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I am sitting here listening to a Shostakovich LP on my absolutely beautiful vintage console hi-fi stereo that I found today for thirty dollars!! I'm in heaven, but now in a mild panic about how I'm going to find the parts to keep this baby running. Anyone know anything about these old things? It's a General Electric. I opened up the back of it and it has tubes, but it's only a turntable...no radio. There was no model name on it, just the brand name. I'm not even sure how old it is. If I had to guess I'd say it's from the late fifties/early sixties, but that's just judging from the outside and not the innards. It's in great shape and works perfectly, but I figure it's only a matter of time before I need a replacement needle for the turntable or (worse!) tubes. Any advice or friendly pointing in the right direction would be much appreciated.
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If you have a local record store that sells vinyl you might just find another avid collector of turntables ... when I first started collecting that is where I went & I found the advice & the camaraderie to be invaluable. If you want to keep all your parts vintage, I would suggest starting there.
If you just want to enjoy your machine & keep it running ... believe it or not I suggest Radioshack. They pretty much carry or can order any part you need that will be compatible with your equipment. The one local to me has this nifty manual that lets them know which modern adapter will fit your 50's model. Especially since you have found a lovely GE, they probably make the same exact part as your model. I've even found parts for my 70's German model there.
Happy listening!
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Get Thee to a Radio Shack
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It's gorgeous tho.
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Finding parts might be easy, but might not. It depends if they used common parts of not. Needles are matched to the brand of the cartridge. If you can indentify the cartridge that will help. If not, the best you can do is go by sight. If you locate some needles, and plan to keep the unit for years, buy a few, store them in an envelope and tape them inside the case for later use.
Tubes or valves, have ID numbers on the side of the glass. The old standard tubes are still being made. If the preamp uses the small 12AX7 tube, or the bigger output tubes are 6L6, you're in luck. They are readily available. For others, check around, or in a tube subsitution book.
The folks at your local radio shack might be able to help you identify the parts. I've found that HAM radio flea markets are great for locating old parts -- usually in the piles they keep in the garage.
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The Joys of Obsolete Audio
You can too still get that stuff. Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. There are lots of obsolete audio fans out there, and when original replacement parts can no longer be found, folks will start making replicas. Hell, you can get a new mainspring for your 120 year old Edison cylinder player, or a replacement knob for your 1920s Atwater-Kent radio.
Replacement stili for turntables are easy to get. (Is it single or double? Seperate needle and speed for 78s, or is it one of those modernistic thingies that only plays Lps & 45s?) Tubes are just a bit harder, but yes are still made (some more from Eastern Europe now a days, but analogue audio and old radio fans keep 'em in business). A few years ago there were places in Chicago and Rockford Il, New York and California -- you can probably find stuff with a google search.
If you get stuck with something, you can ask on Usenet rec.antiques.radio+phono, though be prepared for a bit of snearing about how your equiptment can't really be concidered vintage if it's post WWII.
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Re: The Joys of Obsolete Audio
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I was overwhelmed! Law school oddly enough is getting more manageable. I felt lost the first 2 weeks but then it just clicked....you know they really DO just throw you in the pool to see if you can swim! Starting law school wouldn't have been so hectic if I hadn't found out I was diabetic the month before (the last part of the summer was just one LOOOONG doctors visit). Thanks to a university check-up I found out why I've been dragging and am now on the way to better health.
I have your address and I will send you a neat card, but I just wnted to let you know I got yours and it made me incredibly happy.
(note: I really think I haven't thanked you for the card yet....but in the event I have and you are now wondering what kind of half wit I am....can we just chalk it up to "the medication" hehehehehee)
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*insert interesting electro comment here*
:b
just wanted to get your attention to
my new journal, only photos and
some stuff i have been writing or thinking...
arerrr you know. Silvia la ñoña
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