General Information
The Thorens TD 124 was introduced in 1957, some three years after the debut of that other flagship turntable, the Garrard 301. Like the Garrard, the TD 124 was a motor unit: a component rather than integrated turntable, whereby the user had to supply his or her own plinth, not to mention tonearm and cartridge. The two turntables are outwardly similar, although the Thorens, with its 10-lb platter and integral tonearm board, is heavier and somewhat larger overall.
The Thorens' idler-drive system is also significantly more sophisticated than that of the Garrard 301: The TD 124 puts a 2.75" belt-driven idler pulley between the motor pulley and the idler wheel, rather than let the former directly turn the latter. The designers' intentions are lost to us, but Thorens' approach could be seen as part of an effort to keep motor noise from "leaking" through to the platter, and not just a vulgar display of Teutonic engineering might (although it is that, too, I suppose).
The Thorens' idler-drive system is also significantly more sophisticated than that of the Garrard 301: The TD 124 puts a 2.75" belt-driven idler pulley between the motor pulley and the idler wheel, rather than let the former directly turn the latter. The designers' intentions are lost to us, but Thorens' approach could be seen as part of an effort to keep motor noise from "leaking" through to the platter, and not just a vulgar display of Teutonic engineering might (although it is that, too, I suppose).
