Leslie,
My first thought was that I couldn't be bothered answering your question but, hey, I
am a technical advisor and that comes with certain obligations so let me take this
opportunity to set some things straight;
First: I don't have this belt (EDIT: I do now - read on!). I haven't been able to find a producer capable of reproducing its tricky properties.
I can get close - but not quite home and dry.
Or in other words, not something I would put my name on.
Hardly a week goes by without requests for round belts. - I could have sold hundreds. But I didn't!
Second: Many - hundreds - bought cheap belts only to run into trouble. I know because I supplied and in some cases
even fitted correct belts later (and repaired whatever problems the wrong belts caused).
I have a glass jar in my repairshop with cheap chinese or japanese (EDIT: and recently an alarmingly increasing number of portuguese) (no offense intended) belts "guaranteed to fit".
I took them out of Beocords and Beograms arriving here for repairs.
Next to the jar on the shelf is a cardboard carton with motors, about fourty or so, Beocord motors in particular, typically with their
delicate sinter-bronze bearings damaged from a too strong sideways pull introduced by a wrong belt.
I haven't tested Axels belts myself (as far as I remember) but I've tried some other services of his and
I've only heard good things about him and his work.
Leslie, I have tested and compared belts from more producers and suppliers than I care count.
(That includes the supplier you linked to).
I am not saying that the particular belt you link to is no good, but through all my years a clear pattern can be seen;
Most belts (if not all) found on Ebay and elsewhere at about a 5 euro cost per belt (some even down to a few cents!),
are all standard off-the-shelf sizes and they are typically only good for burger wrappings - no good in B&Os.
The size may seem just about right (in some cases) but they either didn't test their products thoroughly or they simply didn't
care about elasticity, friction, long time effects, let alone happy repeat buyers.
Here on Beoworld alone, you will be able to find dozens of owners, who tried the cheapo belts first...
Remember the other suppliers run business' and need to make a profit, - their belts must be really, (REALLY!) cheap products...
At some point I paused from selling belts on Ebay because buyers confused me for other seller(s) and
complained to me about belts they bought elsewhere.
I had enough of it.
And I know what the belts cost to produce because I am having most of my belts custom produced.
Keep in mind that no supplier can safely count on a sale of 50.000 belts of one type within a
reasonable time frame of, say, two or three years to guarantee freshness.
A typical minimum production count is normally in the 500.000 units range so any
production amount smaller than this will mean a higher unit-price.
About ten or fifteen years ago, B&O reproduced the round Beogram type belts.
Their retail price was about DKK 440 (EUR 60).
THEY worked! - And they were gone as quick as gin and lime.
Buy one from each of the many suppliers, compare them to the original and you will
know exactly what I am talking about!
There's a huge difference down to the junk you can buy for a handful of euros!
I think Frede of Classic Audio in Struer also attempted a reproduction a few years ago, I remember he and I discussing
it, but it seems to be stranded for some reason.
I make no profit on the belts, I sell.
Or at least very little, and that mainly because I have to counter for minute swings in
currency exchange rates.
But it's a free world, you are free to buy whatever you like and where you like.
And by all means, go buy the cheap stuff!
Afterall you won't be using the units yourself for more than a few hours before selling them on, right ?
The long-term effects isn't your problem, then.
Hey - you will even save a few euros!
Frankly; It's comments like yours that makes me stop and think if this is really
worth all the trouble.
I can use my belts myself.
I don't have to sell anything.
I don't have to recommend anything.
I don't have to share my experience and
I don't have to advice owners against buying something that will eventually cause damage.
You are absolute right, it's not my problem. - So why do I care ?
Have a nice summer ! 🙂
Martin