random record console question

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There's a Sears Silvertone stereo system sitting in the youth room up at my church. It's in really good shape cosmetically, and it's been there as long as I've been there...and I've been going to the same church since I was a baby. The cabinet is a danish modern design, and it's sort of a "hybrid" with vacuum tube finals, but transistorized pre-amps. The electronics are accessible from the front similar to a pilot or Fisher console stereo. At some point in the past, the 8-track deck was removed, and a modern Pioneer double cassette deck from a 80's vintage component system was installed in it's place. Also, a JVC CD player found it's way into it as well connected up to the "AUX" terminal. The turntable is still in it, but I'm not sure how good it works...haven't tried it lately. I know it worked about 10 years or so ago.

The kids love it down there because it plays very loud and has plenty of bass.

I wish I wouldn't have let my Emerson Wildcat stereo get away. That was a fun little portable turntable. It played quite loud through it's 4X10 speakers. I know the neighbors loved it when I would carry it outside with my friends and play it when I was a kid!
 
It's been mentioned somewhere here before, the GE Mustang and the Emerson Wildcat are virtually the same set. I have a plastic tiny speaker automatic GE from the late '70s.
 
I have a complaint, to the morons on eBay when they are selling really old consoles, they think because it's in a cabinet, it's a stereo. When they advertise a Magnavox, they think the whole set is made in England. NO it is just the changer! And a curse on the people that bust up all the old sets to make more money on the parts. And the overabused term "Eames Era". My whole house is stuffed with Eames Era furniture. It is not Eames furniture, and it's only worth what it would go for in a thrift store.
 
Yes-I too HATE those morons that take down nice Maganavox consoles and sell the components-don't they relize the components are DESIGNED for use with other Maganavox components-IE the Maganavox "Bi-amp" power amps are designed to be used with Maganavox speakers and speaker systems only-the crossovers frequencies and curves won't work with other speakers .Guess those clowns don't know that-and what do they do with that beautiful cabinet after stripping the components-to horrible to think about.
 
i hate when i find a newer record changer inside an old console. it sure gives it bad taste especially if itz from the 1970's. i ask myself,"whatever happened to the old changer?" i'm with yall tolivac and 63getelevision.
 
I have more than one "favorite" auto TT-(changer)Collaro,and Garrard.Both were excellent.I bought a Dual 1209 single play TT at a yard sale-need to hook it up and try it.Dual changers were good-no overarm to possibly damage records.On new Tt's in older consoles-I don't under stand what gives there-I have lubed the older Collaro TT in my Moms Maganavox a few times to keep it going.In tubed Maganavoxes-and other tubed consoles-the TT grease gets baked dry by the heat from the tube amps.Probably all thats was wrong with the older Tt's is that they just needed greasing.Sometimes the motors need oiling as well.you need to check the motors bearing holders to see if they have oil ports.
 
on bsr turntable the grease around the platter shaft (where the spindle sits in) get baked dry also. it gets so bad that the tt won't spin at and if you turn the tt manually the spindle turn along with it.
 
Zenith Cobramatic TT's remember one in a console a freind had years ago--the unit was PINK and the Cobramatic tonearm had little red lights in its headshell that lit up when the TT was in use.It had a variable speed "vernier" control on it.the speed control wasn't working and the platter was turning erratically from a worn vertical idler wheel tire.since the man had a collection of slot cars-and some slot car "racing slicks"found the solution-the racing car slicks were just the right size and width to replace the worn idler-installed one and the Zenith TT was returned to life.Don't know its fate now-this was almost 30yrs ago.
 
Here's the Cobra-Matic from the 1953 unit languishing on my porch. It is 10 to 85 rpm, and the entire set has not been played since 1981. It came out of a house that hadn't been occupied since '82. Long story, I'll spare you.

9-29-2007-06-56-34--63getelevision.jpg
 
63ge... That Zenith has a lot of potential. I'm in the process of moving and haven't had a chance to post in a while. I've got several cool record portables I should show off. I'm still trying to find a nice console around that era with television or a 50s television itself, let alone some parts for that late 40s stromberg carlson I posted a while back. They are so expensive when you factor in shipping and just haven't come across one locally. oh well... :) Enjoy the set!
 
My RCA Vista VHT75

This is a picture from the original sales brochure that came with my beautiful RCA Vista VHT75 "Finlandia". I found it 2 weeks ago at an estate sale for $50.00. The orignial owner worked for the RCA wholesale distributor in the warehouse. The retail price was $495.00 but his discount brought it $397.50. It is absolutely beautiful.

Now a question. Where can I found parts, etc. for this? The amp has a few issues and probably needs to be re-built or?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob Donham, Sioux Falls,sd

9-30-2007-14-39-6--robbytuck.jpg
 
RCA Vista - Component Description

This is the description of components for the VHT75; which was the TOL for that year (approx 1964 or 1965?) The brouchure lists all model lines down to bookshelf systems. The VHT75 claims 300 watts amp. next step down is 120 watts and the BOL consoles end at 20 watts.

Thanks,
Bob Donham,

9-30-2007-15-03-10--robbytuck.jpg
 
RCA stereo parts

You probably won't be able to run to the local distributor to buy parts for that stereo anymore - but fear not!
What I LOVE about stereos of that vintage is that the vast majority of the parts are standards. It's all standard caps, resistors, transistors etc. So easy to find - so easy to sub. A rebuild probably not necessary. Amp/tuner probably needs a little repair. The changer.. maybe. Same 'ol, same'ol. Oxidized connectors and switches. Grease that turned to glue. Very fixable I'd bet.
Tell us all what it's not doing correctly and I bet we can steer you the right way.
 

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