Rec-O-Kut Challenger For Sale on Reverb

[Retrosmith]

Forum members: I'd like to get your opinion on this Rec-O-Kut Challenger For Sale on Reverb.

https://reverb.com/item/86385318-rek-o-kut-challenger-1953-1958-dark-gray

Price is $5,500 and the unit is not restored in any way. Personally, I'd be leary of even plugging this in without a tech having gone thru it.

Please let me know your thoughts on this!

Thank you.
Retro.

[mratx]

There's a working Presto K8 on ebay that you can get for $2500, I'd suggest that's a better use of your cash. You could add a cutting head upgrade and speed adapters and have a nice functioning lathe for much less than that ROK. The cutting head on that ROK is not very good, so you're going to have to drop another $400-$1k if you want to upgrade, plus who knows what the cost to just get it running could be. You could actually probably find a working ROK overhead, a better cutting head, a high torque turntable, and a power amp for much less than the $5500 and have a better set-up. So my opinion would be look for something else.

Mark

[Retrosmith]

Thank you Mark. I am just leary about those Prestos from the 1930s with the weird large tubes, etc. The amp is really ancient technology. Yes, they say the unit was "recapped" , but that could just be a couple, I dont know. The only way to know is to buy it and open it up and see what was done. At least, the rec-o-kut will have the minature tubes that are common today. But your advice is solid, thank you.

[mratx]

Have you checked with Mike from recordlatheparts.com to see what he might have? He's user piaptk on the site, he sells refurbed lathes and parts, he may have something, and his stuff you know will be working.

[markrob]

Hi,

In any case, you would probably be better off driving the head from a modern solid state amp. You would be able to hit the head with more power and maybe get a bit more performance out of it. Then no need to worry about old parts. You are just buying the mechanical base and the head.

Mark

[Retrosmith]

Thank you Mark. I have always wondered about that...you have stereo speaker outputs on the amp, how do you connect those to the cutting head? Do you only use one channel?

[markrob]

Hi,

Yes, just one channel. Or, if the amp supports mono bridge mode then you can run both sides for more power. Bridge mode, in theory, provides 4X the power of single channel. In many amps, the power boost is limited by design to 2X due to power supply current limits. Turns out that many modern amps are running bridge mode in each channel and therefor cannot be bridged as a single channel mono amp. Check your amp owners manual. If you run only one channel, to be safe, don't feed a signal into the unused channel. If a tube amp, its best not to run the amp with no load. In that case, I would add a 1 or 2 watt 8 ohm resistor to the output of the unused channel. I would also put a 1/2 amp fast blow fuse in line with the head for a bit of protection.

Mark

[Retrosmith]

Thank you Marc.

So.....i have been offered a good deal on a Presto 75 lathe with a 1C head. I also have a spare small solid state amp, I guess around 30 wpc. Could I connect the right output of the amp to the record head, and the left output to a speaker just so the amp has a balanced output? thank you for your wisdom!

[markrob]

Hi,

The 1C is a nice head. Very similar to the later 1D. Check your 1C to see if it is wound for low impedance. IIRC, they came stock as either 8 ohms or 500 ohms. If the latter, you won't be able to drive it directly from a modern solid state amp. You would have 2 choices. Either send it out to have it re-wound for low impedance or use a matching transformer. The winding impedance should be stamped on the case. Note that in many cases units marked 500 ohms have been re-wound in the past. If you have access to an ohm meter, measure the coil DC resistance to determine the approximate AC impedance. Typically, an 8 ohm would head might read in the ballpark of 2-4 ohms DC. A high impedance head, would read in the 100 ohm range. You can also ask the owner if he knows.

You can add a speaker to the unused channel for monitor purposes if you like, but with a solid state head, not needed.

Mark

[piaptk]

Somebody is asking the moon for that if it is completely unrestored. You will 100% need new idlers, to service the head, service the amp, and it's not even a very good lathe to begin with. It's got no crank and a low end head. Can definitely hook someone up with a better lathe for cheaper, restored and with tech support