Motorola changer

[back-2-mono]

This one just came in today for an overhaul.
It's out of an SK38B console.
It sure is puurty...

[electra225]

It is sure purty, Gary. Who made it?

[back-2-mono]

It is sure purty, Gary. Who made it?

BSR.

And I thought Motorola only used VM changers.

[back-2-mono]

4-pole motor, full size platter and a Sonotone 8T cart.

[electra225]

It didn't look VM-ish to me. Motorola used VM changers, but I'm not that familiar with the older, mono stuff.

[William]

Thanks for sharing, Gary. I have never seen a BSR changer in a Motorola, so this is interesting history. I Googled the model number and found it is a 3 channel but has 4 6AQ5 tubes in the output stage. So, the single woofer must be PP and the L and R channels single ended. Or maybe Motorola had some fancy circuits that powered the woofer in a PP fashion from the L and R channels. Is it a blonde cabinet. I am guessing the "B" at the end of the model number may indicate blonde. Here's the link I found:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/motorola_ ... s_781.html

Bill

[back-2-mono]

Well, the more I study this beast before I tear into it, I now don't think it's a BSR. The mech doesn't look like any BSR that I've ever seen in years past.
However, the motor and idler are identical to some that are used on a few BSR models.
It does say "made in Great Britain" stamped into a ring on the platter near the spindle hole.

Only the changer was shipped to me from the mid-west for servicing.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Yes, that is a Monarch/BSR UA-8 record changer.

Motorola used them in a few consoles and in the famous
Hi-Fi in Fiberglass "Calypso" models.

The Calypso is a heavy beast of a portable from what
I've read.

It used the nice PP 6V6 Moto chassis.

[William]

Must be Gary's is the fancier version with the deluxe trim. The Sam's photo that Mr. Mogul posted looks just like the one I have that came in a no-name brand cheap little portable one tube wonder with a crystal cartridge. The changer is really the only valuable thing in that unit. It works flawlessly, and maybe someday I will pair it with something worthwhile. I did reach out to Gary for a cartridge, but he said that pedicular one does not exist and there is no replacement.

Those fiberglass Motorola's are really cool.

Bill

[back-2-mono]

Nope. Not a BSR.
It's a Galvin model number BR10RC

Totally different mech than the BSR's of that era.
A very unusual beast of a changer.

[back-2-mono]

I don't have it however it's in Sams 492 folder 15.

[William]

Well, I guess I need to at least take back part of what I said. I have never heard of a Galvin changer, so I Googled it. The only thing I could find that amounted to anything was this:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/motorola_ ... anger.html

Bill

[back-2-mono]

I Googled Motorola SK38B and Radio Museum mentions this particular changer as being used in this console.

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Well, I see from the Sams that it is a BSR/Monarch UA-8.

Hi-Fi manufacturers had their own model numbers, as well
as their suppliers' model numbers.

Zenith is one example I've seen regularly.

[back-2-mono]

Wow. That's strange.
Radio Museum shows the Galvin changer being used in this console and no mention of a BSR.

I don't have it however it's also supposed to be in Beitman's Vol 20, 1960

I wonder what they show?

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Here is a good example of a manufacturer (Motorola/Galvin)
printing their own "in-house" service publication about the
BSR changer they bought for use in their units.

That info is under the "schematics" section, if you open it up.

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/motorola_br10rc.html

If you'd like the BSR UA-8 service file, let me know, and I'll upload it.

p.s. the Beitman's only has the circuit schematic, no
record changer info that I could encounter.

[back-2-mono]

That's it Mr. Mogul.
I just now checked out a YouTube vid of UA-8 being serviced and the mechs are the same.

Thank you!

I just finished servicing the motor which was very sluggish and slow. It now spins like a top.