The Perils of the Bargain Hunting Mama

[catelin]

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.

Comments

The Joys of Obsolete Audio

[infrogmation.livejournal.com]

While I can't give you specifics in this case, I can give you some general advice:

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.

Re: The Joys of Obsolete Audio

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Ha! Sneering doesn't phase me a bit. I'll just say "old" instead of "vintage" to keep the lip curl factor down. ; ) Thanks for the advice!