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The PRC3 was the combination of the new drive system plus a custom designed pump allowing a single box construction. The machine looks essentially as it always has, however 90% of all the parts including the box are now CNC produced. Assembly is still done by hand and all machines are fully tested just like the original machine. Some reviews of the Record Cleaners are listed at the bottom of this page.

Although the PCR3 machine looks essentially the same as ever, a process of continuous quality improvement has resulted in many small technical improvements which have been introduced since its introduction in 1990:

• A new drive system using very high torque motor .
• Three row needle roller bearing centre shaft making for use of the motor torque. This design is completely different to normal turntable bearings to allow long life whilst experiencing considerable force.
• Custom made motor gear box system to drive the cleaning arm.
• Custom made pump system offered in 3 different types, Europe 230 volts, USA 115 volts, Japan 100 volts, 50/60 Hz. (Japan version switchable for 50/60 Hz.)
• Enclosed bearings (4 off) on cleaning arm. These are of the highest grade allowing freedom of movement whilst being considerably more durable than typical pick-up arm types. They also avoid contamination by liquids.

These improvements have been carried over into the PRC2 and PRC4 models, where applicable.

The famous Loricraft Cleaning System is perhaps the finest you can buy and is of particular value to professional studios, used record stores, or serious vinyl collectors that may have a huge investment in their record library. It does an incredible job of cleaning records that may have been poorly handled and stored in the past, or used records that are purchased from pervious owners who did not take care of the record.

Even though this product may be three times the price of some popular "wet system" cleaners, there are several design advantages to produce truly superior results. The Loricraft model PRC3 and PRC4 are handcrafted in the U.K. using only the finest custom made European components.

A bit of history . . . .

The Loricraft PRC3 is based on the work of the late Percy Wilson, Technical Editor of the Gramophone Magazine in England. The prototype (hand made) machine was demonstrated at the Buxton Hi-fi show in the 1960's and drew quite a bit of attention for it's ability to thoroughly clean a record. This scheme has since been used by two companies in similar products.

The design was improved and modernized using state-of-the-art components and by Loricraft Audio. Thousands of units are now used around the world by leading record studios, record dealers, and serious collectors. The product is also very simple to use. More information on the origin of the PRC series is from the Loricraft factory website HERE.

How Record cleaning machines work . . . ..

1. The popular priced record cleaning machines use a basic, low cost Shop Vac "wet/dry" vacuum motor to remove the cleaning fluid from the record. These type motors are for intermittent use only and will seriously overheat if run continuously. Because these motors develop a high RPM in order to develop a net 27 pounds per square inch vacuum at the nozzle, they are extremely loud. An optional cooling fan installation kit is offered by the manufacturers for continuous operation at a cost of about $100.

2. A Vacuum Pickup "Wand" extends over the playing surface of the record and sucks up the fluid applied to the record. Velcro-like strips are cemented to either side of the vacuum "slot" of the pickup tube. Manufacturers of these type machines recommend cleaning the "lips" with a toothbrush after every few cleanings to keep grit, chemical pollution, and dirt from being transferred to the next record being cleaned. If not done religiously contamination from one record can be transferred to the next, and the next, and so on. Manufacturers recommend the Pickup tube be replaced after 200 cleanings (400 sides). The cost of the new tube is between $50-$100.

3 .When vacuuming the cleaning fluid from the record surface two revolutions of the geared down turntable are recommended. More than two turns can cause the vinyl to develop a static charge that will attract dust and particles similar to those just removed. This is due to the friction of the Velcro like material against the vinyl compound.

4. Old records that are slightly rippled or warped are not cleaned fully because the long "wand" nozzle does not lie flat on the record. A slightly warped record may look like a clamshell when cleaning one side, and has a "hump" in the middle when cleaning the other side. The low parts of the record cannot be reached by the flat vacuum tube.

5. Because modern Lp records have a raised outside rim and raised label area to prevent scratching of the records when played on a record changer, the vacuum pickup tube does not make good contact with the beginning of the first band of these records. This is usually the dirtiest part of the record due to fingerprints and airborne particles that collect at the opening of the record jacket. We will describe how the Loricraft handles this problem beautifully.

The Loricraft Audio Cleaning System contains all the active components in the cabinet except for the spent fluid jar which is on the right side, for easy access and visibility.

How is the Loricraft different?

1. The PRC3 uses an expensive European industrial vacuum motor that can run 24 hours a day without overheating. The vacuum system is so quiet you may enjoy playing your records while cleaning others, and you will not wake up the neighbors when the PCR3 is working. Instead of attempting to clean the record in one pass, as the other machines do, the Loricraft has a vacuum arm similar to a phono tone arm that glides over the record. One side of the record is cleaned in less than a minute. The vacuum arm is driven by a separate motor assembly using a clever coupling system.

#30 nylon filament threads out of the center of the nozzle into the evacuation tube.

2. The nylon nozzle tip of the vacuum arm does not touch the record. A fine filament nylon thread threads through the center of the arm and nozzle that allows the arm to lie very close the record. This un-calendared thread acts as a "ski" to support the arm and keep it a small fraction of an inch from the record. In fact, the distance is the thickness of the 30 gauge thread. Terrific suction is developed at the nozzle because of this proximity effect. To illustrate this, use your home canister vacuum cleaner. Remove any attachments from the hose and, while the cleaner is running, slowly move the hose close to the palm of your other hand. As you approach contact, the air velocity will dramatically increase and you will feel the powerful suction. That's how the Loricraft vacuum arm works. It is high intensity, local suction that is not distributed over the whole record (globally). The arm will "ride" up the rim of the record to assure the beginning track of the record is perfectly cleaned.

3 .The vacuum arm is adjusted to about 2.5 grams pressure. A phono tone arm pressure gauge may be used to adjust the exact weight of the arm. The vacuum arm is easily removed from the brass holding cylinder on the plinth by pulling it straight up. The arm drive motor has a circular magnet attached to its shaft that mates to a circular magnet on the bottom of the arm assembly. This permits easily moving the vacuum arm without any damage to the motor, through this unique coupling method. The suction nozzle adjusts automatically to records of any thickness including the new 180 gram audiophile releases.

Nylon cleaning thread feeds the delivery tube and is "vacuumed" out the evacuation tube.

4. The turntable platter moves at 80 RPM which exposes the maximum surface of the record to the moving vacuum arm. The record is absolutely dry because of this action.

5. Before cleaning another record pull out a ¼ inch of fresh thread from the thread feed tube. This assures clean thread is in contact with the record and will not transfer contamination from the last cleaning. The excess USED thread is sucked into the fluid vacuum tube and is deposited in the USED fluid reservoir jar.

Nylon bristle brush is held lightly on spinning record.  

6. The top cover of the PRC3 is made of a tough acrylic material that makes cleaning extremely easy. If you splash cleaning fluid on the machine, simply wipe it up with a tissue.

7. The three control switches on the top panel (Turntable, Arm, and Pump) are jacketed with a rubber cover to keep fluids from corroding the metal switches.

When the spent fluid bottle is half full, remove and wash bottle.

8. A "spent" cleaning fluid reservoir jar is attached to the side of the machine by an expandable strap. This makes removal very easy in order to dispose of the fluid. The fluid level is clearly visible and the bottle should be "dumped" every month or so, depending on frequency you use the cleaning machine.

9. The nylon thread spool contains 100 yards of media (the length of a football field) and, with ¼ inch used per record, should last for thousands of record cleanings. Only clean thread should touch the record.

10. A Nylon bristle brush (to drive the fluid into the grooves until fully wetted), and a spool of nylon thread it furnished with each system. Why nylon? It's anti-static!

11. Any of the popular record cleaning solutions that work with other brand machines may be used with the Loricraft System. We include a free bottle of the L'Art du Son record cleaning solution with each machine to sample.

Arm is easily removed. Note the magnet on bottom of the assembly.
The magnet couples to another magnet on the motor to allow free
and easy movement of the arm without damaging the motor.

• Cleans any size record including 16 inch ET (Electrical Transcriptions)
• Effectively cleans warped and rippled records.
• Superior cleaning of modern records with raised rim on the outside edge of the record.
• No contamination of record from debris and chemicals from last records cleaned.
• Inexpensive replacement of the medium. One spool of thread lasts for thousands of cleanings.
• Very quiet European industrial grade vacuum pump.
• Absolutely no damage to your valuable records.
• Separate control switches for turntable motor, vacuum arm, and vacuum pump.
• European craftsmanship. Made is the U.K. Full 5-year limited warranty in Australia by Decibel Hi Fi. No need to return the machine to England for any necessary repairs.
• Equals or exceeds the performance of professional record cleaners that are 3 times the price.

The Loricraft Audio System cleans records up to 16 inches. This is one of the very few record cleaning machines  that can handle Electrical Transcriptions.

The Loricraft Record Cleaning System includes a limited manufacturers warranty of five years against manufacturing defects or craftsmanship. Repair, if ever needed, is performed at the SMART Devices, Inc. factory in Norcross, Georgia.