Blueintheface's LencoLand site has the best Lenco History pages on the net with pictures of most models and a timeline. It is required viewing for all Lenco fans.
This page is meant to be a record of info discovered about obscure Lenco finds, maybe adding the nerd level info to the story. The features that stayed and the ones that changed. Please let me know if you have any relevant data you would like to add. boring50s at hotmail dot com
I am indebted to Martin Kunz, without whose in-depth Lenco knowledge this page would have been impossible to put together. Any inaccuracies that remain will be mine, so if you know better please email.
March 2006 Stop press!! Martin has sent in superb pictures of the four earliest Lenco single play decks - fully restored. Don't miss this.
Firstly some general info.
All idler drive Lencos use the same motor, the frame has changed slightly over the years but the size and fittings are common from the 50s to the late 70s. The 60hz models have a smaller diameter rotor because the motor runs faster at 60hz. The coils are covered with insulating material, green for the 55v NA versions and yellow for the 110v types used worldwide. Wired in series this means green for 110v supplies and yellow for 220v. (The yellow versions can also be wired in parallel for 110v supplies.) It can also be assumed that motors with yellow insulation are 50hz, and the green are 60hz.
Lenco worked closely with partners in other markets eg Goldring in the UK. Model numbers vary accordingly, causing some confusion to Lenco watchers today, me included. Goldring models usually have GL in the model name, and the numbers hop around, sometimes the same as Lenco (L75, GL75) and sometimes not. Goldring fitted their own arms to Lenco chassis, and also sold variations that have no Lenco equivalent, eg 88 and G99. In NA Bogen had their Lenco derivatives about which I know very little, if you have info you would like to add please email.
Sometime in the 1950s the first model was released. Best guess so far indicates this was the F50 around 1956. This is turned on by pushing the one piece arm to the right as several early Garrards did. Auto motor stop when the stylus reaches the inner grooves.
The B50-16 (aka L56) looks to be the next model, very similar to the F50 apart from the detachable headshell arm and the introduction of the combined on/off lift/lower lever switch at front right. From this time on this switch is used on all steel platter decks until the final model - the L72/B55.
The motor on the early decks (F50, B50) was on the same side as the tonearm. A short idler arm is used, often with a metal idler wheel.
Next was the B51, externally the twin of the B50 but under the bonnet is the new motor position at back left with the long idler arm. The main features of the classic Lenco idler drive system are now in place, and all subsequent decks have this motor layout.
The F50 and B50 have a vertical arm post that the arm clips onto at rest. The B51 sees the introduction of integral arm clip on the lift/lower platform, and no longer needs the arm post.
Goldring fitted their own G60 arm to the B51 for the GL55.
The Goldring GL58 continues the use of the G60 arm.
All the decks so far have the light steel platter, but alongside the GL58 (1959) Goldring released the new deluxe GL60.
Pause for fanfare .............ta da .......
The GL60 is the first 'heavy platter' from Goldring and was probably a contemporary of the Lenco L59. The GL60 was fitted with the G60 arm like the GL58, and this is the only time the light and heavy decks had the same arm.
Along with the low slung heavy platter came the larger main bearing and the dished deck plate which goes with (maybe needed) the speed control on the left.
The light and heavy models now continue as 2 distinct designs through several model changes.
Light - F50, B50/L56, B51, GL55, GL58, GL68, GL69/B52, GL72/B55.
Heavy - GL60, L59, L70, L77, L75, L78.
The 88 and G99 motor units (no arm) are Goldring UK variants, similar component/age wise to the L59 and L70.
Late on, Lencos made/assembled in Italy were available with Japanese sourced 's' shaped arms fitted. Models L75s and L78se, may be others.
Spindle to Pivot
Lights - F50, B50, B51, GL55 & GL58 222mm, GL68 ??, GL69/B52 & GL72/B55 210mm. (The GL68 has a Goldring G65 arm.)
Heavies - L60 222mm, L59 & L70 230mm, L77 ??, L75 & L78 210mm. (The L77 has the Goldring Lenco P77 arm)
(Heavy availability in 2005 - the L60 and L77 are very rare. L59 and L70 rare. L75 and L78 common.)
Forget the L60 and L77. The L59 and L70 can be regarded as the same deck with cosmetic differences. Same applies to the 75 and 78.
The L59, L70, L75 and L78 will all fit the same basic plinth cut out with only slight tweaking needed around the on/off switch and for the 78 around the auto/man switch.
