1970 Zenith 169-363 aka V-M 1293

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Today I finished this V-M out of a 1970 Zenith stereo console.

The changer's plastic AC switch was broken internally, which is common.

Quite a bit of very hardened grease, especially on the
internal parts, once they were removed for cleaning.

The original idler wheel was hard as a rock; replaced.

A new dual tip stylus was installed 0.7/0.7 DS in the
2 Gram MicroTouch cartridge.

The cart sounds fine on playing records.

I hope the young owners have cleaned out a lot of
dust/dirt from the bottom inside of the console cabinet.

[William]

Looking at the underside of your photos makes me ask, how much of this changer was custom for Zenith by VM or did Zenith by an basic VM changer and customize it for their style?

Bill

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Bill,
I've never heard or seen V-M customizing their changers except
for external features.

Monday I installed the changer back in the Zenith console and
the sound was really nice.

This version has large oval 12" x 8" woofers with separate tweeters.

I didn't expect such really nice deep range. I also think those
Zenith cartridges may make a difference.

The younsters had done a nice clean-up of all the old dirt/dust
in the bottom of the cabinet.

Photo is before cleaning.

[William]

Interesting the PT is on the floor of the cabinet.

I guess what I was referring to was the cable and the flat metal that comes from the controls. I have not run across that in a VM/VM changer before.

Bill

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

V-M made several versions that used the cable system for
the speed select and changer cycle controls

I think they started the year of this one 1970, and I've worked
on a few made in the mid 1970's prior to V-M's demise.

[William]

I guess all of my VM changers are way before 1970, they are definitely old school in design.

Bill