V-M 1280A Clamshell Lid Record Player

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

This gal arrived yesterday. I'll post pics a bit later.

The first version of the V-M 1280 had a PP 35C5 amp with
two 5inch speakers.
I've restored one, and they sound really good.

I couldn't find a 1280A schematic, so I assumed it would
be similar to the 1280.

I got a pleasant surprise. V-M changed the 1280A amp to a
power transformer chassis, a honking-big OP transformer,
and a 6 x 9 inch speaker on a special baffle.

The cost was only $33 including shipping.

It has the V-M 1200 changer and a Sonotone 2-T
cart, to boot !
I hope the cart works, they are super nice for mono
records.

I just have one console, but I have enough
record players to restore for the whole neighborhood.
I wonder if there is an AA for us ?
Ha !

[TC Chris]

Keep on collecting, it's fun! Long ago when I lived in Ann Arbor, one of those service organizations had an annual sale. I went a couple times. One buy was my Magnavox TP 235B portable mono phono. Another is a nice Emerson 820B portable phono, also mono, but with two 6" speakers and a P-P 35L6 output stage. It has a V-M changer. Some previous owner had added a Sonotone 9T stereo cartridge so it wouldn't grind up stereo records. It actually sounded pretty good. Needs a filter cap now, and probably more. I need to haul that out of storage and get to it.

Back in the early '70s I had an on-campus job that gradually had me working evenings as the student supervisor (no full-time staff around). I'd haul that Emerson to work, long before iPods and such, and play records. When really motivated, Id carry my Sony TC-350 R2R tape deck too and plug it into the Emerson.

Here's a link to an interesting Sonotone cartridge history:
http://www.roger-russell.com/sonopg/sonopc.htm

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Mr. Mogul, there is no AA for console stereos. You just need to learn to stack. And, remember, a wise man once told me, there is always room for just one more!