Ah, but then you didn't see how beautifully they clean up - like spanky new.  Seriously the IIX was so nice I was almost tempted to keep it.  I was very impressed with the way it was screwed together. They fetch very good prices in Germany and Italy for some strange reason   ... actually not that strange, maybe the Germans and Italians know something we Brits don't seem to.

More than can be said for Thorens decks, which after a few months in a speaker designers garage seem to mostly turn into pieces of junk 

Things aren't so bad.  I'll email when I get a chance.