RCA Victor 3VF619 - 1963 upright console

[Motorola minion]

I saw this on CL in Doylestown, north of PHL. Tempting price but not anywhere I can "swing by" on my work travels.

This is a similar model 4VF480

Speakers mounted up high, bass would not suffer TOO much if the cabinet is sufficiently reinforced.

These RCA high boys (spinnet console?) have three fine features common to the better RCA models.

1-RS177 PP6BQ5 stereo amplifier which is comparable to a Mag 93 series, Motorola HS-696 or Zenith 7K31 to restore.

2-RP218 record changer, a great unit but always needs a cartridge fitted because originals dried/shrunk excessively

3-RC1205C tuner uses a 6FG6 eye tube and has on-board mpx decoder, improved (German-made) tuner using a 6C9

[William]

Dave, I'm not sure about RCA's chassis numbers but I presume this unit is PP?

Bill

[Motorola minion]

Dave, I'm not sure about RCA's chassis numbers but I presume this unit is PP?

Bill

Yes, indeed but this is a 2 channel like my 3VF516 below.

Note : RCA 3 channel amps also came in both single-ended versions and push pull.

[Firedome]

Had one once, liked the cool "tilt-out" receiver. The 2 ch PP 6bq5 amp and record player were fine, the tuner, OK, but the biggest weakness was the speakers. They're mounted in the top section in 1 big open rectangular compartment, not sealed, just Masonite on the back, the drivers were also pretty ordinary, iirc 10" woofer and a couple run-of-the-mill cone-type smaller units. The sound was spectacularly unimpressive so I moved it on (intact - the cab was very nice) quickly and cheaply. Also imagine this furniture style and hutch configuration would be a tough sell now. You mighta dodged a bullet on this one. That free one out in Elmira I mentioned a few months back near Dushore was the same thing but in a normal (low style, not hutch) console.

[William]

Dave, I have an RCA model VCR-45 (I find it funny that the model is a VCR) 3 channel stereo with a 15" woofer and swingout/removable speakers. 5U4 rectifier and three sets of PP 6BQ5's. The preamp section uses lots of 6CG7's and the tuner is PT powered with a 35W4 rectifier. Unfortunately, it still needs to be rebuilt and is on the someday list. I have no idea how it will sound, but I'm guessing it should sound pretty good.

Bill

[Motorola minion]

Dave, I have an RCA model VCR-45 (I find it funny that the model is a VCR) 3 channel stereo with a 15" woofer and swingout/removable speakers. 5U4 rectifier and three sets of PP 6BQ5's. The preamp section uses lots of 6CG7's and the tuner is PT powered with a 35W4 rectifier. Unfortunately, it still needs to be rebuilt and is on the someday list. I have no idea how it will sound, but I'm guessing it should sound pretty good.

Bill

I know someone that has one and is restoring it now. Its a compact but very pretty console that could easily get the "sleeper" designation for what's inside. 6CG7 is a great dual triode but only has 20% the gain of a 12AX7.

[William]

Thanks, Dave, I guess time will tell once I get it restored. Please let me know once your friend has his restored, I would love to hear from you on how it sounds.

Bill