"I think I remember the motor mount being a rubber band? Class!"
Yes, the first suspension was via rubber bands, but not the sort you buy over the counter. I doubt whether Arnold Sugden was a supporter of the class system, or whether he intended his turntable to be purchased primarily by the aristocracy.
I understand that Arnold Sugden designed special rubber bands, selected as fit for purpose. However, I wonder how many more posters on this thread will stop there failing to realise that, as with many other turntables, there have been improved later models. Decades ago, an improved suspension using a different design and an improved motor became standard. Even so, the test specs using the original rubber band suspension and original motor are there for all to see.
However, I add to what Have Fun has quoted from the original Connoisseur Instructions supplied with my new BD1 in 1969.
The Connoisseur turntable is a precision engineered product expressly designed to provide a top grade no compromise performance at a modest cost
All running shafts are of high quality carbon steel, lapped and polished with diamond dust to a mirror finish. The main turntable bearing is of phosphor bronze and incorporated a hard steel thrust ball reducing friction and wear to a minimum
This unit was designed to be better than necessary . Over a long period of time the spindle/bearing interface will improve and performance should improve if anything, instead of deteriorate. Whether this will happen and happen in every case I do not know, but I DO KNOW THAT I am still using my first spindle and bearing after 41 years of regular use. I bought the unit new.
There is no evidence I can find of any bearing wear affecting the sound adversely. And I add that for many years I have been kick starting the motor by pressing down on the record clamp and twirling it. This speaks volumes about the quality of the build as does the fact that in 41 years of use I have only had to replace one motor, and that was because the Hi Fi News Flutterbuster broke down and burned out the BD1 motor in the process. I doubt whether anyone in the next hundred years using my BD1 will have to replace either the spindle, the bearing and perhaps not even the motor.
I trust that the above is of some use to any open minded person wanting a first rate turntable at a bargain basement cost. In modified form (see my AC articles) it performs even better.
If you want inky silent background (no noise) and absolutely no audible rumble to interfere with low level detail, get a Connoisseur BD1 and modify it. If not, go and spent up to thousands of pounds and you may then be satisfied, and a carrier of the British turntable disease: turntableitis!.