Bendix 95M4U Worthy of scratching Mono curiosity?

[macgolf]

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This little unit has been listed locally for some time. I don't have any mono units! It looks like the most expensive (should one need replaced) tube is the 6SN7GT splitter. I don't think I'm up to the challenge of taking on the changer just refurbishing the cab and using as a radio. It's not something I would usually pursue but it keeps showing up on my FBM feed. I don't know much about Bendix other than from automotive and the output transistors in my germanium laced early Rotel receiver.

A little research suggests this might be from 1954. Do these units typically need a lot of rewiring in addition to caps and resistors? Is it a worthy candidate for some restoration? Should I save my mono curiosity for a nice blonde Pilot, PT-1030D to be exact, that's closer than 2 hours one way and is less than 2 Benjamins? Maybe with some patience a more worth candidate will show up.

Thanks
Mark

[William]

It is a nice-looking unit, Mark and with a little work it could be both beautiful and sound good and the price is definitely right. I am not familiar enough with Bendix to know their quality back in the day, but the fact it has a separate amp would tell me it was an upper end model. I also know there are a lot of them still around. As far as the Pilot goes, definitely a more TOTL unit.

Bill

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

BENDIX made quality products, but....

I looked up the Pilot, for less than $200, and BLONDE,
that's the gal to get.

A few links for you :

https://www.preservationsound.com/2011/ ... irca-1955/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6jDsBnzNK4

https://reverb.com/item/53294318-pilot- ... 956-walnut

[macgolf]

Thanks for the links, Mr. Mogul. Here's a photo of the Pilot that is enticing me. The EL84 integrated is a definite plus. Easy to hook up a mono tuner. A 4 hour round trip might not be in the cards until after the holidays, but it's almost all Interstate travel. A bonus is the original paperwork! It would be my 2nd Pilot and puts my homely 63 to shame. The Bendix is no more than 15 minutes away.

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Mark

[William]

After seeing the Pilot, I would agree with Mr. Mogul and be heading out the door to bring it home.

Bill

[electra225]

If the Bendix is close and cheap, why not get both? Bendix made good stuff, up there with S-C, Zenith, RCA, Wells-Gardner. Bendix is rather an orphan brand, although the company was involved in government contracts and made some of the military-spec tubes so sought by collectors. You could use a stereo changer bridged for mono in the Bendix and have a nice, unusual rig. Replace the 6K6 output tubes with 6V6 and give the amp a bit more oomph. The Bendix would be a lot more uncommon than the Pilot, and, it doesn't have a blonde cabinet, but that is just me. I have grandma's old Bendix radio that sat on her refrigerator for YEARS that I redid the cabinet on. Other than tubes and the speaker, it is largely original. Even the caps are all original.