for Beogram 1000, 1001, 1200, 1202, 1203, 2000, 3000 and many others.Correct size, elasticity, friction, shape. The real thing.
PM or email me.