I recently received a Beogram 4002 (Type 5513) from Arizona. It needed complete functional restoration. The unit arrived without its cover, shipped in a Beolover container, which is a great way to ensure safe transportation.

Here’s the unit as it looked when unpacked:

While a little dirty, it’s in decent condition except for the worn-out keypad:

Hopefully, these keypads can be professionally refurbished. On a positive note, the base is in good shape, with almost pristine corners:

Removing the aluminum plates revealed the inside:

The unit appears largely unmodified, which is ideal for restoration. There are pieces of deteriorated transport lock bushings scattered around – a common issue for its age:

As expected, the plastic pulley on the carriage spindle is cracked. My customer mentioned gluing it to the shaft – not ideal! Removing it to install an aluminum replacement will be interesting. The belt is also clearly at the end of its lifespan:

Having spent a few years in an RV, the floating chassis springs are quite rusty:

While not a major concern, it does look a bit rough.

I plugged it in and pressed START. The carriage moved slowly, the arm reached the record’s starting point, and then – nothing. The solenoid wasn’t engaging. I stopped it and waited for the carriage to return. After manually cycling the arm mechanism a few times, the solenoid started working. This suggests hardened lubricants are the issue, solvable with thorough cleaning and re-lubrication. The platter motor made noise, which is also not unusual. These motors typically have dry bearings that need re-oiling.

Overall, it’s a promising candidate for restoration. I anticipate this Beogram will function and look like new with a refurbished keypad.