It seems to include really bad basic engineering. Platter motors
generally are more prone to speed variations, both short term and
long term, when they are placed under a heavier load.

Actually, the motor is not under the platter on these models

I never said it was.

I guess I miss-interpreted "under a heavier load" I thought you were
implying direct drive mechanisms... sorry about that...

I aggree though about the speed control. I'm only guessing but I think
the viscous solution was also implemented for a dampening effect as the
pan was direct coupled to the bearing mechanism.

If that's the case, the designer REALLY didn't know what he was doing. Why
go out of the way to cause speed variations and then try to dampen them?

Thats quite a supposition since these tables are "vintage" tables
dating back to the 60's decade. Not to say there wasn't any 'cutting
edge' table from that era... but I think the "REALLY" bit is a little
armchair quarterbacking... I would presume that if any of these
designers knew what they know now, back then, there would have been
some very different tables produced... so let it be...

I think they knew what they were doing, made a lot of mistakes,
enjoyed it, made some money (or not) and evolved...

I can't speculate as to its properties with motion and consistency
(drag)...

The basic means of speed control was to cause drag. This probably induced
greater short and long term variations than it could possibly dampen out.

Not the point I was making... obviously the "means of speed control
was to cause drag" however, what I can't speculate on however unlikely
is how stable the solution was under centrifugal forces - i/e was the
table counting on a solution essestially static or not for its "drag."
Regardless, these are moot engineering questions. The suggestion was
does this very very viscous solution dampen any inherent vibration in
the table - and even if it doesn't, which it probably didn't, was that
a selling point? which I think it was.. even if it did nothing at
all... you know how it goes... :-)

This is becomming a little off topic now... the table is very cool...
spins vinyl well and with a good tonearm cartidge setup sounds
alright... but no bargin in lieu of all the budjet/ and used
"high-end" tables available for much less which probably can offer
noticeable impovments in sound quality for less money (compared to
what? I don't know....)

Jordan