07-31-2023, 08:10 PM
+1 on Arran's comments. Unless you are decorating a mid-century modern house, you are not going to get a lot of money. It is a nice looking set that probably performs decently, but if I had the room for something like that, I would have an RCA Roundie TV / HiFi or better yet, what a childhood neighbor had, a Fisher (the solid state one, though my choice would be the 800C that I have, because I don't have the solid state one), 12" University Coax speakers and one of the more upscale turntables (Dual, upscale Garrard, what was that other German one?, etc).
The problem with most stereo consoles is that the speaker systems did not evolve much. In other words, HiFi speakers usually have tuned port or acoustic suspension speakers with large magnets and a treated cone edge instead of merely the same paper as the cone. good HiFi tweeters are not paper, but phenolic, aluminum, beryllium, etc. The receiver is likely not much more than 15 W/channel, which is not too bad. The turntable is likely a V-M (Voice of Music). It is possible that the cartridge is a magnetic instead of the less desirable ceramic or crystal, but magnetic cartridges are not common in Philco, RCA GE, Sylvania, Panasonic, etc. (The 1940s Beam of Light was different. I have never heard one but I bet it sounded better than a crystal cartridge of the same time period.)
One possible cool thing is if the radio had both FM Multiplex (in use now) and FM A, AM B, aka AM and FM Stereo (used experimentally before Multiplex. These were made in the late 50s to very early 60s when they were first experimenting with stereo radio broadcasts. Prior to multiplex, some companies that owned an AM and an FM station in the same service area would broadcast one stereo channel on their FM station and the other stereo channel on their AM station. The FCC allowed a waiver to do this until compatible FM MPX (multiplex) Stereo was standardized. Ordinarily, The FCC required that a mono FM station broadcast both channels merged. The requirements for MPX to be accepted was that a mono radio receive the left and right info merged, while a stereo radio correctly decode the MPX signal.
Not trashing it, it is a nice set in what looks like in good condition. I do hope that either you find a home for it or that you keep it. The receiver is likely a USA built radio. The Cabinet and V-M Turntable are likely USA (if the turntable is a Garrard, those are British.
The problem with most stereo consoles is that the speaker systems did not evolve much. In other words, HiFi speakers usually have tuned port or acoustic suspension speakers with large magnets and a treated cone edge instead of merely the same paper as the cone. good HiFi tweeters are not paper, but phenolic, aluminum, beryllium, etc. The receiver is likely not much more than 15 W/channel, which is not too bad. The turntable is likely a V-M (Voice of Music). It is possible that the cartridge is a magnetic instead of the less desirable ceramic or crystal, but magnetic cartridges are not common in Philco, RCA GE, Sylvania, Panasonic, etc. (The 1940s Beam of Light was different. I have never heard one but I bet it sounded better than a crystal cartridge of the same time period.)
One possible cool thing is if the radio had both FM Multiplex (in use now) and FM A, AM B, aka AM and FM Stereo (used experimentally before Multiplex. These were made in the late 50s to very early 60s when they were first experimenting with stereo radio broadcasts. Prior to multiplex, some companies that owned an AM and an FM station in the same service area would broadcast one stereo channel on their FM station and the other stereo channel on their AM station. The FCC allowed a waiver to do this until compatible FM MPX (multiplex) Stereo was standardized. Ordinarily, The FCC required that a mono FM station broadcast both channels merged. The requirements for MPX to be accepted was that a mono radio receive the left and right info merged, while a stereo radio correctly decode the MPX signal.
Not trashing it, it is a nice set in what looks like in good condition. I do hope that either you find a home for it or that you keep it. The receiver is likely a USA built radio. The Cabinet and V-M Turntable are likely USA (if the turntable is a Garrard, those are British.
"Do Justly, love Mercy and walk humbly with your God"- Micah 6:8
Best Regards,
MrFixr55
