A Turntable History Question

In my book, it is London to a brick it was an SME Model 30 turntable, except for the date!  The Model 30 was released in 1991, not 1981.

The Model 30 was SME's first commercially released turntable, and it cost megabucks (well 9,000 quid in 1991!).  Weighing more than 42-kgs the table featured a suspended sub chassis, hanging from four pylons like a big-top circus tent.  The pylons each had 15 rubber rings and were also fluid damped.

The SME 30 has 12 bands per pylon, not 15.

Bill

I was a pretty heavy audiophile back in late 70’s and 80’s and never ran across factory suspension with rubber bands back in the day.  I’d say he most likely set this up on his own.  I, on the other had, had my system in a completely separate room away from any feed back from listening room.  

Thank you all for your thoughts. I should have stayed to have a listen!

@wbs

I stand corrected!  The SME website for the Model 30 series two states 60 rubber rings, plus one to counteract the pull of the drive belt, plus two spares!  Of note is the fact that these rings are clearly visible.  Rubber is an elastomer with some self-damping, but additional damping was built into the suspension towers.  The designer aimed for critical damping, so if the deck was pushed down and then released, it would return to the equilibrium position with no overshoot.