Impact of Safety Regulations on the Sale of Vintage Synths

Interesting. Remember that post on Japan banning the sale of vintage synths due to a law prohibiting the sale of older electronic equipment that does not meet current safety regulations? Well it looks like there is a similar law in the UK. Not sure how long this law has been in effect and the impact it has on the sale of vintage gear. If you know, feel free to share.

Via Tony of Oakley Sound on AH:
"Now there is a law that prevents any unsafe object being sold in the UK.
Some old synths and many 1960s amplifiers would not pass current UK
safety legislation. Thus to sell these items for the customer to use in
a powered up state would probably be illegal or, at least, in breach of
one's liability insurance.

For example it is is very rare to see charity shops selling electrical
goods because the staff do not usually have the training to the test
these items to ensure their safety.

It is quite common to see items that have failed safety tests to be
rendered inoperable. This usually means taping off the mains inlet or
removing the mains plug. This should include stuff being dumped into
landfill since there is a likelihood that the items could get back into
the public domain.

Of course, tape may be removed and plugs rewired, but this then is the
new owner's decision and not the shop where you bought it from. The
shop, maybe this includes private individuals too, must then always
ensure that the buyer is aware that the unit is not to be powered up as
it is.

This also applies to the UK repair service centres as well. No item
returned to the customer must be allowed to be powered up if it has
failed the safety test. Repairing home made stuff is a nightmare in this
respect.

Most items can be modified in such a way as to make them perfectly safe
without affecting the look and feel of the unit.

Tony

www.oakleysound.com"

Followed by:

"I can give one example in the Synth world. The Synthi AKS. It has an illegal [in the UK] mains plug on its front panel. Does one replace this with an IEC [or other arrangement] or leave it as it is? That is a question for the owner to decide."