02-14-2016, 03:12 AM
I would offer as little as possible for this unit, it's post war, it does not play, and it has a record changer, which is only really useful if you have 78 rpm records to play, but adds to the restorations costs. Some may bring in non sequitur comparisons like restaurant meals, or white walls tires, but the main cost of a radio is not the purchase prices it's in the restoration, and post war radio-phono combo units cost more to restore then a pre war radio console but are less collectable and worth less in resale. When you see units like this on fleabay the listings usually cycle through without any bids, and get relisted again and again or the seller gives up. At a radio swap meet they usually sell cheap, go on the free pile, or at one meet their end on a bonfire if nobody takes them. I would count on spending $50 or more between the radio and the record changer in restoration costs, getting a later three speed changer may make it more useful, but those have to be overhauled too, and you would have to modify the drawer to make one fit.
In spite of what some may say you don't necessarily have to replace or have the idler wheels rebuilt, the tires are not always bad unless you live in a hot climate that destroys rubber. In rebuilding the idler wheels one of the parts suppliers I have purchased from has a selection of tires available, wjoeradio.com , he may or may not have one that will work on this changer but it's worth investigating rather then paying out $30 (plus shipping) to get an old one rebuilt if you don't have to. If this has a magnetic cartridge, and it has not been molested by some dummy trying to fit a steel needle in it, that could actually work in your favor, the number one thing that seems to fail in 1940s phonographs and changers is the Rochelle salt crystal elements forcing you to either replace the cartridge or rebuild it, like my 46-1201 (Canadian model 76). I don't know if there are replacement needles available for the magnetic cartridges or not, but the one in it may be fine depending on how much it was used or if it was replaced sometime before the unit was retired. The flocking on the platter may come up with a careful vacuuming and a brush, but if it's damaged you can restore it yourself, others have.
Regards
Arran
In spite of what some may say you don't necessarily have to replace or have the idler wheels rebuilt, the tires are not always bad unless you live in a hot climate that destroys rubber. In rebuilding the idler wheels one of the parts suppliers I have purchased from has a selection of tires available, wjoeradio.com , he may or may not have one that will work on this changer but it's worth investigating rather then paying out $30 (plus shipping) to get an old one rebuilt if you don't have to. If this has a magnetic cartridge, and it has not been molested by some dummy trying to fit a steel needle in it, that could actually work in your favor, the number one thing that seems to fail in 1940s phonographs and changers is the Rochelle salt crystal elements forcing you to either replace the cartridge or rebuild it, like my 46-1201 (Canadian model 76). I don't know if there are replacement needles available for the magnetic cartridges or not, but the one in it may be fine depending on how much it was used or if it was replaced sometime before the unit was retired. The flocking on the platter may come up with a careful vacuuming and a brush, but if it's damaged you can restore it yourself, others have.
Regards
Arran
