[marcapra]

Can someone tell me where to get info on the record changers for Philco consoles? The PhotoFacts just give info on the radios. I'm trying to find the model number of the changer in a 48-1284 with dual tonearms as pictured in the previous post.

[Chuck Schwark]

Many times it's not on the changers. Philco Service Manuals will always
state the phono model number and in your case the Model 48-1284
originally came with a Model M-8. The M-8 has only one tone arm,
so someone has added one. Maybe a cutter head(?)

Chuck

[marcapra]

Thanks Chuck. So according to this picture, is this the wrong turntable for this model?

http://pages.suddenlink.net/kirk28/49-16...Open-1.jpg

[Ron Ramirez]

Marcapra

Are you sure you do not have a 49-1609 instead of a 48-1284?

The changer is correct for the 1949 model.

The two cabinets (48-1284, 49-1609) are identical.

If your set is a 48-1284, then someone added the 1949 changer to be able to play the then-new 33-1/3 rpm LP records in addition to 78s.

[Chuck Schwark]

Ron,

Would that be the M-9C changer?

Chuck

[Ron Ramirez]

Yes, the 49-1609 uses the M-9C.

Additionally, the M-9C is similar to the M-9 (78 rpm only) except that the M-9C is designed to operate at either 78 or 33-1/3 rpm.

The M-9C only changes records at 78 rpm. The LP tonearm is used at 33-1/3 rpm, and is designed to be used manually only.

[marcapra]

I believe the two models with identical cabinets are the 49-1609 and the 50-1726. The 48-1284 is similar, but has a centered speaker grille, with record storage on both sides. I've seen several 48 consoles with the 49 dual tonearm phono, and now it makes sense. If you were a Philco customer who bought a console in 48, just as the first LPs were coming out, you might have felt your console was made immediately obsolete. I'm sure the local Philco dealer would have offered a retrofit with a 49 dual tonearm changer.

[Ron Ramirez]

Here is the 48-1284, from original mid-season 1948 Philco information.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/image...81284c.jpg]

Now, the 49-1609, from a 1949 Philco catalog.

[Image: http://www.philcoradio.com/gallery/image...491609.jpg]

The cabinets are identical!

...and now it makes sense. If you were a Philco customer who bought a console in 48, just as the first LPs were coming out, you might have felt your console was made immediately obsolete. I'm sure the local Philco dealer would have offered a retrofit with a 49 dual tonearm changer.

Of course this is a good possibility. This is why we are finding many 1941 and 1942 Philco radio-phonographs today which no longer have their original Beam of Light changers, but a newer one instead.

There is a 46-1213 in the big antique mall in Edinburgh, Indiana (Exit 76 Antique Mall, if anyone's interested in it) which has a 1950s era V-M changer in place of the original 78 rpm (only) changer.

It happens.

[Ron Ramirez]

Addendum:

According to Philco's service notes for Model 48-1284, it originally used the M-8 changer (78 rpm only). The 49-1609 came with the M-9C as standard equipment.

It probably would not be difficult to replace an M-8 with an M-9C.

Have a nice day, I'm going back to my college studies now...

[marcapra]

Whoops, my bad! Sorry for all the confusion here. When I said 49-1609, I really meant 49-1613 which has the same cabinet as the 50-1726. Ron thanks for correcting me! Marc.