Look - you DON'T have to spend $14,999 for a hi-fi!

[turquoisedude]

For anyone who hasn't seen the post about a restored vintage Hi-Fi console for sale, I've copied the link below.

I much prefer the price shown in the photo, though...

Really? I mean, REALLY? $14,999.99???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Mid-Century-Stereo-Console-Audiophile-Hot-Rod-Newly-Refinished-/151028471261?pt=US_Entertainment_Units_TV_Stands&hash=item2329ff95dd

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[turquoisedude]

Presenting...

The GE console radio/turntable I found in Stanstead yesterday at a house contents sale!

The finish is rough and in need of TLC, but the style is quite nice!

 

[turquoisedude]

It has a four-speed GE-branded turntable. Check the spindle attachment for 45 RPM records! I haven't seen one of those in eons.

 

[turquoisedude]

The tuner knob is missing but all the other controls are fine.

Best of all, everything still works! The volume, bass, and treble controls are all smooth - no 'crackle' when trying to adjust them. There are ports for another pair of speakers and input/output for a tape deck. I'll use that for a CD input, though. And even better, there's a light at the side of the turntable to help you get the needle in the groove in a low-light environment.

For $10, as if I could say no!!

 

[philr]

Nice style! And nice find for a GE fan like you!

 

The bad thing about it is that it's size! It takes the space of a few washers!

 

Is there a part of the lost tuning knob remaining on the shaft? Is it a round shaft with splines? Send me a close-up picture of it. I might have something that fits there...

 

[hydralique]

Great Console . . .

Elegant cabinet design, it would look best in a room with a nice pair of Maytag A906s!

 

[whirlcool]

One of my uncles had that same set. When waxed properly it is a very striking design. His did crackle and pop whenever any of the amps knobs were turned. I always felt that the unit was hindered by the cheap cartridge GE used in these. If the cartridge was upgraded I imagine these would sound great! Plenty of bass.

 

[112561]

If I can't have a Magnavox, then I'll get a General Electric. I love those things, wish I still had mine! You'll find out that's the best ten dollars you ever spent!

 

[firedome]

Cool GE!

Circa '66-69 I think, Has the Porta-Fi feature, that allowed easy alternate placement of accessory outboard speakers, often MIA, but should not be too hard to find.

 

[firedome]

BTW

when present, "crackle & pop" is easily eliminated by a bit of DeOxit 5 spray applied to the volume, tone control and other pots (behing the faceplate & knobs).

 

[whirlcool]

These units came with the amp output jacks for Porta-Fi, but the Porta-Fi unit was an optional feature. What you did was plug the Porta-Fi amp into the proper output jacks on the amp. There was a space for it inside the console. Then you plugged the Porta-Fi amp into the wall. Then you took your Porta-Fi exgternal speaker and plugged it into any power outlet in your house and you had sound!

I don't know of anyone who ever used the Porta-Fi system, but I am sure somebody somewhere did.

BTW, when these units are cleaned up the grill cloth is black and the wood is a nice walnut veneer. I believe my uncle bought his in 1964 or so.

 

[yogitunes]

I grabbed one a few months back....for around 20.00......it a magnavox....I love the sound of these console units

 

[newvista58]

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

I'm a Big Fan of Magnavox audio consoles.
I have a few myself.

I would Def get a GE, if I ever came
across one, but for some reason, in
all my collecting, I've never seen
one for sale.

I do however, have an Awesome pair of
Vintage GE Speakers. Lighter Cherry
colored with Tan & Black tweed grille
cloth w/Gold Mylar thread. They sound
Great. I use them for DJ'ing, and everyone
that sees them can't believe the sound,
and "Wants" them.

There are alot of great vintage audio makers.

One should just get whatever it is that makes
them happy

 

[ovrphil]

GE consoles

Yogitunes - nice set!

Enjoying the discussions on stereos...picked up some fixer-uppers this weekend, but ....

Louis(NewVista48), I have seen at least four or more GE's on Craigslist, these past few days of searching CL. I wish I had more links for you to look at , but here's one with two for sale in Athens, Ohio

I'd like to know what it is about GE console stereos...why the interest? You're right, Louis, you don't see many of these.

http://athensohio.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=438&subAreaID=&query=ge+console+stereo&catAbb=sss

 

[maytog77]

well,

ill post my GE find, i bought a 1962 Ge Trimline TUBE portable stereo. i have the TOL in black now i have the one below that. It is Complete including the orginal GE trimline stand, made for GE espcially for the trimlines....

 

[maytog77]

here's the changer.

freshley adjusted and with a new needle..=)

 

[retromania]

Paul

Way to go. Congrats!

 

[112561]

General Electric and Porta Fi

My Spanish teacher, Mrs. Valdivia, had the class over to her house one day, she had a huge Danish General Electric console with the Porta Fi speakers. I know I commented on them, but didn't press any, because I didn't want to interrupt the reason we were there. Many years later, in the Anastasia's Attic, St. Anastasia's church thrift, there were two good sized Danish consoles, both reeking of mildew. Neither of them came home with me, one reason being no space. The same store had a Magnavox color tv console in a Danish cabinet with legs and tambour doors somewhere in that time period, and a set of Magnavox end tables in Contemporary walnut finish, one cabinet had the radio and phono, other had 2nd speaker/record storage for separated stereo. 

 

I had this identical set for a while, G E with Record Saver, Wrist Action tonearm, and solid wood cabinet. It had tubes. It came to a bad end when the third owner's nephew dumpstered it. This set was on Seattle Craigslist. 

 

[112561]

Canterbury Tales

Skagg's Electric was our G E dealer for years. They had this identical set in the back of their showroom, years after its 1960 introduction. It was like new, only being about ten years old. It sounded wonderful. This one was on ebay a few times, starting at $100 and gradually lowered to $50. Vacu-Matic, Record Saver, all the bells and whistles. Another holy grail for me.