1959 Columbia 617

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

This was the other suitcase player that retained hum after
full re-cap.
I added the 10 mF e-lytic cap from B- to chassis,
and hum is gone.

This Columbia is pretty nice, with a more modern looking
tweeter, and Bass and Treble controls.
PP 50C5 amplifier.

The V-M changer is a 1210, which is stereo capable.
The Columbia has an external RCA jack, for use with
a powered satellite stereo speaker.

The original tonearm had a defunct through the end
of the tonearm turn-over crystal cart.
Because of this, I put in a replacement tonearm with
standard 1/2 inch wide mounting holes for a new
Pfanstiehl stereo cart.

[electra225]

Any idea who built this record player, Mr. Mogul? VM, maybe?

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Greg,
Columbia was building their own record players
from my readings of the 1953 Columbia "360"
hi-fi in a hatbox articles published by CBS
in hi-fi publications.
I think they still were making them into
the early 1960's.

I dug up some very cool articles about CBS'
lead thinkers and an article in the March 1953
Audio Engineering magazine.
See page 30 of the AE pdf for the article by
Peter C. Goldmark and the "360" idea.

Audio Engineering is a treasure trove of cool
articles and advertisements through the eras
of high fidelity and its technology.

That World Radio History website could have
me reading for another 100 years.

https://wendy-city.blogspot.com/2021/03 ... sound.html

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-A ... gazine.htm

[electra225]

I sure didn't know that Columbia built record players. That looks well-built.

[Firedome]

I'm not sure that rp was Columbia built, my Dad had one that was absolutely identical except for the tone arm was gold not white and it was in it's own wood case with a lid. He got it to use with a mono H-K Recital receiver around 1957, and something makes me think Collaro. I remember in particular that little brown curved rubber piece on the base to prevent the needle from damage if the arm was dropped.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I'm not sure that rp was Columbia built, my Dad had one that was absolutely identical except for the tone arm was gold not white and it was in it's own wood case with a lid. I remember in particular that little brown curved rubber piece on the base to prevent the needle from damage if the arm was dropped.

The record player amp/cabinet is made by Columbia,
using a V-M 1210 record changer as I posted earlier.

[Ken Doyle]

The early Columbia 360 phonos used Webcor record changers.

col360webcor.jpg (23.62 KiB) Viewed 5894 times

[electra225]

Is the picture you posted one of yours, Ken?

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Columbia also used V-M 950 series stylized changers
in the first 360s.

For the 10 or so, early 360s I have worked on or
owned, they were all V-M changers.

You can see one in the photo inside the
article from 1953.

I wonder what model # the Webcor 360 is ?

[Ken Doyle]

Is the picture you posted one of yours, Ken?

That's not mine, but I've always wanted one. I just grabbed that photo off the web.

I did overhual one for a friend years ago. It had the Webcor changer, a GE VR "Triple Play" magnetic cartridge, and an amplifier with a power transformer, unlike the ceramic cartridge and AC/DC type of amplifier found in, what I assume are, slightly later 360 Phonographs.

[TC Chris]

It had the Webcor changer, a GE VR "Triple Play" magnetic cartridge, and an amplifier with a power transformer, unlike the ceramic cartridge and AC/DC type of amplifier found in, what I assume are, slightly later 360 Phonographs.

I saw that GE VR knob on the first photo.

And what is the source of the Goldmark article. I'd like to read the whole piece.

Chris Campbell

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I did overhual one for a friend years ago. It had the Webcor changer, a GE VR "Triple Play" magnetic cartridge, and an amplifier with a power transformer, unlike the ceramic cartridge and AC/DC type of amplifier found in, what I assume are, slightly later 360 Phonographs.

Ken, did that 360 have a 6V6 PP amp in it ?
I remember some discussion in another forum
about such a 360 player.

Chris,
That Columbia 360 article source is in
my earlier post.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

I found the Columbia with the 6V6 PP amp.
It has a power transformer.

It also used the Webcor w/GE magnetic cart.

Though speaker design is "360", it was not sold
as such, but as Model 326.

I have one of these in the garage,
awaiting restoration.

Interestingly, I also have a Columbia 318, which
uses the same cabinet as the 326.
The 318 is only a 3 tube set, with a V-M 950 series
changer in it.

[TC Chris]

That Columbia 360 article source is in
my earlier post.

Where????

[TC Chris]

I found the Columbia with the 6V6 PP amp.
It has a power transformer.

It also used the Webcor w/GE magnetic cart.

Though speaker design is "360", it was not sold
as such, but as Model 326.

I have one of these in the garage,
awaiting restoration.

Interestingly, I also have a Columbia 318, which
uses the same cabinet as the 326.
The 318 is only a 3 tube set, with a V-M 950 series
changer in it.

I've got an Emerson portable in the same case--V-M changer, 50C5 or some such P-P outputs.

Chris Campbell

[Ken Doyle]

That Columbia 360 article source is in
my earlier post.

Where????

Audio Magazine March 1953.

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-A ... gazine.htm

[William]

I almost bought a Columbia 326 at an auction about a month ago but me thinks the auctioneer favored the guy that was bidding against me. We both bid, me being second, then the other guy bid again, and the auctioneer said sold before I had a chance to big again. It went for 8 bucks.

Bill

[Ken Doyle]

Ken, did that 360 have a 6V6 PP amp in it ?
I remember some discussion in another forum
about such a 360 player.

As I remember, I believe it did have PP 6V6s. The cabinet was like the common model, not like the 326 cabinet.

[TC Chris]

That Columbia 360 article source is in
my earlier post.

Where????

Audio Magazine March 1953.

https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-A ... gazine.htm

Wow, I can get lost in all the cool articles and ads. I've got a few of those old components and would love to have a bunch more. So many toys back in that day.

Chris Campbell