Classic Hifi Care

New guy here from Connecticut. I mostly tinker with old table radios, but have been dipping my toe into consoles. I don't have room to collect them (I have dozens of radios on shelves all over the house. Luckily, my wife likes the look), but I do have a couple.

This is my MCM monophonic Stromberg-Carlson. My wife picked it up at a flea market for $10. A simple recap of the radio and amplifier got that part working. A cleaning, degreasing and oiling of the record changer got that working (kinda). I'll be lurking for more info on the Collaro inside.


This is my Capehart. It's a beautiful piece of furniture, but I have yet to tackle it. Unfortunately, the original 78 record changer had been replaced decades ago with something that can play more "modern" vinyl. Still, it looks nice in the living room.


After I got the S-C to work, I've gotten the bug and am considering dragging home a stereo unit. I don't know where I'll put it, or if the wife will approve. We'll see...

Welcome, Cameron, it is good to have with us and thank you for sharing two of your toys. The Stromberg-Carlson is a nice looking MCM blonde unit, and you stated it has a Collaro changer? Please share a photo so we know which Collaro it is. Actually, feel free to share your radio collection with us, we always love to see members toys. Again, we are glad you found us and welcome aboard.

Bill

Hello Cameron and welcome to the forum.

I'd be curious to know the SC model number.

When you have time, share some photos of your radios, and maybe of the innards of the Capehart and S-C.

Chris Campbell

Hi Cameron. I was just looking at your post again and noticed something we have in common. You Stromberg-Carlson has the same green finish in the changer compartment as mine does. Mine is this model:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/stromberg ... f_502.html

It is a cute little thing, kind of like an end table and was offered with an aux cabinet for record storage which I do not have. Yours is way more deluxe and more powerful.

Bill

Welcome to our forum, Cameron! We hope you will make yourself at home and jump right in....

I also own a Stromberg-Carlson console. MIne is a model 1121 from 1946. The original 78 rpm changer has been replaced with a Garrard stereo changer. Both Capehart and S-C are "premium" brands, so you are off to a good start. We have sort of an official saying on this forum to the effect "there is ALWAYS room for one more".......

Welcome to the forum, S-C is one of the manufacturers I always considered upper-level. Thanks for sharing your model!

I have three S-C's from late 40s. All horizontal-oriented radio-phonographs (78rpm). Models 1121, 1210PLM, 1409PG

I have not worked on two of them, having picked them up on CL for cheap. The 1210PLM I had working long ago when I first got it but I took out the VM 400? as it only played 78s.

My understanding is that there may be two versions of the chassis used in the 1121. One with all-octal tubes and one with a mix of miniature and octal tubes. The former is allegedly from 1946, the other one from 1947 on. Mine has the all-octal chassis. I found it overly-complicated mostly for the sake of being complicated. I will say it is a robust performer. There is at least one cap that is nearly impossible to replace without removing the tuner. When I got mine it had a 5U4G rectifier and two 6V6G output tubes, huge "pop bottle" tubes. They are still there. Mine was in atrocious condition when I got it, spending 30 years at least in a fell-down chicken house. The cabinet was so eaten with termites, it went on the burn pile almost immediately. The chassis had been a mouse house with lots of urine damage. It built out well and performs well. You can't kill Stromberg-Carlson equipment, apparently.

Welcome, Connecticut seems like one of the best markets in the country. A true honey hole. I see a lot of nice HIFI equipment on marketplace in CT.