Lenco l75 production Switzerland and production Italy. As differing?

[igor.68]

All, good afternoon. I want to ask a question. Lenco l75 production Switzerland and production Italy. As differing:
1. Quality of details?
2. Quality of assembly?
3. Quality of reproduction of soundtracks?
If yes, that what?
All thanks.

[Tussenwiel]

Hi Igor.

 
Introduce yourself here so that others know we have new member: http://www.lencoheaven.net/forum/index.php?board=22.0

There is practical no difference between the Italy or Swiss productions, all the steel work is the same, the assembly is the same.

There are differences in detail, see the pictures.


Swiss Lenco.


Italian Lenco.


Swiss Lenco.


Italian Lenco.

These are pictures of my own Lenco's, the Swiss Lenco is a very old model with Bakelite knobs without aluminum inlay, as you can see on the first picture the printing is "Made in Switzerland" the plateau has no grooves in the top surface.

The Italian Lenco has plastic knobs with aluminum inlays, the printing is "Of Switzerland" the plateau has two grooves in the top surface.

The plastic idler of the Swiss Lenco gives a more dull sound, i have switched it whit a metal idler and it sounds better now.

All three motors are different in model, the pictures are taken before cleaning and revision.

I think that every Lenco after a good revision sounds the same in the same plinths.

[igor.68]

Many thanks for a prompt reply. Strange but there where I live it is considered that Lenco made in Italy has the worst quality of assembly that influences quality of reproduction. Therefore Lenco Italy costs cheaper. There is a dependence of the price on a production site?

[richard]

Igor,

Please tell us where you live so that we can all go there and buy Italian Lencos.

[igor.68]

Hi, Richard. I did not write that there where I live there are many Italian Lenco. I wrote that there where I live which people have Lenco, consider that Lenco made in Switzerland have the best quality and on it have high price. I the same was surprised. Lenco is a brand and shall watch product quality on which there is his name. And I live in the Crimea, Ukraine.

[projektori]

Hey all,

Aren't those differences Dirk pointed out more like model and make differences? For example, my Swiss made L75 has the same wheel and knobs as your Italian L75.
According to what I've been read, there's no great difference between Italian and Swiss Lencos. The differences between makes and models are far more great. (For example, the plastic idler wheel is older than the 5-holed metal one and you probably cannot find a plastic wheel on a Lenco that is about the same age as the Italian Lenco in Dirk's pictures. No matter where that Lenco has been made.)

Besides, I've been reading this forum quite a lot lately (too much, maybe...), and I haven't yet found people making a quality-based division between Italian and Swiss Lencos. As people here tend to be quite opinionated, I think that I would've found out if that kinda division existed.

 

[Tussenwiel]

(For example, the plastic idler wheel is older than the 5-holed metal one and you probably cannot find a plastic wheel on a Lenco that is about the same age as the Italian Lenco in Richard's picture. No matter where that Lenco has been made.)

Nice to be Richard for a moment  

[richard]

As I understand it (and I may be wrong), the initial production of the L75 was in Switzerland. Lenco added the Italian factory later, and L75s were made in both countries. Then the Swiss factory was closed, leaving all production in Italy. Lenco made other products in addition to turntables, such as 8-track tape mechanisms for car-brand car stereos.

All platters were made in a foundry in Italy, even for the Swiss machines. There were five different L75 platter designs, all five from the same foundry. I do not know whether any one was better than any other of these in performance or stability over time.

The original idler wheels were a 2-piece plastic hub covered with a soft PVC tire. Later, production was changed to an aluminum hub with a machined rubber tire. I have seen three different aluminum/rubber idler wheels. These probably differ because they came from different suppliers.

To echo the poster above, I'm not aware of any quality differences between Swiss and Italian L75s. I am satisfied with the Italian motors. The Lenco motors that I have had apart have balanced rotors, which is impressive.

[projektori]

Nice to be Richard for a moment  

You are welcome! 
(Mistake edited.)

The Lenco motors that I have had apart have balanced rotors, which is impressive.

Same here... And in my opinion, if you have been able to make an electric motor that runs like new after 45 years without mainteance, some of them stored in a damp place (like one of mine), you have done something right.

[igor.68]

Again thanks. Today I go to watch Lenco for purchase. What first of all you will advise to pay attention to?

[Alupi]

I believe not all platters were manufactured in Italy. Those made in Switzerland are clearly stamped Swiss made. The platter with concentric rings are most likely Italian made.

[analogadikt]

I believe not all platters were manufactured in Italy. Those made in Switzerland are clearly stamped Swiss made. The platter with concentric rings are most likely Italian made.

Yes I have swapped Swiss made and Italian made platters on my deck, did not  hear any chnge in SQ.

Regards,

[Tussenwiel]

Again thanks. Today I go to watch Lenco for purchase. What first of all you will advise to pay attention to?

Check whether the motor is working, and look at the quality of the bearing.

[Chris65]

I believe not all platters were manufactured in Italy. Those made in Switzerland are clearly stamped Swiss made. The platter with concentric rings are most likely Italian made.

Yes, my L70 platter has 'Swiss Made' stamped on the underside. Here is one photo I found searching the forum, from a Bogen badged L70.
Possibly it was only the later L75/L78 platters that were made in Italy?

              

[richard]

According to the administrator of our prior Lenco board, who had all five platters that I referenced earlier, all of them bore the same foundry ID mark.