Found a Capehart!

[travis]

I am so excited to have found a Capehart locally. I've admired them awhile, but they're so darn heavy to ship or so messed up. This one is a 413N. I got it from the original owner. Her father bought it for her new. I'm so thankful her mother and she protected it for the past 60+ years. I powered it up with a variac and for an unrestored piece, it works pretty well.

The flip-over changer needs some cleaning and lubrication to work properly.

 

[travis]

Open

.

 

[travis]

Changer

Pardon the dust

 

[hydralique]

Fascinating Find!

Looks like the tuner has a tuning eye tube too. Who made the changer? That must be a real rarity, I hope you're able to get it working correctly again.

 

[customline]

Wow.....

We need to see footage of that changer in action !!!

 

[mihi]

whow.....

very very nice. I remember the Capeharts, seeing them in department stores.

 

[oldhouseman]

Wow, An interesting

company. Looks like they were a bit ahead of their time. I found a link to some information on this model.

http://www.mulhollandpress.com/Capehartregency.htm

 

[rp2813]

The cabinetry and sound quality on Capehart systems, including their TVs, was top notch. We had a model 325F TV. My dad bought it on a whim one night in 1951 when my mom was having a ladies party of some kind and he was killing time downtown.

Looks like an easy clean-up and restoration Travis. Nice find, and I agree that we need to see that record flipper in action!

Ralph

 

[travis]

Naked Capehart pics

I can't really get good pictures of the changer mechanism. I need more room behind it. Here's what I got.

You can see a changer cycle at the link below.

http://www.myvintagetv.com/capehart.htm

 

[travis]

Amp chassis

This is the amp. The tuner chassis is on a shelf above and not that spectacular to look at. Miniature tubes aren't as showy as G style tubes.

I'll get in there and clean out the dust soon.

 

[saltysam]

GO TRAVIS!!!

You find the most amazing stuff! That is absolutely beautiful! Congrats on an amazing find
Mark

 

[charbee]

Wow...never seen anything like that flipper/changer except on a jukebox. Anybody know who designed/made their tube amps?

 

[swestoyz]

This is a great piece Travis - nice find. Certainly looks like it will keep you busy for a while.

Also - nice finish on your cool floors!

Ben

 

[a440]

Wow!

What a amazing find!
It is just beautiful!
I can't imagine a cabinet being in better shape.
The amp is amazing! What is the reason behind all of the tubes? Is it Stereo?
Fantastic find! It will not take much to get this beauty up and running.
Thanks for the pictures! It it in wonderful shape!
Brent

 

[athanasius80]

Its not stereo, its called More Power! There are two stages of push pull 2A3 tubes plus two rectifiers powering the whole thing.

Travis, I think you need to have a big band wake up the neighborhood party.

 

[travis]

Thanks for the compliments guys

I'll recap the amp and tuner soon. Based on how well it sounds now, it should be awesome. I just don't really trust using it right now.

I'm waiting for the service manual for the changer. I've also started hunting for an old Capehart changer with a newer tonearm the a Capehart headshell and an RPX or VRI cartridge. That would enable me to replace my stylus and preserve the appearance.

 

[whirlaway]

Wonderful capehart

Hi! I have a 1936,it is a wonderful machine.Just keep the mechanicals clean and lubed.Yours is a postwar machine.They made everything but the speakers.Just remember not all 78s have a lead in groove or a very weak one,sometimes mine fails to fall in the groove.I have the big floating horseshoe magnet pick up it tracks very heavy.Yours should do fine just as it is.Any questions let me know,wonderful find. Bobby

 

[ironrite]

Post War Machines

What a wonderful find! I had a post war machine a few years ago, similar to yours in the Chippendale style. It had been modified to take a GE VR cartridge. It also had been adapted to play 33 and 45 RPM records as well as 78s. As these were expensive machines, dealers would retrofit a three speed motor for the turntable. Done right it looks like the machine would have come that way from the factory.

Now just find a copy of Percy Faith's Swedish Rhapsody and let your neighbors down the block enjoy the wonderful sound!