Thorens
Turntables - 140+ years Swiss heritage, suspended sub-chassis, current German manufacturing
Reservations: bankruptcy in 1999, major continuity break. Swiss in name only: headquarters and manufacturing in Germany (Bergisch Gladbach) for a long time. Current owner Gunter Kurten is a professional manager (ex-ELAC, ex-Denon), not the founding family. Dynamic relaunch but interrupted heritage.
Philosophy
Thorens was born in 1883 in Sainte-Croix, Switzerland, in the Swiss precision mechanics tradition (music boxes, phonographs). The TD 124 (1957) is considered one of the greatest turntables ever made. The Linn LP12 is directly derived from the Thorens TD 150. Under Gunter Kurten (since 2018), the brand modernizes while respecting the analog heritage.
History
Hermann Thorens, 1883, Sainte-Croix, Swiss Jura. The village of music boxes and precision mechanics. Thorens started with music boxes and clock movements, moved to Edison phonographs in 1903, then horn gramophones. In 1928, first electric gramophone motor and first magnetic pickup, landmark innovations. By the late 1920s, the factory employed 1,200 people. Sainte-Croix lived to the rhythm of Thorens.
Hermann died in 1943. The company continued, diversified: disc cutting machines, changers, even a mechanical razor called "Riviera." Then in 1957, the TD 124. Developed for studios and audiophiles, idler-and-belt drive, suspended sub-chassis. Produced until 1968, it's now considered one of the greatest turntables ever made. Restored units sell for $2-3,000 on the vintage market. On enthusiasts: "this is a special turntable."
In 1963, merger with Paillard SA (cameras, typewriters). That's where the TD 150 was born in 1965, Thorens' first belt-drive turntable with suspended sub-chassis. Hi-Fi News says it clearly: "all suspended sub-chassis belt-drive decks after the TD 150 - especially Linn's LP12 - owe Thorens a massive 'Thanks!'" The LP12, the world's most famous turntable, is directly derived from the TD 150. Thorens invented the concept Linn made famous.
Golden age in the 70s-80s: TD 160, TD 126 (considered at one point the best production turntable in the world), and in 1979 the Thorens Reference, a 90 kg monster. Then CD arrived, vinyl declined. Ownership changes, gradual relocation to Germany. Bankruptcy in 1999. End of original Thorens.
Heinz Rohrer took over in 2001. Gunter Kurten (ex-ELAC, ex-Denon) bought in 2018. HQ and manufacturing in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. Swiss in name only. The TD 124 DD, modern direct-drive reissue, divides purists. On specialist forums: "Thorens have the history and heritage" but "not what they used to be." Vintage worshipped. Modern decent. The link to Sainte-Croix is broken.
Iconic Products
TD 124 (1957)
The legend. Produced 1957-1968. Idle애호가 drive, suspended sub-chassis. Now worshipped as a vinyl grail - restored units sell for $2-3,000. On 애호가들: 'this is a special turntable.' The turntable that defined what 'turntable' means.
TD 124 DD (reedition)
The modern reissue. Direct drive (DD), homage to the original TD 124. 8,000-10,000 euros. Kurten's gamble: resurrect the legend. Divides purists - it's an homage, not an original.
TD 1601
Suspended sub-chassis, belt drive, modernized classic heritage. No cartridge - Thorens lets the customer choose. The sensible choice for those wanting new Thorens without the TD 124 DD price.