RE: arsclist 78 cleaning machines.

["Susan Harvey" <sharvey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

A number of folks on the list have written to ask about my experiences with
this machine.  Bear in mind that  I am  a novice in this field (other than
from my personal use of phono records owning a fairly sophisticated
turntable that was purchased approximately 15 years ago.)

While I agree that the concept behind the machine is the ideal,  Mr. Newton
and I clearly have a difference of opinion about Common Sense.  For us, it
was indeed unfortunate that we were unable to See It, and Touch It before we
Bought the Monks machine two years ago.  Our difficulties began within a
week of receiving the machine.  Since receiving it we have cleaned
approximately 600 records with it and have recently had to replace the
motor - for an additional cost of $380-because the turntable would not stay
attached to the record spindle.  Although I feel our model was faulty and
shipped improperly (the instructions described removing the packaging blocks
from around the motor by unscrewing a certain number of wing nuts-our
packaging blocks, screws and wing nuts were in the carton, but were sealed
in a plastic bag along with the hex screwdriver supplied with the machine)
we have received no credit on our purchase. I corresponded with Mr. Newton
immediately regarding this detail-before ever turning the machine on-and
continued to be in touch with him throughout the initial period of
use-until, that is, he suggested making me an award for being the only
person who'd had so many problems with the Keith Monks Archivist Machine.

 When I was unable to find a source for additional supplies and replacement
parts, I wrote (snail mail) Mr. Monks in Gt. Britain-and was then contacted
by another member of this list.   We were led to believe the problem with
the turntable would be solved without cost in May of 2000.  The machine was
not used for  almost a year, and when, upon resuming its use, the problem
persisted, I wrote our new contact  and he told me we would have to send the
70+ pound machine to New York City to have a replacement motor installed.
He finally agreed to ship us the motor, which we received a few weeks ago.
We have not installed it yet.

I quite agree with Mr. Newton about Observation.  While in use, the machine
cannot be left unattended-especially during the vacuuming stage.  When the
vacuum nozzle reaches the edge of the disc,  it will drop down on the deck
of the machine, potentially damaging the nozzle-another costly replacement
item, and must be manually moved to its arm rest.

I do not think we are lacking in common sense here, but as I've stated, feel
we received a faulty machine and were not in any way compensated for it.  I
suggest anyone interested in purchasing the Monks machine make every effort
to observe one in operation before taking the buying plunge.

Susan Harvey
Head of Library Technical Services
Del Mar College
101 Baldwin
Corpus Christi, TX   78404

Voice:    361/698-1183
FAX:        361/698-1158

sharvey@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	owner-ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]  On Behalf Of Graham Newton
Sent:	Saturday, August 18, 2001 4:51 PM
To:	ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc:	Karl Miller
Subject:	Re: arsclist 78 cleaning machines.

Karl Miller <lyaa071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said to the ARSC list...

> We have two of the old twin turntable Monks machines. I adapted one for
> use with 16 inch discs. I have been using them for almost 20 years or so.
> Over time the tubing has required replacement and/or cleaning. I have not
> had to replace any parts other than tubing and the belt that moves the
> arm over the record. Minor adjustments were needed every now and then.
> When it comes time to add more fluid and clean out the other jar, I am
> always amazed at the stuff it has lifted from the records.

Hello Karl and others on the list...

The Monks machines are definitely workhorses.  They are built like a tank
and are easy to maintain, as you have found, and it doesn't take a Ph.D. to
do it, just a liberal application of common sense and observation.  These
things will run 24 hours a day if need be.

> As for the cost...I have never understood why it costs so much. The
> concept is simple enough and I find it difficult to believe that the parts
> are very expensive. I can only assume that there is not enough demand to
> mass produce the machine.

The machines are assembled one-at-a-time, certainly not on a production
line since, as you surmise, the demand is simply not there to warrant
making, say 1,000 machines at a time.  Machines have to be made for various
power supplies and line frequencies since they are sold all over the world,
and the various electrical parts have to be inventoried to be able to do
this.

The motors, gearing and pumps are "long lead time" special orders to their
manufacturers and have been the subject of many delivery problems over time.
Special assemblies like the suction arm can't be bought off the shelf...
they
have to be made by an engineering company to the needed specification.  Some
of these items are expensive to make in relatively small quantities, much of
the cost being in set-ups.

Example: I investigated the cost of making special size brushes to exactly
suit 10" and 16" discs for those people who wanted to specifically clean
those sizes alone (standard supplied brushes are optimized for 12" discs).
I found so many problems with potential suppliers to make small quantities
(1,000 pieces at a time) that the idea was abandoned after trying a bunch of
different ideas to avoid a $10,000 dollar mold cost for EACH special size!
If the demand was there, Monks could support it, but it is not, and it would
not make good business sense for him to do so.

Yes, the Monks machines are expensive, but they work well and are very long
lasting.  How many other things have you bought that you can still use after
20 years, further, that you can still get parts for?

Do the math...  a Monks machine will last, but another machine you may need
to replace 5 or 10 times in the same period as they wear out.
Karl clearly got exemplary service from his 20 year old Monks machine.


... Graham Newton

--
Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, http://www.audio-restoration.com
World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
recordings for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR processes.
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