For Fall 1959, Fisher introduced two new tuners along with two tuners combined with stereo preamplifiers. The FM-50 was the new entry level tuner. It uses eight tubes and has four stages of IF amplification (three limiters). But the FM-50 is outside the scope of what I wish to discuss this time.
In this post. I would like to tell you about three Fisher models which were built ready for an integral FM multiplex decoder, with space for same on the chassis. That was what I consider the Fisher Oddities – the FM-100 tuner, the 100-T tuner-preamp, and the 202-T tuner-preamp.
I have written about the FM-100 (three times!) and the 100-T (once) on this site previously. So if you’ve been following along, you know that the FM-100 is a quality FM tuner using ten tubes and four stages of IF amplification (two limiters), and the 100-T is an AM-FM tuner combined with a stereo preamplifier. It uses sixteen tubes. The AM tuner section of the 100-T has an RF stage but only one stage of IF amplification. Like most Fisher AM/FM tuners of the period, it is switchable between “broad” and “sharp” fidelity. “Broad” provides the best fidelity, while the “sharp” setting will reduce interference if there is a somewhat strong station on an adjacent frequency. The FM side also has an RF amplifier, and three stages of IF amplification (two limiters). The preamp is powered by 12AX7 tubes and allows for control of not only the unit’s tuner, but also phono, tape and auxiliary inputs.
Now please allow me to describe the 202-T tuner-preamp, the only one of the three I do not own (yet). Like the 100-T, the 202-T also combines an AM/FM tuner with a stereo preamplifier which provides control of the tuner as well as phono, tape and auxiliary inputs. It uses twenty-one tubes. It has a better tuner section than the 100-T. The FM side has an RF amplifier and four stages of FM IF amplification (two limiters) plus muting to eliminate noise between FM stations. The AM section features an RF amplifier plus two stages of IF amplification.
In appearance, the 202-T resembles the TA-600 receiver (Tuner-Amplifier), but the 202-T does not include power amplifier stages.
These three “Oddities” have one thing in common – a removable plate designed for installation of a Fisher multiplex decoder. There is one problem, though – the multiplex decoder Fisher intended for use in these three units was designed for the Crosby FM multiplex system. You see, Fisher assumed that the Crosby system would become the standard.
Fisher used a number of “Firsts” in their advertising, and I am sure that Avery Fisher intended for these three units to ultimately become Fisher’s “First” FM stereo multiplex tuners.
The only problem is, the FCC would not choose an FM Stereo multiplex standard until April 1961; and when they did, they chose a competing system, known as the GE-Zenith FM multiplex system.
So…I do not know if the proverbial handwriting was on the wall by the Fall of 1960 as Fisher released its new 1961 model line or what the reason was, but these three models – the FM-100, the 100-T, and the 202-T – were dropped from the Fisher line by then. Fisher instead offered a line of tuners for the 1961 model year which did not have provisions for built-in multiplex decoders.
And then the 1962 models were introduced in Fall 1961. All Fisher tuners and receivers were now FM Stereo capable, since the new models included GE-Zenith type FM multiplex decoders.
It is interesting to look back now, especially considering the short time span these three “Oddities” were on the market, and consider what might have been had the FCC approved the Crosby system instead. The Crosby system offered better frequency response and less noise. However, the Crosby system was not compatible with Subsidiary Communications Authorization – “hidden” signals within an FM broadcast which could be picked up by FM radios with SCA decoders. SCA was most commonly used as background music in stores, and those stores paid the FM station for the service. The GE-Zenith system is compatible with 67 kHz SCA, which is the main reason it was adopted.
And that, folks, is your FM history lesson for today.
100T202T