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I can hear all the hair turning white as the folks here read

the words "SOLID STATE STEREO" "ALL TRANSISTOR" on the control panel of the General Electric El Cortez............ dundunDUUUNNNN.............

 

I know from reading some audiophile opinions that the electronics of the GE are rather convoluted, but if someone managed to get this thing and restore it to working order, they may get a pleasant performer. OKAY, it's no Magnavox Concert Grand, or Fisher President, or components assembled from the finest materials in the known universe, but it deserves a tad more consideration than some GE turncoat's opinion of "a nice piece of firewood". How dare someone buy and enjoy something like this?? How dare someone believe it emits even one pleasing note? Cretins--morons........

 

 
 
I'm diggin' the Spanish Colonial GE and I don't really like Spanish Colonial. These cabinets are unique - USA made(vs China today) and well, if you have room, they do double duty as design and function, not that some would really care. It's so clean, compared to so many other GE consoles.

I thought it was worth assembling some photos here again.

PHILR - THANK YOU! I was looking for some brochures on RCA a few days ago after finding that Mark I RCA Vista tv/stereo combo. Thanks alot.

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1959 Magnavox "Modern Concerto" Console Stereo Syst

AD: " Up on our Silent Auction is a 1959 Magnavox "Modern Concerto" Console Stereo System w/ AM/FM radio and record player. Two cabinets; model 1SR281F w/ S-49 stereo channel. All electronics in good, working condition. Bids must be entered in person at our store location. All items are donated to us from the local community, so we are unable to verify the history of items we receive. For more information, feel free to call or stop in!

Available at:
Gift and Thrift
731 Mt. Clinton Pike
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
show contact info

Monday through Saturday 9:30am to 5:00pm
Extended hours Friday nights to 8:00pm "

http://harrisonburg.craigslist.org/atd/4908361517.html
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audio/video topics

I really enjoy member's posts and comments presented here on Automaticwasher.org, much more so than on dedicated vintage audio sites. Threads here are much more interesting and seem friendlier too. Members seem to know something about everything. Many thanks.
 
It's funny how some AW members share a lot of interests! A lot also like vintage cars and some even like vintage lawnmowers!  
 
My Aunt Doris had a Magnavox that looked like the one in reply #92. However, I don't remember it having another cabinet with speaker and record storage. Was that something that was sold separately?

I'm not sure what happened to it after she went to assisted living; it may be in storage with most of her other things she didn't take.
 
The two peice Magnavox system was most like started as a single peice mono-then a few years later stereo came into being.Magnavox like many other Hi-Fi gear makers at that time offered ways to make the conversion to stereo without having to buy too much other equipment.In the unit above-the TT would be equipped with a stereo cartridge.Then a stereo amp added-and the second speaker-cabinet.It too may have its own amp.These are desirable among early stereo gear fans.Remember Magnavox put some quality Jensen/Magnavox speakers in those cabinets!-and they could have been bi-amped to top it off.
 
When Magnavox entered the stereo era, you could buy the main unit already set up for stereo, it would have to be set for internal speakers only IF you never got the companion speaker/storage unit or matching television with the second channel speakers in it. You'd be able to hear all the program from your stereo records and they wouldn't be ruined because they'd be played with the stereo pickup. It would only come out mono like I say, if you only bought the main set. Then of course, there was a kit where you could adapt your mono Magnavox console FOR stereo play, and you could buy matching, or close to it second channel console. And for people who really didn't care if they had stereo or not, they could change out their monaural cartridge/stylus for a stereo one, so they wouldn't ruin new recordings. 

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Exactly

Rex and Alan describe what I would like to get - the external matching speaker for my Magnavox model number 294H w/142CC amp. It has a dual 78/LP needle feature with three wires for stereo, and a "Both/External/Internal" speaker selector in the turntable cavity. This external speaker I'm looking for has an amplifier included in the speaker cabinet, but I'm not 100% on that.

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Phil,

What a very nice Magnavox Hi Fi. Gotta love those sliding glass panels in front and on top. When I was in school a friend's mom had one in black with gold veining in the glass. Having been a "Bobby Soxer" in her youth, she'd blast her Frank Sinatra records on it. I recall that it sounded just great.
 
Joe and Alan - thanks for sharing your experiences. I've never seen a black lacquer(?) model - must be the oriental design, maybe?

Alan - is this one here on YouTube like yours:
I've seen the removable head shells. Didn't Magnavox offer a different shell for playing stereo and then swap out for 78's?

Thanks guys.
 
Found this on Phoenix Craigslist. Ended up taking a look at it and purchasing it. I got it home on Tuesday. Not sure why the ad is still up, but since it is, II figured I'd add it to this post.

 

It is a Seeburg jukebox made in about 1967. Seeburg built these for the home market. They hold the 33 1/3rpm LP Albums. They hold 50 of them. Each side is a two digit number from 00 to 99. To select the side, one just dials the two digit number on the dialer. The original owners recently passed away and their son and daughter-in-law are clearing out the estate. It works, but does need some adjustment. It also came full with records.

 

This is actually my second unit. The other one is identical and has been restored.

http://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/atq/4907536892.html
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That is really cool, Justin. I've never seen or heard about these. I did see a Seeburg jukebox for sale just yesterday somewhere on CL, but it's the usual 45 rpm type.

Phil
 
Justin,

That's great that you picked that up. Those were home library units. They used the same mechanism as their jukeboxes, just backwards. I have been tempted by the 45rpm console library units before.
 
I would love one of these, but chances of finding one is slim, probably, around these woods. A guy in Houston retores them , staring at $850. Ouch.

Request - do you have a video of this operating or any known links of this very cool "jukebox" in operation? I would really love to hear and see it in operation. Thank you! [this post was last edited: 3/5/2015-17:50]
 
Fisher Console Stereo ( 1957 ) (Franklin)

I'm selling my aunts 1957 Fisher Stereo Console.She is the original owner, purchased brand new in 1957.Also has the original owners manual.AM FM Record Player. with original external Fisher Speaker. The cabinet is in great shape,was never in direct sun light.Radio works, so dose record player.but need some work on it.

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/atq/4918226767.html
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The Seeburg 45 and 33 RPM changers were used in radio station program automation equipment-Schaffer comes to mind.The unit would be loaded with records for the stations airplay-and the automation system "brain" or computer would play the records on set times along with RR tape decks and cart machines.Program automation system fell out of favor-they were sort of the rage in the 60's-70's-Easy listening stions used them.Toured one radio station in Wash DC that used an automation system starring the Seeburg changers,and two RCA FM transmitters in one room.When these syustems fell out of favor stations couldn't even give them away.They were so desired-then unwanted!Would like to run into one that has the 33 and 45 RPM Seeburg changers.You would have to figure how to program the changers to play.Remember seeing a demo of the Seeburg home unit at the convention center in Rapid City,S.Dak in the late 60's-Really cool unit.Was during some kind of home show.They also had a "Crystal Carrousel" home organ.A fellow was there playing the organ and demo'ing its features.Liked the Seeburg Hi-Fi,though.
 
No-can't remember the price,and didn't ask!Was a teenager than!Both the organ demo and Hi-Fi demo were quite interesting.Both were expensive!I recall these things when the item is shown or discussed-Seeburg Hi-Fi rember that from the depths of time!The things you see at home shows!Would make sense to have Hi-Fi gear and musical gear at a home show!Need something for entertainment.Me and a good freind of mine went to that show.He was more interested in the organ-I liked the Seeburg Hi-Fi set.
 
<blockquote>
I would love one of these, but chances of finding one is slim, probably, around these woods. A guy in Houston retores them , staring at $850. Ouch.

Request - do you have a video of this operating or any known links of this very cool "jukebox" in operation? I would really love to hear and see it in operation. Thank you!  

</blockquote>
I don't know of any videos as of yet, but when I get a chance, I will make a video of one of mine and post it.

 

I see them every now and then. I know there were a couple on Ebay for a while, but they wanted over $1,000 each for them. I paid $200 for my first one about 3-4 years ago. Shortly after that, there was one on Craigslist here for $100. I should have bought it, but didn't. There was another on here, but it was a different cabinet style and it had been painted. I think the guy wanted $500 for it. That was too much. Then I just found the one I posted last week. I'm happy with it.

 

At an antique store in Long Beach, there was one. It was the design that didn't have the amp with it. It was intended to hook up to an external amp. No speakers either. It was just the center part with the doors/changer unit. They wanted $300 for that one.
 

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