GE early stereo console, misidentified date

[stbasil]

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... browse_tab

Any ideas about this guy? Looks like it might have decent speakers, late 50's maybe? Wondering if it has tape/aux input, pics too fuzzy to tell...

[William]

The first thing I can tell you is that it's not from the 1940's. I would say late 50's to early 60's. I also can't see the GE name plate anyplace and it does not look like anything I have ever seen that GE made. I like the looks of it, have you reached out to the owner for more info. Maybe a shot of the back with model info? Or maybe with the back off so you can see the guts? I can kind of read the names on the functions switch under the tuner and I do not see aux.

Bill

[electra225]

What Bill said.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

1. The record changer is a Glaser-Steers 3000.
It dates to 1963 in Sams.
I recognized the unique 12 inch selector tab there.

2. I believe G.E. bought out G-S in 1964, so this
could be a G.E.

Without any obvious branding, still some doubt.

[Brettzky99]

Pass

Look for Motorola, Zenith, Magnavox over GE

[William]

I am a sucker for the odd console so my curiosity wants to know more before I would say pass. Curiosity with what's under the hood, model number and what brand it really is. It just does not look like any GE I have ever seen from the 1960's

Bill

[electra225]

I used to believe that most GE audio stuff was pretty much junk. My stepdad was a GE dealer and thought quite the opposite, that you could pay more, but not get more than you could with a GE. A friend "heired" me his GE collection when he couldn't keep it anymore. True, they are minimalist when it comes to componentry, and some of their wood cabinets are largely "mystery wood", but I have found them to be competent performers. I have a GE RP-1590 setting next to a Concert Grand. Guess which one I use more......

[stbasil]

I have requested more info from the seller, but no response so far....

[stbasil]

Seller replied with photo of back, but appears to be non-technical and does not want to open the back--he sends it to someone to work on it, and did not want to pay a diagnostic charge.

[William]

Wow, I would never have guessed that to be a GE, the controls just do not look like something GE ever did. To plain, not enough chrome to be GE. I did a quick Google search for that model number but came up with zip. Even the Schematic Man did not have a listing for it. Maybe a fellow forum member that has access to the Sam's folders will have something to offer.

[electra225]

I stepped in it with this one myself. I wouldn't have guessed it was a GE. Maybe the chassis number might help with the Sams, but I have found them by model number before. Maybe try Beitman's?

I quit doing custom electronics work because too many people didn't want to pay diagnostic time. They would haul their abused POS into my shop, want me to put MY time into it, then babysit for it for a year, then have them come back to get it and find it in pristine condition, fixed, all for free. I started asking for a $100 deposit that would be applied to repairs, and that seemed to scare off the mooches. Life is too short......

[stbasil]

I might check it out in person this Sunday, if still available and take off the back panel if the seller agrees. Is the changer decent quality? I've read that Glaser-Steers had a good reputation prior to being bought by GE.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

The RP7111A cross indexes to this Sams from late 1964.

It appears to be a mid-level unit. Uses single 6AQ5 outputs.

Has a power transformer.

GS changers are good performers from the two
I have serviced.

I'd offer $40-50 since parts may be at least that much,
which you could inform seller about.

If you buy it, let us know.

[stbasil]

Thanks everyone for the info, especially Hi-Fi-Mogul for tracking down that model number. I'm just not interested in a low-power, single-chassis portable stuck into a console box, so I'm gonna pass on this one!

[electra225]

If that little stereo was in my back yard, I'd be sorely tempted to make room for it. Knowing what I know now, ten years ago, I would have started collecting GE rather than Magnavox. I have a VM 1200-series changer with the GE "Custom" tone arm that would look good in that cabinet. GE is not in the same class, really not on the same planet as Magnavox, but they are so reliable and simple to work on, it's ridiculous.

[William]

Mr. Mogul. Did you happen to upload the GE schematic in the Downloads section?

Bill

[macgolf]

I wasn't aware that any manufacturer was making consoles in Central Illinois. Decatur is just 1 hour south of me. Learn something new everyday.

Mark

[electra225]

Zenith had a plant in Paris, IL, but I don't remember what they made. All the little GE stereos I have were made in Decatur. I think that was GE's audio plant. When I was hauling grain out of Clinton, IN, there was a good country music station in Casey, IL WKZI. I think it is a religious talk station now. WACF/WPRS was out of Paris, IL and featured Bill Robinson after he left WIRE in Indy.

[Motorola minion]

General Electric had a "radio receiver dept." division in Utica NY. The "stereo" division was "audio products dept" in Decatur Ill.

Prior to that, radios and small appliances came from Bridgeport Conn. Big company with lots of divisions but most Engineering was in Schenectady.