GUESS WHAT I FOUND ?!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!

[lightedcontrols]

Got a call from Roanoke Robert (aka. Lady Kenmore) that a guy he knew had a console stereo from the 70's that was NEVER OPENED and still in the box. Well..........I had to go and see what this was all about since I have a console record player collection too! Seems this stereo was bought for a daughter as a Christmas gift. The daughter died right before Christmas. The Mother and Father just kept the stereo in the basemsnt and never even opened the box. When the mother died last month, one of the other surviving children had the task of clearing out the house so it could be put on the market. This set was advertised in a local rag and Robert spotted it. Take a look at the photos. I didn't take it all of the way out of the box as I am taking it right to my storage facility in Wytheville where it will wait until my new home is built and can be displayed as it should be. This first photo shows where I picked it up at a garage (where the son worked) in town.

 

[lightedcontrols]

more photos

another photo

 

[lightedcontrols]

Just like new 1971

unbelievable shape! Loaded in the trailer.

 

[lightedcontrols]

beautiful walnut cabinet

..... so cool to open it up!

 

[lightedcontrols]

top of the line!

This was a top of the line system with a reel to reel tape deck and everything else that you can think of. The original receipt shows that it cost $1,800 new in 1971. Can't wait to get the space to set it up and take a listen! Mark

 

[toggleswitch]

Way cool

Enjoy! What a find!

IIRC a new BOL Ford then was about $3,000.

Could this possibly be true if the stereo was $2,000 +/-?

 

[tolivac]

WOW!!!SUPER FIND-That is a really NICE console Hi-fi unit.The ones with the RR decks were the TOL machines.On lower models the console may have had audio in and out connections for the recorder that you had to provide.Motorola made some nice audio components in those days.Now thats a real "Hi-end" Hi-Fi!!!

 

[westytoploader]

Wow Mark, how do you find all of this great stuff??? Beautiful console; didn't realize Motorola was in the A/V scene that late.

$1800 in 1971? Whew, that's around $8000 now! Can you imagine paying that much for a stereo? Amazing...

 

[lightedcontrols]

Magnavox had one too!

Hi Westy! Magnavox had a stereo that was real top of the line at about this same period. It was only offered to certain special Magnavox dealers. It retailed out at about $5,000.00 in the early 70's. For the life of me I can't think of what they called the set, but it was awesome. Baker was making their furniture so you know it was really TOL. One thousand watts per channel, built in reel to reel, the new micromatic changer that had light up controls (on the changer) etc. I remember seeing one when I bought mine in (or about) 1969. Mark

 

[jasonl]

Rock and 'Rola

And wouldn't Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii on RCA Victor Quadra Disc sound nice right about now? Dub it to the reel, save the vinyl.

Does the phono have a magnetic cartridge? You'd think it would have it being such a huge investment.

 

[kenmore1978]

great find

Gee, what a find. It never ceases to amaze me how this stuff keeps popping up, like the brand new 1965 Lady K set someone on here got.

Inciedentally, for you 1958 Continental fans, a friend of mine is selling one. Another amazing story. I remember him getting it in 1989. Seems like he ALWAYS finds low mileage, TOL, loaded to the gills cars.

I've ridden in this car, it's unbelievable. And when he restores a car, he goes all out

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[kenmore1978]

NIB find

You should send a pic of this to Motorola so they have SOME sense of their history.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Anything MIB is So Very Exciting!

WOW Mark that is an incredible find, its going to look great in your new home. Congrats!

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Extra Fab

lightedcontrols, can't wait to see it unveiled in all of its
pristine grandness. I have an earlier model Motorola "three
channel" Console with the swing out side speakers. Also a VM-1000. Congrats on that incredible find.

 

[tlee618]

Mark that is going to be a real beauty!! Congratulations on such a neat fine. I bet that it will have a wonderful sound. Terry

 

[foraloysius]

Wow! Cool find! Are the speakers built in to the cabinet or are there separate speakers?

 

[lightedcontrols]

speakers

...the speakers are built in......

 

[joeekaitis]

May I . . .well. . .you know. . .stick my head under the lid and take a deep drag of that just-out-of-the-box smell?

Please?

 

[Cybrvanr]

WOW that's amazing! A classic American Console stereo with a Reel-to-reel in it! Most of the ones I have ever seen have 8-track decks in them. A Motorola was a top-end brand too! That thing oughta sound really nice! Can't wait to see it in the house once you're all moved in. Do you know if it's a modern style cabinet or a traditional style cabinet?

I like that box with the big Motorola "M" on the side. Have you ever noticed that the Motorola "M" is exactly like the Williams Pinball "W" logo, just turned the other way?