Musical Medium of Times Passed

kerosene · 09-30-2008, 03:21 PM

So, I just acquired one of these vintage console stereos through craigslist. I have been looking for months and got a really good deal on it. It works perfectly and looks beautiful in my living room.

I don't have much for records anymore, but I plan to restart my collection. I can't spend too much, so I will be perusing the thrifts and garage sales.

Anyone have records they want to unload?

Seriously, though, I love this thing. it came with some 78s...Bing Crosby, Andrews Sisters, Gene Autry. I am enjoying those for now. What I love is that it is fairly automatic, especially given the timeframe in which it was made. there is just something about the sound that comes out of it.

Flint · 09-30-2008, 03:30 PM

OMG that is beautiful! I've always wanted to find one in that good of condition, and retrofit it with current high-end components.

I remember my grandparents playing Kenny Rogers and Charlie Daniels on a console.

kerosene · 09-30-2008, 03:32 PM

It would be fun to do that someday...maybe I will when I get another one. For now, though, I am enjoying the fuzzy scratchiness of the original. There were several on Craigslist. Maybe they have some in your area?

You know, my grandma had one of these, too, but I don't know where it is anymore. Probably my aunt has it. I had one years ago, also...I picked it up at a thrift for 10 bucks to go in my first apartment. It was great! Somehow we didn't have the room for it later on. I played my mom's Carol King and Beatles records on it. I really missed the sound. I think another thing I like about records is that you have to consciously think about what you want to play...not like queuing up a giant mp3 playlist and letting it go to subconsciously notice in the background. I actually have to get my lazy ass up and change the record.

glatt · 09-30-2008, 03:35 PM

That is so cool! It looks great. How many records have you stacked at once? I bet you can get a couple hours of music out of it.

I think my old Tommy double album has the sides set up so it's 1,4; 2,3 so you can stack them.

Is the sound good? Those look like decent sized speakers. If the speakers are shot, I have had good luck replacing rotten foam surrounds with a mail order kit and a little patience.

kerosene · 09-30-2008, 03:42 PM

So maybe I don't have to get my lazy ass up as often as I thought? I didn't even realize I could stack them...or maybe I can't? </dufus>

You know, I think the speakers are pretty good, still. I tested out the tuner and it works well, and the sound seems pretty good. I might take a look at them once we get moved, though. They might be a bit rotten, considering the age.

dar512 · 09-30-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by case

So maybe I don't have to get my lazy ass up as often as I thought? I didn't even realize I could stack them...or maybe I can't? </dufus>

Yes you can. I can tell by the spindle and the arm. Put the first record in the usual place, stack the rest at the top of the spindle where it jogs out a bit. The arm is to hold them in place. Once the first record is complete, a little piece of metal in the spindle will jog out to drop the next record.

I'm old enough to have owned more than one turntable.

kerosene · 09-30-2008, 03:47 PM

Okay, I got the gist of the metal spindle, but I didn't realize I could put more records up there. Hmm...this greatly increases my appreciation for my new console. That just fuckin rocks. Literally, sort of.

glatt · 09-30-2008, 03:55 PM

And the arm, in case it's not clear, goes above all the stacked records. It holds them level so the little dohicky in the spindle will hold them up.

dar512 · 09-30-2008, 04:05 PM

It shows how times have changed. When I was a teen, everyone knew how to stack a changer. Now it's an (almost) lost art.

SteveDallas · 09-30-2008, 04:11 PM

Yep.. in fact operas on LP would usually be, say for a 3 LP set, part 1&6 on one disc, 2&5 on the next, and 3&4, so you could load them all up at once.

kerosene · 09-30-2008, 04:20 PM

OOoooh....I got it. Sadly, I am no longer even a teenager (by far.) I am so happy. Thanks for letting this noob know.

ZenGum · 09-30-2008, 08:49 PM

I'm going to go all grandpa Simpson again if you don't watch out, and start explaining this to Ibram and MTP.

"We used to have to change the records by hand!"

SteveDallas · 09-30-2008, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

"We used to have to change the records by hand!"

And that's not all we had to do by hand.....

Sundae · 10-01-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

And that's not all we had to do by hand.....

I think the teens still do that though...

Gorgeous peice of furniture Case
I only gave up my record player when I mved to HM's
It was a modern one (well, 1995) but I loved to play me some of my teen recors on it

I miss it

09-30-2008, 03:21 PM	#1
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	Musical Medium of Times Passed So, I just acquired one of these vintage console stereos through craigslist. I have been looking for months and got a really good deal on it. It works perfectly and looks beautiful in my living room. I don't have much for records anymore, but I plan to restart my collection. I can't spend too much, so I will be perusing the thrifts and garage sales. Anyone have records they want to unload? Seriously, though, I love this thing. it came with some 78s...Bing Crosby, Andrews Sisters, Gene Autry. I am enjoying those for now. What I love is that it is fairly automatic, especially given the timeframe in which it was made. there is just something about the sound that comes out of it.

09-30-2008, 03:30 PM	#2
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	OMG that is beautiful! I've always wanted to find one in that good of condition, and retrofit it with current high-end components. I remember my grandparents playing Kenny Rogers and Charlie Daniels on a console. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

09-30-2008, 03:32 PM	#3
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	It would be fun to do that someday...maybe I will when I get another one. For now, though, I am enjoying the fuzzy scratchiness of the original. There were several on Craigslist. Maybe they have some in your area? You know, my grandma had one of these, too, but I don't know where it is anymore. Probably my aunt has it. I had one years ago, also...I picked it up at a thrift for 10 bucks to go in my first apartment. It was great! Somehow we didn't have the room for it later on. I played my mom's Carol King and Beatles records on it. I really missed the sound. I think another thing I like about records is that you have to consciously think about what you want to play...not like queuing up a giant mp3 playlist and letting it go to subconsciously notice in the background. I actually have to get my lazy ass up and change the record. Last edited by kerosene; 09-30-2008 at 03:38 PM. Reason: had more thoughts to add

09-30-2008, 04:05 PM	#9
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	It shows how times have changed. When I was a teen, everyone knew how to stack a changer. Now it's an (almost) lost art. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

09-30-2008, 08:49 PM	#12
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	I'm going to go all grandpa Simpson again if you don't watch out, and start explaining this to Ibram and MTP. "We used to have to change the records by hand!" __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

09-30-2008, 03:35 PM	#4
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	That is so cool! It looks great. How many records have you stacked at once? I bet you can get a couple hours of music out of it. I think my old Tommy double album has the sides set up so it's 1,4; 2,3 so you can stack them. Is the sound good? Those look like decent sized speakers. If the speakers are shot, I have had good luck replacing rotten foam surrounds with a mail order kit and a little patience.

09-30-2008, 03:42 PM	#5
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	So maybe I don't have to get my lazy ass up as often as I thought? I didn't even realize I could stack them...or maybe I can't? </dufus> You know, I think the speakers are pretty good, still. I tested out the tuner and it works well, and the sound seems pretty good. I might take a look at them once we get moved, though. They might be a bit rotten, considering the age.

09-30-2008, 03:47 PM	#7
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	Okay, I got the gist of the metal spindle, but I didn't realize I could put more records up there. Hmm...this greatly increases my appreciation for my new console. That just fuckin rocks. Literally, sort of.

09-30-2008, 03:55 PM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	And the arm, in case it's not clear, goes above all the stacked records. It holds them level so the little dohicky in the spindle will hold them up.

09-30-2008, 04:11 PM	#10
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Yep.. in fact operas on LP would usually be, say for a 3 LP set, part 1&6 on one disc, 2&5 on the next, and 3&4, so you could load them all up at once.

09-30-2008, 04:20 PM	#11
kerosene Touring the facilities Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The plains of Colorado Posts: 3,476	OOoooh....I got it. Sadly, I am no longer even a teenager (by far.) I am so happy. Thanks for letting this noob know.

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