Thorens TD 184 (1958–1962)
A Swiss-made 4-speed turntable with fully automatic operation and a dial-based record size selector.
Overview
The Thorens TD 184 was built in Switzerland by Thorens from 1958 to 1962. It sold well right away, and buyers liked the design and how easy it was to use. Operation is fully automatic, with auto-shut-off. The odd part is the "dialortatic" control. One dialing motion selects 7", 10", or 12" record size and also starts playback. Power comes from a 4-pole induction motor through a belt-idler wheel drive. The integral tonearm is wired for stereo. The drive mechanism is shared with a larger Thorens transcription model.
Specifications
| Drive | belt-idler wheel mechanism from a 4-pole induction type motor |
| Speeds | 4-speed |
| Operation | fully automatic with auto-shut-off |
| Features | integral arm, wired for stereo |
| Features | adjustable-speed drive |
| Features | "dialortatic" operation: one dialing motion selects 7", 10", or 12" record size, starts the... |
| Dimensions | 380 x 300 (chassis) |
| Weight | approx. 5.8 kg |
| Original price | approx. 350 DM |
| Made in | Switzerland |
| Color | Grey |
Design
The TD 184 is built around its "dialortatic" system, which picks the record size and starts playback in one motion. The drive is a belt-idler type powered by a 4-pole induction motor. The integral tonearm is wired for stereo. The chassis measures 380 x 300 and the unit weighs approximately 5.8 kg.
Context
The TD 184 came out in 1958 and was an overnight sales hit. People liked the design and the extremely easy operation. It shares its drive mechanism with a larger Thorens transcription model.
Market
A restored example was listed for €600 in Italy in March 2026. Restoration commonly involves the E 50 motor, often done by Schopper AG with spring decoupling.
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Related Models
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- Thorens TD-150 (1965)
- Thorens TD-225 (1975)
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- Luxman PD-310 (1981)
- Luxman PD-555 (1983)
- Harman Kardon kardon-turntables (1975)
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