nycwriter
Well-known member
OMG ...
... and I forgot some of them had lighted pickup heads!
... and I forgot some of them had lighted pickup heads!
My first stereo
- Thread starter jfalberti
- Start date
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I have two Newcomb record players
One is a tube type from the 60's and the other is a solid state stereo model from the 70's. Newcomb, Califone, and Audiotronics all pretty much used an Astatic 89T cartridge/stylus for the mono models. This is a stereo compatible cartridge that allowed you to play stereo records on a mono record player, and hear both channels. The stereo models used an Astatic 13T which was a true discreet stereo cartridge. Both of my Newcombs were suffering from bad idler wheels, but I got lucky and found a supplier of them on eBay, so both are up and running again. Here are some pictures of mine.
One is a tube type from the 60's and the other is a solid state stereo model from the 70's. Newcomb, Califone, and Audiotronics all pretty much used an Astatic 89T cartridge/stylus for the mono models. This is a stereo compatible cartridge that allowed you to play stereo records on a mono record player, and hear both channels. The stereo models used an Astatic 13T which was a true discreet stereo cartridge. Both of my Newcombs were suffering from bad idler wheels, but I got lucky and found a supplier of them on eBay, so both are up and running again. Here are some pictures of mine.
DesertTortoise
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- Jun 6, 2014
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Why am I smiling so broadly as I read this ! I have an early 1960's Fisher FM only tuner that belonged to my father. This was from the time when Avery Fisher was building his components in New York. My dad bought it at a discount chain store in the LA area called White Front. They actually sold high end stereo components along with clothes, major appliances, household products and groceries, one of the early predecessors of Wally World and Costco that litter US retail history.
It is all tube (tubes remain the state of the art for high fidelity reproduction of music, nothing yet made beats their sound quality) and sounds magnificent. You have to love that Fisher made this tuner FM only. It is very old and needs a good rebuild as I would love to place it in my stack along with all my other components as the centerpiece of my "stereo".
It is all tube (tubes remain the state of the art for high fidelity reproduction of music, nothing yet made beats their sound quality) and sounds magnificent. You have to love that Fisher made this tuner FM only. It is very old and needs a good rebuild as I would love to place it in my stack along with all my other components as the centerpiece of my "stereo".
paulg
Well-known member
Fisher was fabulous
Fisher was wonderful during those tube years. And wasn't too bad in the immediate years following.
And as far as Newcomb and Califone, I truly liked their stuff. Durable, sounded good.
... I truly liked POWERPOINT cartridges which were often found on scholastic phonos. Yes, young'uns.... POWERPOINT meant something other than a computer program back then. Sooo easy to fix those Powerpoint phonos.
Fisher was wonderful during those tube years. And wasn't too bad in the immediate years following.
And as far as Newcomb and Califone, I truly liked their stuff. Durable, sounded good.
... I truly liked POWERPOINT cartridges which were often found on scholastic phonos. Yes, young'uns.... POWERPOINT meant something other than a computer program back then. Sooo easy to fix those Powerpoint phonos.
marks_here
Well-known member
We also had the sony reel to reel tape recorder, it had a built in amp. we used to hook up mics to them, strange thing is they were on these tv stands the the front bent down & had to have a book under the front of it to keep the recorder from tipping over. That was the pride & joy of the music department, also the AV department had a huge video tape recorder that you had to wind the tape around the head, from what I remember everything was in black & white, quite unique back at that time.
DesertTortoise
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2014
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I have one of those old Sony reel-to-reel tape decks in a closet and well remember the mics you describe. It has speakers that hinge on the side and can be closed over the tape deck and locked on with suitcase latches. There is a handle on the top so it can be carried like a suitcase.
My dad bought it circa 1965 or so. A friend and co-worker of my dad's who was in the Air National Guard brought it over from Japan in the Boeing C-97 he crew chiefed. My dad hardly ever used it so it is pristine but there are no tapes to play on it.
My dad bought it circa 1965 or so. A friend and co-worker of my dad's who was in the Air National Guard brought it over from Japan in the Boeing C-97 he crew chiefed. My dad hardly ever used it so it is pristine but there are no tapes to play on it.
DesertTortoise
In order to start enjoying that Sony, check out thrift stores, estate sales, and of course, ebay, because there are TONS of reel to reel tapes out there, you can take your pick. Some of the blanks are brand new in package, some "blanks" have music and messages from who knows where. I bought some used Ampex 7 inch reels from Craigslist one day, the man threw in a BASF tape that was recorded off German radio in 1966. I bought some used tapes from ReStore, put an unmarked one on a 1965 Magnavox machine I got off ebay. First thing I heard was a homemade tape of mid '60's Beatles. Here are some ebay pics of Magnavox machines I own, and a couple others thrown in.
In order to start enjoying that Sony, check out thrift stores, estate sales, and of course, ebay, because there are TONS of reel to reel tapes out there, you can take your pick. Some of the blanks are brand new in package, some "blanks" have music and messages from who knows where. I bought some used Ampex 7 inch reels from Craigslist one day, the man threw in a BASF tape that was recorded off German radio in 1966. I bought some used tapes from ReStore, put an unmarked one on a 1965 Magnavox machine I got off ebay. First thing I heard was a homemade tape of mid '60's Beatles. Here are some ebay pics of Magnavox machines I own, and a couple others thrown in.
Most of the few RR tapes I have came from radio stations-most are full of commercials sent by clients to be broadcast.The commercials would be transferred from the reels to carts.One is full of Coke ads!Not tapes but have several Kasey Kasem AT40 countdown record albums.These could be played as received on a Turntable!!-back in the days when radio stations had them-usually two per studio.
I found a ton of 7 and 3 inch reel tapes in one of the church thrifts earlier this year, they had seminars and some had radio spot announcements, a few had personal things on them, nothing hot I'm afraid. One was marked 1958, some holiday like Thanksgiving. Brands ranged from Allied, Radio Shack, Melody, Montgomery Ward Airline, Silvertone, Scotch, Irish, etc. I really don't need to stockpile those things, but I wanted to make sure I have enough for my collection of machines. I have a few 5 and 3 in reels from years back when I was in my teens. Here's my last 5 inch ebay machine, Magnavox branded, Sanyo built.
Often portable RR machines were used for radio station news gathering and interveiw work in their feild kits.then came the portable cassette machines.
nycwriter
Well-known member
OMG ...
"Most of the few RR tapes I have came from radio stations-most are full of commercials sent by clients to be broadcast.The commercials would be transferred from the reels to carts."
OMG this was me in one of my first jobs in radio (KDKA in Pittsburgh)
ALL the commercials came in on reels. When I worked in "traffic" and "continuity", I had to listen to all of them, time them, make sure there were no editorial issues, and then send them down to production.
When I worked in production, I'd transfer each of them to their own cart (short for "cartridge" -- which were nearly identical to 8-track tapes, but only held enough tape inside for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2:30, etc.). They were a marvelous invention, really: pop it in, hit play, and it would automatically cue up to the beginning after each play.
With the exception of hour-long pretaped shows, KDKA put EVERYTHING on carts, even (when it still played music), songs.
"Most of the few RR tapes I have came from radio stations-most are full of commercials sent by clients to be broadcast.The commercials would be transferred from the reels to carts."
OMG this was me in one of my first jobs in radio (KDKA in Pittsburgh)
ALL the commercials came in on reels. When I worked in "traffic" and "continuity", I had to listen to all of them, time them, make sure there were no editorial issues, and then send them down to production.
When I worked in production, I'd transfer each of them to their own cart (short for "cartridge" -- which were nearly identical to 8-track tapes, but only held enough tape inside for 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2:30, etc.). They were a marvelous invention, really: pop it in, hit play, and it would automatically cue up to the beginning after each play.
With the exception of hour-long pretaped shows, KDKA put EVERYTHING on carts, even (when it still played music), songs.
KOOL!!!Another KDKA man.At the VOA plant in Wash DC,there were a few guys that used to work there.Carts and cart machines-yes they were geat things-but alas-now carts are antiques.Glad I have a few cart machines in my equipment collection.One of my jobs while manning a transmitter site for a station in DC was to rebuild carts for the station and others sent in from other company owned stations.Got real good at it-even better than some of the commercial cart rebuild services!Now-if a cart didn't recue-Q tone not recorded on the tape at proper level.Most common--bad caps on the Q-board.Replace and no more "ring around the rosie!"For a long period of time-most of the airplay material was recorded on "carts"--DJ's loved them-or could it be "Cart-J's"?And program automation systems liked carts.But digital has taken all of the fun out of radio!!
nycwriter
Well-known member
Amen, Rex!
I hate digital.
I hate digital.
Matt: I hate digital for the most part-but guess us analog guys are going to have to learn to live with digital.Cinema operators-some are saying the same thing when they replace their film projectors with digital ones.Hollywood has jumpted on digital now-no more film-the film labs are broken up-so no more motion pictures going to be relased on 35MM film format.All going to Digital Cinema Packages now-a hard drive instead of reels of film.And after the theater has loaded the DCP into their server-they get a KDM(Key Display Message) to allow them to play back the film they loaded-this is to prevent "copying-piracy"The DCP also includes trailers meant to be played back with that movie.The projectionist can select among the ones they want to play.The KDM's are only good for a set period of time-if the theater needs a longer time after booking the film-he requests the studio to send another KDM.
Joe!
I bought that EXACT same model Capeheart!! It was $39.00.(42.00 w/tax) I loved that thing.
I bought that EXACT same model Capeheart!! It was $39.00.(42.00 w/tax) I loved that thing.
Mike,Matt:Used to have a Scott LK48 stereo tube intergrated amp I bought from the trade in pile at McGuires Hi-Fi in Wash DC.The amp got lost in the Rapid City Flood of 1972.Loved that amp-indeed the sound from such a low powered amp was strong ,clean,powerful.Scotts secret was abnormally large output transformers in the output stage.The bass response was amazing for an amp that was only 24W per channel.combine it with high effiency speakers and you are in Hi-fi heaven!Would so love to run into another one of those amp---but alas the ones I have seen in some Hi-fi catalogs are over 2 grand!I bought mine for only 50 bucks in 1972!!Was the best 50 buck Hi-Fi purchase I EVER made!!!So miss that thing!!!Yes,records did sound so real played over that Scott-used it with a pair of Karlson speaker cabinets that contained Philips coax speakers!NICE-the speakers were lost,too.Bought them locally from one of my Dads freinds in Rapid City.He bought new speakers.Was less than what I paid for the Scott Amp.Used it with a PE turntable.
I still have 2 or those BIG Caliphones
and 2 SUPER Bogens.... Helen Keller could hear them (yesterday was her b day). I used them in ther dance studio in Philly., You could jack a discman into them, a boombox, loads of things that wereen;t even invented when these machines were made.
I'll post pics soon.
and 2 SUPER Bogens.... Helen Keller could hear them (yesterday was her b day). I used them in ther dance studio in Philly., You could jack a discman into them, a boombox, loads of things that wereen;t even invented when these machines were made.
I'll post pics soon.
nycwriter
Well-known member
When I said digital ...
I meant digital, not necessarily dinging SOLID STATE.
I have to admit, after hearing side-by-side demos of tube amps versus solid state (with the signal coming from a vinyl record via a Pickering cartridge on a BIC turntable), I do detect a slight difference.
It's hard for me to describe, but somehow the tube signal sounds "warmer", but the Solid State (which incidentally was a classic Kenwood KA-7100) to my ears sounded more dynamic, and in many cases, preferable.
I chalk it up to the analog Solid State being what *I* grew up listening to.
My dad, however, grew up listening to tube amps and likes that "warmer" sound.
I meant digital, not necessarily dinging SOLID STATE.
I have to admit, after hearing side-by-side demos of tube amps versus solid state (with the signal coming from a vinyl record via a Pickering cartridge on a BIC turntable), I do detect a slight difference.
It's hard for me to describe, but somehow the tube signal sounds "warmer", but the Solid State (which incidentally was a classic Kenwood KA-7100) to my ears sounded more dynamic, and in many cases, preferable.
I chalk it up to the analog Solid State being what *I* grew up listening to.
My dad, however, grew up listening to tube amps and likes that "warmer" sound.
