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Time to Uncork that '55 Metzner?

My Metzner Starlight (60A) vintage turntable has a glued on cork platter mat. It’s lovely and in pristine shape, however, in refurbishing this table for modern times, I’m considering stripping it off and gluing on a rubber mat.

Does this make sonic sense?

One thing to consider is that this 6 lb. platter rings like a bell. I’ve already affixed an automotive V-belt around the platter’s circumference (picture in My System) which has stunted the ringing by about half. Does the cork serve a purpose in isolating platter ringing from the record and therefore the stylus?

Thanks for your thoughts.
mario_b

Showing 2 responses by mario_b

mario_b OP
147 posts
 

Hi PiedPiper,

The bottom of the platter is already painted white to highlight the strobe-o-scope markings. Since this is a 50s artifact, Unsound, it's probably lead paint. I'll try to resist chewing on it.

Getting back to the cork ... since it's not in use today as a platter mat, does it serve any purpose outside of looking nice?
mario_b OP
147 posts
 

Hi Mark,

Thanks for your suggestions about the platter mats. I'll certainly look into them as I'm short a couple on all my rebuild projects.

Out of curiosity, when you wrote that you would not recommend the alteration to the Metzner, was this because of asthetics or sonics?

While I certainly would like to keep as much of the vintage charm on this Metzner as possible, I'm not really looking at this tt as a collector's item. My quest is to take the best of these 35 - 50 year old tables (high torque motors - driving heavy platters with idler or "puck" drives) and improve upon them with modern tonearms and what we've learned about coupling/dampning.

So this brings back the question of whether the cork stands in the way of a sonic improvement or not.

- Mario
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