http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120596497086&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en#ht_500wt_1154
looking at this, any thoughts?
I'd watch out for that particular one, it looks like it was bought in the UK then 'modified' to run in america (UK 50Hz power vs. US 60Hz power). Typically if the modification doesn't include swapping out the motor or pully, it will run too fast in the US. It will work, just at the wrong speed.
Lenco made spare parts available back in their prime. If he replaced the motor spindle from a Euro 50hz spindle to a North American 60hz spindle, which was entirely possible with the available parts, it would be fine.
What I can see from it:
There is a strobe disc showing on the platter mat. Lencos came with speed strobes in two versions, 50hz and 60hz discs. The 60hz version is what is showing.
Of the two strobes, the Euro 50hz strobes were monotone black on silver. The NA strobes were multi-color, as is shown on that table (you can easily identify it by the red band).
So, he's claiming it to be converted to 60hz (the only way back then was a spindle/motor swap), and, its showing that it has a 60hz strobe. Seems plausible.
There is also a DIY speed controller that is in the "expressing interest for group buy stage". This will essentially be a box that converts voltage and voltage rate.
The point of this project is to control the motors speed. It also has the major bonus of making the Euro Lencos available to us, as it converts the supply rate.
Anther bonus is that it allows the voltage conversions to be done such that you can minimize motor vibrations by supplying the exact voltage/delivery to meet each motors sweet spot.
The converter is being made available as a circuit board only, and made available as a non-profit effort by its designer. So, with some soldering DIY skills, an intimate motor controller is about to be made available that will drastically change the way Lencos run (I signed up for one or two boards, depending on cost).
edit to add:
Why its so critical for the 50hz/60hz spindle diff:
The motor spindle is conically tapered, and smoothly tapered for the most part, from skinny to fat. The skinny end is 16rpm, the fat end is 78rpm+, and you have infinite speed adjustabllity anywhere along the spindle between those speeds.
Problem:
There is a single step in the spindle between the 16rpm speed and the 33.3 speed. From 33.3 upward, its a smoothly tapered cone. This single step is where the problem lies between the 60hz and 50hz models. To get a 50hz model to spin at 33.3rpm in NA, it places the idler wheel directly on the edge of the spindle step, and makes for uneven pacing, because the wheel might want to step to 16rpm, or, step up to 33.3rpm - its literally a cliffhanger.
The motor spindle, and wheel.
To the left is the 16rpm side - the right is 78rpm (can go quicker than 78). You can see the hard step; the spindle tapers upward to it, hard step up, then smooth machine tapering from there onward.