Curtis-Mathes

[William]

I found the Curtis-Mathes while looking on Craigs list. It looks in really good condition but the R to R is missing. Does anyone recognize the cartridge?

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/ele/ ... 19398.html

Bill

[electra225]

According to Gary's website, it appears to be a Euphonics U-model, U8, U9, U10, or U11. The style of the needle is distinctive.

[Dr. Radio]

Cutis-Mathes?

Oh, you mean Backus-Hurtus.

[walyfd]

That is an impressive console. Despite the disdain for provincial style, that cabinet shows great craftsmanship, much like the Fisher Widdicomb cabinets.

I see a lot of similarly in that to my Executive. The tambour doors are a nice touch.

CM was a good brand.

[electra225]

Is this some version of the Royal Dane? At 62" this must have been one of their "compact" models. Most CM cabinets were larger than that. I like the finish.

[William]

Has anyone ever heard a Curtis-Mathis? Their cabinets are impressive, very high quality, but I have never heard one.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

Probably one of the nicer ones I have seen ... usually they are just long unassuming rectangles that fall apart

[William]

So why do they fall part?

Bill

[hermitcrab]

Cabinets produced at the end of CM were particle board queens that swelled up with moisture ...and fell apart when you tried to move them... I'm sure the bean counters had something to do with that

[William]

I understand, and CM went cheap on the cabinets just like everyone else did. Very sad!

Bill

[Conelrad]

When I was in high school in the late 60's, I had an after school job at the local parts house in Yuma.

Evey service man needing parts for any CM product cussed them on the way in and the way out.

Cussed about the pains working on the modular approach builds.

Never touched one myself.

[William]

Thanks, Conelrad. I have never seen one up close and personal to see how they are built or to hear how they sound. The cabinets make them look hi-end and impressive but as I have found out being an old guy, looks can be very deceiving.

Bill

[electra225]

There was a TV repairman in town that sold and serviced Curtis Mathes stuff. I always thought CM was a cheap line by the late 1960's. Probably compared to Zenith and the big RCA's, it was. My stepdad sold GE, and it was a "cost leader" make by then. You could get really high-end GE stuff, you could get really cheap GE stuff. I'm guessing CM was similar. Conelrad's comments about parts lends credence to this theory.