Classic Hifi Care

Not much console discussion lately. Only thing I've done recently is hand over the DuMont and Fisher CE IV tube consoles over to Dave MM, the ideal home for them. The next project is putting the Fisher CE guts into a compact louvered Early American cabinet, a real space-saver, but probably not until Oct when our travelling routine calms down.

Not much new in the way of consoles up for sale in the adjoining 50 mile search radius, maybe Fall will bring more. Anyone seen anything good, or working on any console projects lately?

No consoles even available for sale around here, but for the last couple of early Sunday mornings my shoulder pain woke me up in time to listen to Radio Havana Cuba on the old Magnavox with a pretty decent music program during their english broadcast programs. It followed a QSL program with letters from listeners, mostly in the US. This was around 2AM eastern.

Dave1138 and I will be working on this nice 1961
3 channel small Philco tube console later on.

1959, 1960 and 1961 saw various hi-fi manufacturers
presenting these 3-channel stereo consoles.

This Philco has the original manual and optional
"satellite" speakers.

Satellite speakers and controls' design are very space-age looking.
Anticipating the 1961 Mercury flights !

It has a Glaser-Steers changer, which will be a first
for me !

I have to get some p.t. for my back first, though.

The amp kind of looks like the amp in a little Philco console I got a while back. PT hanging off the side and small output transformers. Mine has a VM changer and a much cheaper cabinet. Mine also had no speakers when I got it. I posted a photo on the forum when I got it so it's in here somewhere.

Bill

Life has gotten in the way of working on consoles for me. I wanted to get the shop set up like I wanted before I dug into any of mine. Nearly all of them need something in the way of a tune up. The Symphony has a wonky MPX. Changers need attention in the three big ones. The little Contemporary needs a good tune up. I've been working more than I'd like at the store. My days off are pretty much taken up by other things. I have been working on radios to get back into the swing of things working on electronics. I'm getting everything together so I can work on changers. I keep saying "someday"........

19&41 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 7:49 pm No consoles even available for sale around here, but for the last couple of early Sunday mornings my shoulder pain woke me up in time to listen to Radio Havana Cuba on the old Magnavox with a pretty decent music program during their english broadcast programs. It followed a QSL program with letters from listeners, mostly in the US. This was around 2AM eastern.

That's shortly after I usually head to bed. What do they play? Cuban music?

Chris Campbell

The control panel on that 3 ch Philco is very cool and very Jetsons looking! Never seen one like it.

Firedome wrote: ↑Fri Sep 02, 2022 2:54 pm The control panel on that 3 ch Philco is very cool and very Jetsons looking! Never seen one like it.

Not only that, the record player is a Glaser-Steers, which is a great one. Those players stop briefly so a record doesn't drop onto a spinning platter. Too bad GE bought G-S and reduced design to their lower standards.

I had a 1962 Philco model K1638. The amp looked very similar to this Philco but it included an AM-FM tuner.

The "three-channel" is actually each of those two smaller output transformer B+ lines fed through the bass speaker OPT.

Here is another one and these do not turn up often. It also looks like a 1960-61 with a radio.

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/atq ... 02577.html

On FB marketplace I saw a 1968 Philco TOTL solid state that is local but Ill resist, see below
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0168/ ... 1486598914

there is plenty in my area, but people want a small fortune for them... there are a few deals here and there... just saw one today on FB... it is a rivera model from of all places Grants.... I thought Grants was a five and dime store?.. I posted it in the finds..

I have only bought two of my consoles from ads on Craigslist or whatever. In neither case did I pay asking price. They guy who had my Imperial not only came down almost 80% on the price, he held it for me all winter with no money up front. I got the CG from a haunted house in Fort Worth and only gave about a third of what he was asking to start with. They changed the price several times, but we got it and that's what counts. I always recommend showing up with the maximum you are willing to pay in cash. Offer up to that amount, then be ready to walk. Many of these guys asking the big money don't have a clue as to what it will sell for. They just throw the hook in, hoping someone will bite. Plus, all they can do is say no. You have nothing to lose by making an offer.

Back when I was in grad school Lightnin' Hopkins was going to be in town at a local folk music venue. The show as supposed to start at 7. I had to work until 9. And I was on a very tight budget. I did not want to pay full freight for just the tail end of a show. So I put $2 in one pocket and headed over after work. At the ticket table I asked "How much?" It was like $8. I reached in and pulled out my $2. She felt sorry for me and let me in for $2. And as it turns out, Lightnin' was a bit late that night so I got the whole show. And could afford lunch the next day.

Chris Campbell