Thorens TD124 Serial Numbers – How to Date Your Turntable
The Thorens TD124 is one of the most highly regarded idler-drive turntables ever produced and remains a firm favourite with collectors, enthusiasts and restorers.
One question we are frequently asked at RetroTone is:
“How old is my Thorens TD124?”
Fortunately, the serial number can give us a reasonably good indication of when a TD124 was manufactured.
Unfortunately, Thorens does not appear to have left us with a complete surviving factory register linking every serial number to an exact production date.
What we do have is a growing body of information compiled from surviving turntables, dated sales invoices, original documentation and research by Thorens historians.
From this, it is possible to estimate the manufacturing date of most TD124 turntables with useful accuracy.
When was the Thorens TD124 made?
The original Thorens TD124 was introduced in 1957.
Production began with serial number 1001 rather than starting from serial number 1.
The original cream-finished TD124, commonly referred to today as the TD124 Mk I, remained in production until approximately the spring of 1965.
It was then replaced by the grey-finished TD124/II, generally known as the TD124 Mk II.
Importantly, Thorens did not restart the serial numbering when the Mk II was introduced. The serial number sequence simply continued.
Production of the TD124/II appears to have continued until approximately the end of 1967, although turntables remained available through distributors and dealers for some time afterwards.
This explains why some TD124s have purchase dates considerably later than their likely manufacturing dates.
Approximate Thorens TD124 serial number guide
The following table should be treated as a practical guide rather than an exact factory record.
| Serial Number | Approximate Date | Model / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1001–6,000 | 1957 | Very early TD124 Mk I |
| 6,000–12,000 | 1958 | Early Mk I |
| 12,000–20,000 | 1959 | Mk I |
| 20,000–27,000 | 1960 | Mk I |
| 27,000–32,000 | 1961 | Mk I |
| 32,000–38,000 | 1962 | Mk I |
| 38,000–45,000 | 1963–64 | Mk I |
| 45,000–52,000 | 1964 | Mk I |
| 52,000–59,2xx | 1964–Spring 1965 | Late Mk I |
| Approx. 59,3xx onwards | 1965 | Early TD124/II |
| 60,000–70,000 | 1965–66 | TD124/II |
| 70,000–82,000 | 1966 | TD124/II |
| 82,000–94/95,000 | 1967 | Late TD124/II |
Because production rates were not necessarily constant throughout the life of the turntable, this table should not be used to calculate dates simply by dividing serial numbers evenly between years.
For most turntables we would suggest allowing an accuracy of approximately six months to one year unless additional evidence is available.
Useful known serial-number reference points
Several surviving TD124s provide particularly useful dating information.
Serial No. 1001
Thorens TD124 production began with serial number 1001 in 1957.
Research by Thorens historian Joachim Bung suggests that serial number 1102 was produced during approximately the first or second month of production.
This makes very low four-digit TD124 serial numbers particularly interesting historically.
Serial No. 14302
A documented TD124 with serial number 14302 has been dated to approximately 1959.
This provides a useful reference point for turntables in the 10,000–20,000 serial-number range.
Serial No. 29304
One particularly valuable reference is TD124 serial number 29304, which has survived with an original dealer invoice dated December 1961.
A dated contemporary invoice provides much stronger evidence than simply estimating production from serial numbers.
Naturally, the manufacturing date may have been somewhat earlier than the retail sale date.
Around serial No. 40,000
A TD124 in the 40,000 serial-number range has been documented with an original purchase receipt dated 21 March 1964.
Again, the machine itself was probably manufactured some time before its retail sale.
The Mk I to Mk II changeover
One of the most interesting areas of TD124 production concerns the transition between the original cream TD124 and the grey TD124/II.
Research suggests that this occurred in approximately the 59,000 serial-number range during spring 1965.
A late cream Mk I has been documented with serial number 59222, while an early grey TD124/II has been documented with serial number 59320.
This tells us that the Mk I to Mk II changeover occurred somewhere within this relatively narrow range.
It is also possible that some overlap occurred while existing parts were used, so we would never identify a turntable solely from a serial number without also inspecting the machine itself.
Other features that can help date a TD124
Serial numbers are extremely useful, but they should ideally be combined with the physical characteristics of the turntable.
Over its production life the TD124 underwent a number of smaller design and component changes. These can sometimes help narrow down the date considerably.
Early armboard shape
Very early TD124 turntables used a different armboard arrangement from later machines.
The earliest version has a more square-ended or straight-sided armboard opening.
Later TD124s use the more familiar angled armboard shape.
Research suggests that the transition occurred somewhere around the 7,000–8,000 serial-number region, although surviving examples show that the change cannot be assigned to one exact serial number.
This is a useful clue when identifying very early TD124s.
Inner platter or flywheel colour
Another useful feature is the heavy cast-iron inner platter, sometimes referred to as the flywheel.
Earlier TD124s, broadly below approximately serial number 30,000, are commonly found with the earlier dark green version.
Later machines usually have the lighter green finish.
However, caution is needed. The TD124 has now been in service for more than 60 years, and parts have frequently been exchanged between machines.
A turntable fitted with an early flywheel is therefore not automatically an early production example.
The chassis serial number should always be regarded as the primary reference.
TD124 Mk I versus TD124 Mk II
The original TD124 and the later TD124/II can usually be distinguished immediately by their finish.
The original TD124 is normally finished in the familiar cream or off-white colour.
The TD124/II uses a grey chassis finish and incorporates a number of detail improvements.
The Mk II was not assigned a new serial-number sequence.
This is important when dating the turntable. For example, serial numbers around 59,000 can belong either to one of the final Mk I machines or one of the first Mk II machines.
Why purchase dates can be misleading
It is quite common to find a TD124 supplied with original documentation showing a purchase date later than its likely manufacturing year.
This does not necessarily indicate an error.
Thorens turntables were exported internationally and passed through importers, distributors and dealers before reaching their first owner.
A turntable could therefore remain in stock for months, or occasionally considerably longer, before being sold.
This seems particularly relevant to the final TD124/II models.
Although production appears to have ended around 1967, new TD124 turntables were reportedly still being supplied by some dealers into the late 1960s and possibly around 1970.
For this reason we distinguish wherever possible between manufacturing date and original sale date.
Has your TD124 been modified?
Another complication is that many TD124s have been repaired, upgraded or rebuilt during their lifetime.
Common changes include:
- Replacement motors
- Replacement inner platters
- Replacement main platters
- Modified or replacement armboards
- Replacement switches and controls
- Later wiring
- Replacement bearings
- Replacement suspension components
- Parts transplanted from another TD124
None of this is necessarily undesirable.
A properly restored TD124 will often contain a mixture of carefully restored original components and high-quality replacement parts.
RetroTone also manufactures and supplies a range of Thorens spares and upgrades, including parts specifically for the TD124.
For example, damaged or warped original top platters can be replaced with our Thorens TD124 billet aluminium top platter.
However, when attempting to date a machine, we always begin with the serial number on the chassis and then compare the physical features of the turntable with what would normally be expected for that production period.
How accurately can we date a TD124?
For most TD124 turntables, the serial number should allow the manufacturing date to be estimated to approximately a year.
In some cases, particularly where a machine sits close to a known documented example, it may be possible to narrow the estimate further.
The best evidence includes:
- The chassis serial number
- Original sales receipts
- Original warranty documents
- Dealer or distributor labels
- Motor and component date markings
- Original packaging
- Known family ownership history
- Production-specific physical features
Combining several of these clues is far more reliable than relying on one feature alone.
We are building our own TD124 serial-number database
At RetroTone we regularly service and restore Thorens TD124 turntables.
As more machines pass through our workshop, we intend to record serial numbers together with their original features and any surviving historical documentation.
Over time, this should allow the production timeline to be refined further.
Useful information includes:
- Serial number
- TD124 Mk I or TD124/II
- Chassis colour
- Motor type
- Inner platter type and colour
- Armboard type
- Original voltage specification
- Component date markings
- Original invoice or purchase date
- Country in which the turntable was originally sold
If you own a particularly original TD124 with documented history, we would be very interested to hear from you.
Want us to help date your Thorens TD124?
If you have a Thorens TD124 and would like help estimating its age, send us the serial number together with a few clear photographs of the turntable, including the chassis, motor area and identification labels.
We can normally give you a good indication of its production period and may also be able to identify whether components have been changed during its life.
RetroTone specialises in the servicing, restoration and upgrading of classic turntables, including Thorens TD124, TD125, TD150 and TD160 series turntables, together with classic models from Garrard, Lenco, Rega and many other manufacturers.
You can also browse our Thorens replacement parts and upgrades.
Sources and further reading
Much of the detailed serial-number research into the Thorens TD124 has been undertaken by Joachim Bung, author of Swiss Precision / Schweizer Präzision.
His research documenting surviving TD124 turntables and production variations has proved particularly valuable in refining the serial-number timeline.
For further detail, see Joachim Bung’s article “Klarheit über Seriennummern” – details of Thorens TD124 serial numbers.
His article on very early Thorens TD124 examples also provides useful information on early armboards, platter colours and surviving low serial-number machines.
Additional information has been gathered from surviving turntables with original sales documentation and discussions within the international Thorens enthusiast and restoration community.
As new documented examples become available, the information in this guide will be updated.
