Motorola 1962 Stereophonic

[Motorola minion]

The most popular model series, the SK-77 Drexel walnut followed 1960's SK-32 and a similar 1961 model.

Always wanting the one with those awesomely back-lit knobs, channel balance verification switch and slide-rule dial, I missed two of these over the last 10 (!) years. This was an easy pickup on a dark night right after work. It fit right into the car and made it home where it sat in my car for a week, before I got a chance to carefully unload it.

The condition is ultra clean, sitting in storage with other furniture of the seller's Grandmother.
He did not recall where it was purchased but that she did like to play records.
While I can only guess what she played, I was pretty sure she had excellent taste in a record player.

SK77 RP.jpg (62.48 KiB) Viewed 5606 times

SK77 PA-T.jpg (56.56 KiB) Viewed 5606 times

SK77 WA.jpg (67.84 KiB) Viewed 5606 times

[TC Chris]

I'd love to hear one of those. Handsome devil, too.

Chris Campbell

[William]

That's mine, but, mine is model SK52. Mine is not as pretty as yours. The top needs refinishing, and, it still needs a total rebuild. It's sitting in waiting for the someday project. I picked mine from the upstairs storage room of an antique store. The just wanted it gone, and, I was willing to make that happen. Who ever had it last drywalled their house. It was full of drywall dust, which was a real mess to clean up. What tubes does yours have, Dave?

Bill

[Motorola minion]

I have experience with both amps using 6V6 and 6BQ5, yet the difference is hard to discern unless a few examples are compared.

The SK-32 and Bill's SK-52 is an early 3-channel example, which I have had much experience with. In fact, my second rig after the '56 Fisher EOL'd was an HS-775 amp/controls/trim/knobs with HK42 drop-in tuner both dated 9M59. Center channel hooked up to a University 62 series 12" with center horn tweeter. I was amazed to find that the bass channel OPT has one half the primary winding open, long after I was so enamored of its bass response back then. The tuner has an "eye" tube like those found on earlier Grundig, not the 62-up models using the "beam" 6FG6. and Motorola tuners are also VERY selective, a must here in "crowded band land".

I still have the chassis' rig of that gutted SK-28 (?) today, 45 years later and found another rig at a swap meet. So , I guess you cant have to many parts if your handle contains the word Motorola

These two tuners and amps are parts available in light of my "new hobby", and having a spare SK14 and SK17cabinet/good record player, a ready-made project for anybody lucky enough to have the missing companion speaker, Jensen made of course

[William]

My SK52's amp is date coded 1960. It also has a mix of output tubes. 6BQ5 for sure, but, there is also 6BM8's in there. Dave, did the 6V6's come in the later models? Mine has a 15" woofer, L & R mids and tweeters as well as another two speakers for the reverb. Where others equipped with the same speaker arrangement? I know Motorola used both 15 and 12" woofers.

Bill

[Firedome]

The one in my avatar ------>> was a 3 channel 6V6 with center 15" woofer and side mount Mid + Hi and the twin round dial control panel that looks like a '57 Chevy dash. Mint cond for $35 locally, not unusual 10 yrs ago. Very nice sounding but it had to go prior to a move sadly.

[Motorola minion]

The one in my avatar ------>> was a 3 channel 6V6 with center 15" woofer and side mount Mid + Hi and the twin round dial control panel that looks like a '57 Chevy dash. Mint cond for $35 locally, not unusual 10 yrs ago. Very nice sounding but it had to go prior to a move sadly.

That is the 1964 SKR-151 Roger, which was my 50th B-day present and 10 years ago it cost me $150 still a bargain

[Firedome]

Yep, it was indeed a very nice sounding unit and I was happy to see it go to a young local couple who really appreciated it, I think I asked $50 iirc as they were a good home for it. I even delivered it.

[Motorola minion]

My SK52's amp is date coded 1960. It also has a mix of output tubes. 6BQ5 for sure, but, there is also 6BM8's in there. Dave, did the 6V6's come in the later models? Mine has a 15" woofer, L & R mids and tweeters as well as another two speakers for the reverb. Where others equipped with the same speaker arrangement? I know Motorola used both 15 and 12" woofers.

Bill

I had an idea, after seeing most of their amps, that 6BM8 was a rare exception on a few models. That tube is a European type just like the 6GW8/ECL86, but not so pricey and rare. The advantages of those two tube types is they have a built-in triode section to drive the output pentode. This saves on additional 12AX7s needed otherwise if using 6V6 or 6BQ5.

6V6s seemed to be used on later models, before going solid state, possibly because they were more available than 6BQ5.