The Lost Worlds of Lenco . . .

Swiss company Lenco were manufactures of high-quality turntables for several decades. These turntables were sold all over the world - in Europe under the Lenco name, by Bogen and Benjamin in the States, under their names, and in the UK by Goldring under the name Goldring-Lenco - these Lencos also gained a 'G' in their model naming scheme: the L75 became a GL75 when it set foot in the UK, but was otherwise identical. Leak and Goodmans also sold Goldring-Lencos under their brand names.

The Lenco name lives on today, licensed since 1998 by the Dutch conglomerate STL Group - who don't make light of their acquisition.

Goldring may have been more than just a Lenco reseller. I suspect the 88 and 99 turntables were commissioned by Goldring. Certainly I've never seen a 'Lenco 88' and, outside of the UK, these arm-less models are something of a rarity.

Interestingly or tellingly - Goldring mention only one turntable in their landmark products history timeline - the GL85, a much later belt drive model. Perhaps they feel it bears some historical precedent to their current Rega-like offering?

In the early 70's, Goldring extended the Goldring-Lenco range with a low-cost belt-drive turntable, the G101 which, coincidentally, was my first turntable. The G101 was a departure - belt drive, small low mass aluminium platter and weedy motor, and apparently sharing few parts with its elder brothers. Maybe it wasn't a Lenco at all?

Lenco in

Lencos With Heavy Platters - an overview of Lenco's heavy-platter turntables

Lenco Lightweights - Heavy Platter had a little brother. Usually 3 digits short and a bit of problem child . . .

Lenco Leftovers - They're not idler-drives, and they're not attracting a lot of attention, but they're here all the same . . .

Remake/Remodel - Lenco advocacy and servicing, and arm alternatives . . .

Boxing Clever - New homes for lucky Lencos

Mostly Armless - Disarming the L75 (or How I Learned To Love My V-Blocks)

Lenco Linkage - Around the web with a 4-pole motor (and one rubber wheel.)

AudiogoN Lenco thread - Jean Nantais' Lenco odyssey. Jean's enthusiasm pervades this helpful and informative - not to say mammoth - thread.

Lenco Heaven - Tom McQuiggan's Lenco site and related forum for Lenco help and chat

Strictly Idler - very good source of Lenco tips and service information, now expanding to other idler drives

Willbewell's Lenco projects - interesting projects and plinth designs from this Lenco enthusiast

Audio Constuzioni - some very well dressed Lencos - in true Italian style

Ochsenbiers Welt - which may or may not equate to Lenco Liebe . . . some photo's from Germany

Occatech - Lenco spares at reasonable prices

Stefano Pasini's web site - this guy seems to have at least one of everything!

Technical and General - A little pricey, if you ask me, but where else can you get those V-blocks from? PO Box 53, Crowborough, Sussex TN 6 2BY, UK Tel. +44 (0) 1892 654534

Vinyl Engine - Always interesting forums and occasional Lenco talk too

The 99% solution

Any corrections or additions welcome.

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