August 1961 brought forth Fisher’s all new line of products for the 1962 selling season. Included in this new lineup were four FM tuners which were built to include capability to receive the GE-Zenith FM Stereo multiplex broadcasts which had been approved by the FCC in April of that year. A fifth tuner, which was in kit form, was added to the lineup in early 1962.

This post is intended to take an in-depth look at those five tuners.

Model FM-50-B – $189.50

This new entry-level tuner replaced the mono 1961 model FM-50. The FM-50-B is physically larger than the model it replaced, mainly because the new Fisher model WX multiplex decoder needed chassis real estate which the FM-50’s chassis size would not provide. Like the FM-50, the FM-50-B uses the “Trio-Matic” front end with no RF amplifier, and it also has four IF amplifiers (two limiters).

It has a total of 10 tubes. An EM84 served double duty as a tuning indicator or could be switched to use as an indicator of an FM Stereo broadcast (Stereo Beam).

Model FM-100-B – $229.50

This tuner essentially replaced the 1959-60 mono FM-100, which had been designed for use with the Crosby multiplex system, a competing system which ultimately did not win FCC approval because it was not compatible with SCA (subsidiary communications authorization) signals which were present on some FM broadcasts. Some broadcasters made an SCA subcarrier available to companies on a paid basis. These SCA signals usually carried background music for department stores and other businesses. SCA signals required a special decoder, and these were not available to the general public.

The FM-100-B uses 12 tubes and includes the Golden Cascode front end (cascode RF amplifier, mixer, and oscillator) with five stages of IF amplification (four limiters), Fisher WX multiplex decoder, and audio preamp using two 12AX7/ECC83 tubes. A small front panel meter was used as a tuning indicator. A Muting circuit was also included, which would keep the tuner quiet between stations.

Model FM-200-B – $289.50

The FM-200-B was a replacement for the short-lived 1961 mono FM-200. The FM-200-B has one less stage of IF amplification (five instead of six) than the FM-200. The Golden Cascode front end has a four-gang tuner and two nuvistor tubes (one mixer, one oscillator), which was an improvement over the FM-200’s three-gang tuner.

The FM-200-B includes Fisher’s “Microtune” circuitry which would keep a station tuned in properly, as well as a Muting circuit.

Like the FM-200, the 200-B includes a “UHF” (SO-239) connector for a 72-ohm antenna, as well as screw terminals for a 300-ohm antenna.

The FM-200-B has a total of 15 tubes.

Model FM-1000 ($419.50) and Model FMR-1 ($439.50)

The FM-1000 was, and is still considered to be, the very best of the best. It was built primarily for FM radio stations as a broadcast monitor. However, anyone who could afford it could purchase one. It cost $419.50 in late 1961 – nearly $3,777 in 2021 dollars! The original price was raised to $429.50 not long after its introduction.

It uses 18 tubes in a chassis which is about the same size as Fisher’s earliest stereo receivers (TA-600, TA-800, 500-S) and the Fisher 202-T tuner-preamp. A blanking plate at the back of the chassis could be removed for installation of the optional XF-10 crystal controlled front end.

Like the FM-200-B, the FM-1000 uses an improved Golden Cascode front end with a four-gang tuner and two Nuvistor tubes. It also has provisions for using either a 72-ohm or 300-ohm antenna.

The tuner has six stages of IF amplification (five limiters). Microtune and Muting were included, as well as a front panel VU (audio level) meter.

Model FMR-1 was identical to the FM-1000 except for its wider front panel with handles on left and right sides, made for rack mounting.

Model KM-60 – $169.50

In early 1962, following the lead of other hi-fi manufacturers, Fisher issued an FM Stereo tuner in kit form – the KM-60.

This 11-tube tuner fit into the Fisher lineup in between the FM-50-B and FM-100-B. It had four IF stages (three limiters) plus Fisher’s Golden Cascode front end, identical to the front end used in the FM-100-B. Yet the KM-60 was unique to the Fisher tuners of this era in that it used an EM84 as a “Stereo Beam” indicator along with a separate front panel tuning meter. This tuning meter also served as an alignment indicator for the kit builder.

The KM-60 was actually a good buy if the purchaser had the skills to build it, as it was cheaper than the factory-built FM-50-B and provided better performance with its Golden Cascode front end.

It was a popular kit and remained in the Fisher lineup for a few years.