3-channel 1960 RCA "Consolette" stereo complete extensive overhaul
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 มิ.ย. 2022
- Note: I start this episode saying this will be a two-in-one episode. WRONG! This one took so much time I lied. This is all about this one RCA console. I will restore the Magnavox that is in the background in a future episode.
Ive got that exact console. It was gifted to me by my nephew. Since then I have completely restored it to original operation and condition. A few tips , the tube sockets need replacement, I used ceramic types. I recapped the amplifier completely, as well as the AM FM radio. Next up was AM FM alignment of the IF’s. The changer was in good condition, all it needed was a general cleaning and lubrication of the transmission mechanics. The motor was disassembled cleaned and oiled. The drive idler wheel was $35 from VM. Turntable bearings replaced and lubed. I located cartridge and stylus from VM also. The project took me 6 months and cost about $150 in parts and materials. I am not a novice and this was quite a job to do. I would not recommend it to a Novice. I doubt I could even recoup costs through a sale. However as a personal accomplishment it was a priceless experience. Did I know what I was getting into. All that I learned was well worth the effort.
Hey!, I am retired and had all the time in the world. It good seeing the chassis here in your video. Will anyone ever appreciate my efforts?
Another console stereo brought back to life. You kind of wonder how many years ago this stereo was last played.
Probably YEARS
@@misterradio5035 My folks had a Motorola console stereo, no tuner with a center channel woofer. I think it was 12" and not a 15" woofer.
39:02 happens to me all the time… outstanding job on the RCA, Seth!
You nailed the console's sound quality. It's a large table radio with cheap speakers. The record changer has easily audible wow and flutter but the tuner sounds OK.
Ya know guys criticizing the quality construction of this system is petty. It performs as good as any consumer class receiver on the market in the day. The cabinetry is solid woos, no cheap plywood or verneer.
In my showroom back room studio I employ several EICO 324 signal generators as local transmitters to demonstrate the vintage equipment by playing old time radio shows. Right now I have 4 , EICO 324’s, each one is tuned to a different frequency , transmitting to 4 different radio receivers. One plays big band music from a record player, one plays TH-cam Mystery Shows , one has Burns and Allen from TH-cam and the last one transmits classical music from a reel to reel tape player. Antique and Vintage sets fky off the shelves utilizing these techniques. I don’t make big money at this, but I do alright.
Great piece of furniture resurrected, and brought back to life..Great job, and info..ED..uk..😀😀
Great job on the RCA. I have a similar one from 1962 for my future entertainment restoring it. I learned some good tips from watching your video, many thanks. You likely get lots of compliments on the 55? Merc, so here is mine. Y-Block Ford products are one of my passions. Cheers
Physical example of how RCA de -evolved some of their products by going cheap, cutting corners and saving money.
They did sell a lot of them. The Magnavox console was just the opposite. You will see why. By restoring the RCA
it will work, look great and make someone happy one day when they buy it at the museum sale/auction.👍🏻👍🏻
Magnavox didn't devolve until the late 60's. They made the early Astro-Sonic solid state consoles quite durable.
Don’t take on more than you can handle, the worst experience was finding parts and total cost. When I was dine I added Blue tooth, but seldom use it. My old Elvis albums are my main play. I am proud of my work and show it off in my showroom.
Love these old hifi stereos. The sound of the upright bass from the 50’s
A lot of those capacitors are bumblebee’s, or a.k.a., wax capacitors. Once out of tolerance, these capacitors get very hot 🥵, and drip 💧an oily, or wax like 👍 matter. They can also go “POP”, and often without warning ⚠️. I really like 👍 all these consoles, especially those from days-gone-by. Ya are best to replace all those bumblebee’s. Your friend, Jeff.
Hi & thanx for another interesting restoration... re. your magic eye observation, with older radios & 1960's taperecorders (Grundig springs to mind) the reason eyes were used were twofold... One: moving coil meters were relatively expensive & Two: eyes are more beautiful. I totally agree with the second statement.
I think mine is developing IF Mica Disease , reception is good but only on strong local stations. I don’t like the ACDC series string construction. The AM / FM IF alignment went along smoothly. I need a good outdoor dipole to finalize evaluation, but climbing two story ladder extension is risky at my age.
It looks nice, Seth. Reminds me of a Concert Grand except that it's not! I'd love to have an afternoon in the shop with it and see if the three amplifiers are up to spec and check out the tuner. Other than that it's a great big table radio! Enjoy them for what they are.
Mrster radio the vintage 3 channel 1960 RCA consoltte stereo is so awesome
Sweet
i think that changer was made by Crescent
Webcor also had that triple channel design...they termed it "BFD"....(Bass Frequency Distribution)! Did a lot of cap replacement in my day, as well as changer work.
I have one of those Webcors and it's very good. I have one extension speaker. It's a big cabinet and has a flip top and will store some records. It has a small 4 or 5 inch speaker. Even though obviously cheap it has warmed me up to Webcor products.
I would like to add the reverb chassis.
Good job you make i have a radiogram and put inside fiberglas sponge and sound really better.
Love the round guages!!!!!!!!!!! Sounds excellent with an original analouge recording. I don't want the blue tooth! It'a wonderful "chessy"! Also a beautiful piece of furniture; how much do you want for it?
I was wondering if anyone had rebuilt these chassis for operation of a H+ of 12V and a B+ of 12V and the output amplifier operating on a H+ of 6V and a B+ of 45V just wondering.
So Mister Radio how good is the AM FM reception on this rig?
The FM tuner in this set is German made and out of Business. Repairing the tuner is iffy.
18:20 Wasn't 1960 about the time when FM decoders were becoming dealer add-ons? I've seen 1961 Motorola consoles with labels describing how FM-stereo could be added. There are YT videos of UK consoles ("radiograms") from the early 1970s with the same setup. My guess is that the patent royalties added most of the cost, since a decoder itself costs almost nothing to make, so customers with no access to stereo broadcasts wouldn't have wanted to pay the added cost.
yes stereo fm didn't come out till a year later
Nice flag at 40:30 (reflection).
I didn't notice that until you said something
does the RCA get stereo fm?
No, only Stereo Simulcast reception . It was typical to transmit on AM at one frequency and a high resolution on FM, until the FCC got off its ass and decided which way to go. The wonderful General Sarnoff through a monkey wrench in the works to do anything at any cost to derail the Armstrong FM system. This is when the FCC decided they were lawyers and not engineers. RCA totally ruined the prospect of great FM reception. Armstrong went broke defending his ideas in court. Sarnoff was ruthless , cold blooded business man. His decisions eventually destroyed RCA as. MaJor electronics Company, putting a lot of loyal employees on the dole.
The cabinet was the crown part of the job. The original owner was not a smoker and was old school when it came to taking good care of electronics possessions. He also was a classical music enthusiast.