Lenco B51,B52,B55,L58 history

[B52]

This history is only covering the European "light platter" Lenco's. So no Goldring(UK)Bogen, Benjamin(USA) and Sony badged models in here as I don't have enough information on them.


Lenco B51

Circa 1963-1964. This is the follow up to the long-lasting series of classic 1950's Lenco's: the F50-8 and B50
It's the first lightweight Lenco that has the motor on the left side of the top plate. Motor and idlerwheel assembly is identical to the L70.









Lenco B52 MK1









Circa 1964-1965
Platter is painted off-white, top plate is light grey, same color as the L70.
Mat has same profile as the (last model) L70, but is thinner.
Most plinths to be found are made in the country where it's sold, so there's no standard. (plinth above is made by NAHO Amsterdam)

Only Lenco, no B52


On/Off (high model) and speed lever knobs made of Bakelite




Headshells come with plastic connector or with alu connector. It's a plastic version of the P77 headshell.


Platter has a fixing clip (the B52 was also available in a portable version)




Non-Hydraulic armlift
No separate armrest

Tonearm is non decoupled and has no V-blocks


Under the platter. Original idler on this light grey B52's should be plastic.


Around '66-'67 motor changes to MK2


Later version has stripes on the counterweight to indicate grams




Lenco B52 MK2

Around mid 1968 the color changes to darker grey, same as the last L70.
This B52 MK2 on the picture has an integrated amp and is sold as Lenco 350.






Platter is now painted silver metallic


Speed and on/off knobs are made of (softer)plastic now
On/off knob height is lowered
Hydraulic lift and new liftpost made of chromed plastic

Separate adjustable armrest, same as L75
Screw for Lenco clean is there


Armtube is reduced in size, and so the counterweight has changed too
Arm has decoupled end now
The left arm on the picture is from a later MK3(anti-skating) but is here to show the difference between the MK1 and MK2 arm


New "standard" plinth.These plinth models will stay until the end of production. They come in two sizes. Small with "manual" dustcover, and the large plinth which has the same dimensions as the standard L75 plinth. Dust cover is the same as the L75.





B52 MK3

Circa 1969-1970

Colour of the tonearmcap and counterweight changes after a while to silver
The B52 MK3 on the pictures has an unusual aftermarket plinth.




Arm has now anti-skating device


On/off and speed knobs now have an alu plate


Arm has v-blocks now


After a while the platter becomes unpainted and has a "sharp" edge


Audioconnection has now a plastic "protection cap"
And sticker with serial# changed to more modern version
Motor changes to MK3


Around 1972/73 a last "strange" batch of B52's was made. Let's name them MK4.
top plate is back now


Strange lettering





Lenco B55





Production starts around 1969, alongside the B52.
This is a later B55 with integrated amp:Lenco 350 MK2.
Alu fascia to give it a more modern look like the L75
Some later B52's (>73) can be found with L78 headshell and/or L75 type mat with alu plate in the middle.


B55 is now on the left side (first series had B55 in black lettering)


And as we are in the 1970's now, the plinth is also available in white.


From around 1971 the part under the platter is unpainted and production in Italy has started too.



L58 (aka B55 MK2)

Around 1973-1974 the L58 is introduced, but it seems that in some countries the name remains B55 .








The fascia disappears and the color of the top plate is black now. Lettering is in white.
Both plastic and metal headshells and B52 and L75 type of mats are to be found.Most of them (but not all!) are made in Italy.

Later anti-skating scale that gives also pre sets for elliptical styli.


Please note the non adjustable armrest from the L78 (on later models)

Here's the big Italian production sticker. The "newest" L58 I have ever seen (on a picture) was from 1979...



L58-S (aka B55-S)



Born in 1974, this was Lenco's last "improvement" on the lightweight series. Sold alongside the L58/B55 MK2.
To be found also with the small and wide plinth.





Lettering partly in orange

Orange colored decoration around the on/off - speed lever and the arm.
New type of armrest


Lift is (partly) painted black. A lot of plastic to be found in the arm construction...


Headshell has connector similar (but smaller) to the old model






Text and illustrations: B52 (Eng Bo)

[macuser]

Hello Everyone,

I have here a LAB-52 Stereo from 22. November 1967. It has a MK2 motor, has a dark grey color but not yet an armrest……this would fill a 'gap' between 1966 and 1968.



As you can see the idler wheel looks too new for the B-52 but this is just because it has been serviced once by Lenco Audio AG in the late seventies. The wheel is fixed by a circle clip on a 2.5 mm axle but the axle is fixed with a 3 mm nut ! A part that has never been in the production it was only available as a spare part !



Kind regards

Max

[Outposter30]

From what I have been able to find out, I have a Lenco B52 Mk3 or 4. It has a black top face, with anti-skating settings for conical and elliptical stylii, a straight tone-arm, the graduated scale counter-weight and is marked LENCO Made in Switzerland, with all white lettering.

I cannot clearly read the model number on either the bottom tag, or the tag pasted onto the top of the chassis, olthough the inner tag does appear to read Model 52, both tags show a clearly legible date code of 1974.
 
What are the differences between and Mk 3 and the Mk 4...?

I have an Empire 2000 e/1 head and stylus mounted, which drives a Technics SU-7300 beautifully, which together are exceptionally clean and musical.

Cosmetically, the cover is cracked near the hinges and has a few rub marks, while the base has minor marks on the front edge at the very edge. There is some trim damage to the right rear where the black trim has broken off for a couple of inches, and which I just touched it up with a black marker.

The top face is flawless with all lettering intact, no mark or scratches anywhere I can see.
The head cover has some minor marks from a disc-cleaner that was clipped on the head cover at some time.

While the B52 is known as a light platter rig, run down time, from full 33 rpm rotation to a full stop, runs about 2 minutes and 10 second, which speaks for the quality of the build.(After a little attention by yours truly!!!)

[macuser]

Hello Outposter30,

a 'warm' welcome to the LH forum......well actually it is raining and not too warm....

- interesting to read that there was also a version of the B-52 with a dual antiskating scale.

Could you describe the section with the power knob and the speed knob ? Or even better, take some photographs and post them here ?
Seems like the production of the B-52's was in Switzerland AND Italy at the end. Yours seems to be from Switzerland.
As far as I can tell the production of the B-52 seemed to end in 1974. The story timeline in this thread ends in 1972/1973 but yours is from 1974 so it is Mk 4+ !! Meaning that yours is not described yet !!

To your question about Mk 3 and Mk 4:

- the colour changed from dark grey into black, the font of the lettering changed.

Kind regards

Max

[Outposter30]

Normally, I'd have pics already, but my old faithful Kodak digital died. Let me see if I can borrow a digital camera.....

[xerox]

I spotted this one this weekend. Didn't bring it home.

It's marked 655 R but looks like a B52 Mk2.


Any thoughts?







All the best
/mattias

[xerox]

- interesting to read that there was also a version of the B-52 with a dual antiskating scale.

Could you describe the section with the power knob and the speed knob ? Or even better, take some photographs and post them here ?

Well, I'm not Outposter30, but I believe I have the B52 version you're discussing.











Mk5?

All the best
/mattias

[Outposter30]

Yes... I think you're right....that looks identical to mine...Did it come with the headshell, and if so, was it the perforated style of shell...?

[EricS]

I have two of these variants of the B52 MK3.

They are portable models dated 1975, and were to be used in a High School here in Brooklyn, that was built circa 1978.

I do not believe they have ever been used.

[Arvid]

Hello! Yet another B55! On mine the label says B55 R. Can't find any date on the machine. It has the Alu faceplate but no elliptical antiscate markings.





Anybody know what the "R" stands for? By the way I have a Empire E/II cartridge,
and the B55 R sounds fantastic!! Alive and kicking, rocking and smooth!

[Arvid]

Sorry for the bad photos....   
Here is a better on, though not great...