Some general observations

[electra225]

You guys wanted "Console Tales", but I'm the only one who has posted to that board. Don't be bashful! This board will be moderated so that there are no comments to the topics posted. Only the original poster (OP) may add to any topic. These topics will be yours and will not be commented on so they don't get off-topic. If you post and want to add something else, you can do that. Moderators will lock your topic if you ask. If someone wants to make a comment, those can be posted on the appropriate board. Tell us about how you acquired a piece of equipment, how you restored it, include pictures if you'd care to.

"Consolettes" is another board that was requested. There are "in-between" instruments, not table models, not full consoles. Some have removable legs. They can be placed on a table without legs, or on the floor with legs. Generally with smaller cabinets than a console. I have a Motorola "portable" stereo with no legs, but yet it's quite large. This might be called a consolette although it sits on a table. Use your own judgment as to what you consider a consolette to be. We wanted to include such instruments so their owners would not feel left out of discussions.

We have been having lots of good information posted on Downloads. Let's remember to include MANUFACTURER IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, followed by model number, followed by nomenclature. I have been editing as necessary so it doesn't get out of control while the feature is still new. It is VITAL that integrity be maintained so the SEARCH function will work better. No abbreviations, no slang. GENERAL ELECTRIC, not GE. VOICE OF MUSIC, not VM. MAGNAVOX, not Maggie. RCA, BSR, etc., are not abbreviations. Be sure to include the model number in the title, even if you include it again in the description. Again, this for the benefit of the search function. The Downloads extension may be so configured that it won't post topics in ascending order.

And finally, if you take the time to look around the forum, you'll see several little "niceties" we didn't have before. If you use the default burgundy style, you'll see where you drag your cursor over turns white. The little symbols are in orange or burgundy, but they also turn white when your cursor contacts them. I am going to activate more little fun symbols that can be included in topic titles to add interest and bring attention to the topic. Kinda like smilies, only in the topic. There is a "Quick Links" feature, in the upper lefthand corner of the index page, under the header, extreme left of the navbar. Clicking on this will reveal several functions, your posts, new posts, unread posts, all kinds of things. Your User Control Panel, accessible under your username, will have different capabilities as well. There, you can choose the style you'd like when that gets here, you can access the Two Factor Authentication feature which will add security to your account.

There are still some details we are working on. I appreciate your patience. The result will be well worth the wait. The forum will be totally up to date as far as forum software is concerned. We will have a secure, spam-free, ad-free forum. We will have more features for everyone to enjoy. We have a website designer now who can help if something happens that would endanger the forum. I chose the burgundy default style because I liked it and wanted more color. Realizing it might not be everybody's cup of tea, we included alternatives. I have received a donation and several nice PM messages from our members, and I appreciate it. I have also had a couple unfortunate comments that might have been better left unsaid. We don't use snark on this forum. You guys have NO idea of how much effort the moderator team has put into these updates. I asked members to post an avatar in anticipation of the updates. I wanted forum integrity by everyone posting an avatar with their signature. I realized this might not be done 100% immediately, but I'd like everyone to work on getting this done. I increased the acceptable size for avatar files. I use a 32" flat panel TV for a computer monitor and the avatars display about two inches square on my monitor.

I thank you all for your participation and patience while we get the updates done. Hopefully, when we're done, we'll have a forum we can all be proud of.

[TC Chris]

You guys wanted "Console Tales", but I'm the only one who has posted to that board. Don't be bashful!

For those if us in northern latitudes, summer is when activity ramps up. June just flies past. I'd trade all of the dismal months, Nov. and Dec., for an extra week in June. But when things slow down I may be able to add something.

Chris Campbell

[Firedome]

Like Chris, it's a super busy, if not crazy, time of year. I've told the tales of my few acquisitions before under the various brand threads, and not inclined to repeat them all over again. Be nice if they could be transferred over to "console tales" but realize that's not gonna happen. More acquiring is the opposite of what's needed for me, by the time one's in their mid-70s the need to de-accession become more pressing. But younger folks might still be in the accumulation phase, and the repairing tales are always interesting, wherever they should go.

[electra225]

We won't move old posts to Console Tales. They have comments that it wouldn't be fair to delete. So, if you would like your stories told on Console Tales, you need to post them there. Totally up to you. We would be interested in reading your tales of acquistion and repair, but understand if you feel that's more bother than it's worth. This has been a busy period for me, this is traditionally the slow time of year for a forum. Even the big forum only had 36 users online when I checked on my noon hour. That is comatose for them. We had 11 online at the same time, respectable for this time of year. You guys wanted a place to share your stories, so here it is. I hope you take the time to enjoy it.