Console stereos: 1958-84

[phillymatt53]

Most record changers in American console stereos were made by Voice of Music or BSR of England. Magnavox had their unique changers made by Collaro also of England. Their tonearm would tap the edge to the record to determine its size.

Yes, the Collaro changers were well-built quality changers.
A while back, I sold one to a guy who saw my Craigs List ad.
Being retired, and closed the shop, I had several that I brought home to restore -the Collaro, a BSR, a few Zenith's, a few Duals, A Garrard, and an Elac/Miracord, etc....
Trust me, in the shop I must have serviced countless hundreds of turntables and changers over the last 25 years.
The Collaro was an "Imperial Micromatic" stand alone model with a Synchronous motor, on a nice wood base, and has the 45RPM adapter, and I fitted it with a Pickering magnetic cartridge.
I don't sell anything that doesn't pass my stringent standards.

The guy loved it, and it indeed performed with outstanding quality.
This is the Collaro on my bench that I sold him..
He even sent me an email of how thrilled he was with it and sent me a photo of it in his home (2nd photo)

 

[vacerator]

Mid century console etc. stereo phonographs were also by Garard. Matt, I've seen a $400,00.00 turntable.

 

[phillymatt53]

Mid century console etc. stereo phonographs were also by Garard. Matt, I've seen a $400,00.00 turntable.

Sylvania made some consoles in the 1960s that were very, very nice.
They used Garrard changers, Dual, and the budget models had BSR's in them.
My friend from high school's parents had a Sylvania with a Garrard and it sounded fabulous.
Fisher also used Garrard in some consoles, and occasionally higher model BSR's.
The RCA console that I customized has a Garrard 3000 in it.

As for pricing some turntable at almost a half million dollars, it's nothing more than a rich man's status symbol to boost his ego, and brag about.

 

[phillymatt53]

Here's a little bit of humor for this thread....

 

[vacerator]

Haha! Brand? Please don't say Playtex. I'd try uploading a pic of a Zenith 1969 Amhundsen or Lundberg console, but I know I won't be able to. My favorite Danish modern cabinet.

 

[phillymatt53]

Haha! Brand? Please don't say Playtex. I'd try uploading a pic of a Zenith 1969 Amhundsen or Lundberg console, but I know I won't be able to. My favorite Danish modern cabinet.

I've no idea about the brand, I pulled it from the internet.
You'd have to ask that big-haired lady.

 

[vacbear58]

Seeing you have been talking about consoles (or radiograms as I know them) I thought this video might be of interest.

 

[vacbear58]

And another interesting film, this time the introduction of 45rpm records

 

[phillymatt53]

And another interesting film, this time the introduction of 45rpm records

Years ago,I've seen that old promotional video, it's quite interesting.

Among my collections of "vintage" stuff, I've got a few RCA Victor 45 players, of course all have been properly restored and sometimes improved by me.

Here is a video of one of my RCA players, a model 9-J, which is an "attachment" turntable that plugs into a radio or other amplifier since it has no internal electronics.
Young people that have been in my home thought it was some kind of a weird CD player..... LOL!

Enjoy the video!

 

[kenwashesmonday]

The RCA 45J utilizes the RCA RP-168 record changer, which I believe is the world's fastest record changer. It completes the cycle in one revolution of the turntable, or 1-1/3 seconds.

 

[phillymatt53]

The RCA 45J utilizes the RCA RP-168 record changer, which I believe is the world's fastest record changer. It completes the cycle in one revolution of the turntable, or 1-1/3 seconds.

As the video of my 45-J shows.
Thankfully, mine has the pneumatic damper that controls the lowering of the tonearm on the records.

 

[jr2712]

Could it be that one of the reasons these products are collectors' items today is: There is really not anything in music (excepting classical music) that people want to listen to? A song like Elton's John's Tiny Dancer was so full it scared my little brother, but now all you hear, mostly in cars beside yours, is "BOOM BOOM and the F word. I can't believe people actually buy that.

I must add to your comment that in Spanish is the same thing now days! Al music now is only 2 or 3 notes... Boom boom and the words that practically all songs had is culo and chupar and coger... What a shame. Definitely I prefer old appliances, cars and music.... and sometimes old people too