Classic Hifi Care

going to work today and directly across from our parking lot , a house across the street was sold and is being remodeled or something ... and at the curb with a bunch of trash was this little GE model RC1616... it is in terrible shape the veneer is all peeling off the Changer is missing the record arm, but it is a tube set once I cleaned out all the mouse nests... probably end up using it for parts , unless I get real bored and try to fix it...

Those were a nice concept, a consolette with a small footprint or wall mount. It looks like it spent a lot of time inside before the finish damage.

I worked on a similar model a year or so ago for the antique guy here in town. I'm not sure if yours is a newer or older model than the one I worked on. Mine had a Garrard changer and the placement of the electronics was different. WARNING, the paper multi filter cap is JUNK. It's also early PC boards so they are pretty flimsy. Once I had changed out a few caps, including the filter cap, and cleaned up the changer, the sound was impressive. The FM radio pulled in a lot of stations too, which most FM radios fall short in my neck of the woods. Did it come with speakers?

Bill

That thing might sound better than you realize. It even has a Multiplex adapter chassis. I have a very similar setup out of an ugly console that has a full-stereo tuner. That would use the same amp as the GE stereo I'm doing the Tolex on.

GE stuff from that era is not always fun to overhaul, but when/if you get it right, the performance is impressive, especially considering the component count.

The VM changers with the clunky-looking "Custom" tone arm track surprisingly light and are wonderful changers. Arguably my favorite changer, even over a Collaro. The audiophiles poo-poo VM changers. I have threatened several times to divest my Magnavox collection and start collecting GE. Their performance is amazing, considering their modest livery. Their PCB construction is often criticized, but you can hardwire any broken or burnt traces and bring back to life stuff that looks really bad. Very simple construction with Mad Man Muntz engineering....

My Imperial needs a new cartridge. I wonder if a GE C-100 cartridge would work? It has a Euphonics 1/2" mount ceramic now. I'm impressed with how the GE cartridge sounds. At least as good as an EV 26, which is hard to beat itself....

I've got that one' cousin out in my shop, standing on end (look carefully at the photo). I replaced the filter caps and have not done anything else. Mine has a Garrard changer and I need a headshell for it. Probably the same innards in a slightly different physical configuration. Also a trash-pile find.
Chris Campbell

Your newest curb side find is a higher end model than your model shown in this photo. I'm guessing the amps might be the same, but I think the tuner is an upgrade and I believe your newest find has more speakers.

Bill

This should probably be a new post but it relates to the GE topic. I had found some Polk surround sound speakers on stands out in the alley, and a couple weeks back decided to place them in front of the computer desk and run them with a little GE receiver. The speakers have limited LF response because they're tiny but their accuracy for what they do produce is quite high. They are also fairly low efficiency to the flea-powered GE device n't exactly shake the walls. When I want that, I turn up the living room system.

But here's a photo. Note the same black faceplate and knob style as in the previous (tube type) photos. But this one is solid state.
Chris Campbell

Follow up. At the top of the photo is the little Zenith radio that was in service before the GE for computer desk entertainment.

Chris Campbell

TC Chris wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 4:41 am I've got that one' cousin out in my shop, standing on end (look carefully at the photo). I replaced the filter caps and have not done anything else. Mine has a Garrard changer and I need a headshell for it. Probably the same innards in a slightly different physical configuration. Also a trash-pile find.

P1070697.JPG

Chris Campbell

I sold the same identical model you have just before Christmas and got $50 for it... I think this one I found is around the same age , just a different model ...but this one has a separate FM multiplex chassis, whereas your model did not...The sam's for it is dated 12/63

William wrote: ↑Wed Mar 06, 2024 12:29 pm Your newest curb side find is a higher end model than your model shown in this photo. I'm guessing the amps might be the same, but I think the tuner is an upgrade and I believe your newest find has more speakers.

Bill

The Sam's photofact shows 4 really thin speakers in the picture , I mean really thin... like an inch thick were these electrostatic speakers? Because the ones I got with it look like the speakers I had to make for the Fisher

My guess is that Sams is only showing the fronts of the speakers. The speaker cabinets are probably as thick as the main cabinet. Just my guess based on the GE stuff I have.

I agree with Greg, and the one GE similar to yours that I worked on, had thicker speakers to match the cabinet.

Bill

well the picture sure is misleading... but what do you expect for Sam's photofacts....the whole 3" speaker cabinet was too much?

Sams had no interest in the cabinet. Their thing was the electronics.

They were made up in the olden days, when it could be assumed that folks had an imagination.