1958 RCA Console (First Year for Stereo!) Can it Be Restored?

[@millenniumtree]

If it were mine, I'd be happy to replace all the rubbers simply to support the guy who refurbs them. Glad there are folks out there who do this sort of thing.

[@timothycormier3494]

My parents had one like that. It was old then. But wow! What a blast from my childhood. Thanks man!!

[@alanmaier]

Gary Stork is the name you are trying to think of. I serviced one of these RCA's with the optional drop-in radio a few years back. That one had Magnavox made woofers - amazing bass!

[@MrBrymstond]

The Guitologist+ I love you Brad! You're the real deal brother. I wouldn't be surprised if you installed a guitar jack with a gain knob just because you can. When I do business with people, I like to do it face to face because most people don't know what they're getting into. If I see that certain look on their face, I adjust the price some and I even resorted to barter. This thing may be one of those irreplaceable items from grandpa and grandma. Good business will always keep you afloat!

[@Twobeers1]

I guess I'm older than you. We guitar players used to use the 16rpm speed to slow down records to learn the guitar and bass parts sometimes.

[@TheGuitologist]

Now you can do that digitally without changing pitch.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

Two Beers ..Lol me too..I started playing at age 11 in 1973..I remember Slowing my Records down so I can hear everything..Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen was doing..

[@MutethatBozo]

A lot of lo-fi kid's records were released on 16 rpm, back in the 50's and 60's too.

[@bobvines00]

Brad, I've got my fingers crossed for the customer to choose a full-blown restoration of everything that you are capable of repairing. That will make some interesting videos. And if she wants a replacement turntable, you can always save the original connections and use duplicates of the original connectors to connect the replacement to the rest of the original gear.

[@ibanezleftyclub]

I would replace it with a modern turn table that will fit in the same space, at least that will be reliable with cheap easy to find parts. You get the tone from the amp not the turn table.

[@adamwaller5496]

I'm definitely hoping she goes for the full restoration 🤞. The sense anticipation is almost unbearable.

[@adamwaller5496]

I don't think it would be healthy.

[@russellhltn1396]

If it was me, I'd suggest making it "just" functional and leaving it at that. Unless she's got some records she'll be playing on it, I'd think she might just want it show someone how it works a leave it at that. On the other hand, she does seem to have sentimental value in it. It's not going to get any cheaper to fix.

[@peterbustin8604]

Yeah, defo!

[@adamwaller5496]

I have some RCA Orthophonic records my dad bought in 1959-60. I'd love to play them on one of these machines for the sake of geekery.

[@larryshaver3568]

i had an amplifier just like that once , it really had a very nice tone

[@matthewf1979]

ARGGHHH, I saw the 5Y3 label and I about ran to my own breaker box to cut power. I've never seen an 816 EIA on a transformer, That's DALE. I guess everyone really did make everything back then, distribution was an issue 60 years ago. Bluetooth has made old stuff like this desirable again. I hope she goes all out because these RCA consoles sound amazing!

[@MutethatBozo]

My aunt had one of these units. I still have the RCA stereophonic demo record that came with it.

[@AndrewAHayes]

I love the smell of those old turntables, it is unique

[@mekhihudson4787]

i guess I am kind of off topic but do anyone know a good place to stream newly released movies online?

[@leonidasmark2310]

@Mekhi Hudson I watch on Flixzone. Just google for it =)

[@laytonmessiah8197]

@Mekhi Hudson Try flixzone. You can find it on google =)

[@AndrewAHayes]

@@leonidasmark2310 These online movie viewers are all blocked by my Malwarebytes as they try to install something on my drive that is identified as malware, I have another PC that has VM setup on it, I will try it using a VM version of Win10 and try to see what it is installing and its purpose

[@Fardemark]

I have a portable stereo rca with the same changer and the cartridge is still good all I needed to do was replace the stylus and it’s very gentle on records for an early ceramic

[@bradleyswissman]

Oh my gosh I have this exact same record player! I’ve had it for about 5 years, it doesn’t work and I’ve been meaning to fix it but couldn’t find anything about it! This video is a godsend!

[@drewjohnson4794]

I'm curious, Did you ever get it going Brad?

[@2buelar]

I’m with Drew. What ever happened to that restoration? Did the customer say no to the cost? Also you may want to go with a ceramic cartridge, it probably does not have a phono pre-amp for a magnetic.

[@larryshaver3568]

i've gotten stuff from Gary, he even had a rare cartridge bracket that i needed

[@U2WB]

My dad had an RCA portable stereo from about ‘58 that had exactly that same cream-colored tonearm and clear knobs.

[@matermangros]

Great idea!...I have a 1955 Steelman stereo console with a side detached console speaker...it still sounds great...used the preamp for studio work....getting a bit cappy sounding now...but the old paper speakers still sound good...may have to bluetooth it...and beautiful cabinets...thx for the wonderful idea!

[@mischef18]

1958 the year I started school, well sort of my birthday is november so got a month of school that year. Look forward to see how this one turns out. All the best

[@iccaros]

So, I attack these a little different.. I ohm out the transformer, put all the tubes in a tester.. if the transformers are good, then I replace all capacitors before I ever power.. but it was exciting seeing you run around to turn it off fast.. also a dim bulb tester.. will save the transformer.. cost $10 to make..

[@gavincurtis]

Hiw awesome would it be to walk into a radio shack from the late 50's? I could stock up on a few things.

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Hey Brad when I was sixteen I cleaned out my bosses house he didn't want anything He gave me a Marconi TV with doors on the front,wish I had it now!Cheers

[@blkjckgtr3075]

I hope the customer goes with it,cool project for sure!love your channel Brad,Cheers

[@AbandonedNorthJersey]

Hopefully they say yes .Those old units always have a strange smell when turned on .

[@scratchback2001]

Hi from Australia. Yep, Its a learned smell. The first time I've seen a rectifier go bad.

[@donnyboy911]

hi...does your shc-7 ? chassis match the radio museum schematic.. my console has both spkr sets in cab. common ground but front left gets feed from rca jack and the right gets feed from the yellow-blk pair...my ext /int-ext switch is NOT wired like the schem...kinda backwards...

[@nikkihendrix1234]

Gary from the vm website he’s really into the voice of music stuff he’s a part of the record player group I’m on. Very nice guy

[@richardgannon62]

Yes it can , the 205 series record changer is very easy to restore, basic changef mechanism, will need to have the idler wheel rebuilt , and motor mounts replaced,

[@jvanb231]

I wish Native Sons made a wider guitar strap, I love the way they look though.

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

Fantastic video Brad..I hope you show us after your finished restoring it..its a beautiful 60 year old stereo..

[@mdbaus]

Should have snap ring pliers.....they come in handy!

[@bobvines00]

You can get some snap ring pliers at your local auto parts dealer, and they aren't expensive either.

[@Cablexman2k]

Try Harbor Freight. Very Cheap.

[@peterbustin8604]

mike bausman now thats sounds painful!

[@docholliday3150]

Amen

[@vwestlife]

There are various homebrew techniques to rejuvenate those idler wheels, such as soaking them in brake fluid or Goo-Gone, or replacing the rubber with an O-ring of similar size. And the original cartridge is worth a shot to see if it's still good -- some old crystal cartridges beat the odds and are still working fine.

[@augiedoggie8814]

Growing up early sixties we had one in the basement rec room.On Sunday nights we got jazz from K.C.The turntable was in a drawer and I recall 16 RPM,33 1/3 , 33 1/2 and 78.The radio had a short wave band.It was mono,single speaker at least a ten" or 12" and it sounded great.I never saw a 16 or 33 1/2 record though. I just found an old console set up and as soon as I'm able I want to see if there are enough components to build a project tube amp for an old solid state "Ross" practice amp case I found in an alley.

[@teresatheobald3850]

I have the same model.....i need to replace the stylus needle. 78/mg......can you tell me how to remove it and how to order new one.

[@1953childstar]

That could have had an RCA tuner "dropped in" to the port to the left of the turntable. This also had a matching "Satellite" speaker unit that matched it, for "true stereo separation"..I had one similar to your other, that had only mono sound, but two amplifier chassis ( One was the tuner/ preamp ) and it had one huge speaker with two smaller speakers that "fired" in opposing directions..

[@brianmckoon6042]

Nice piece.

[@cobberdig]

I have a really old phillips radiogram sitting in the workshop with that style turntable so i'm kinda keen to see it come apart and refurbed ;-) I pulled a seized bsr apart the otherday and cleaned it and oiled etc heaps of good info online with the bsr's but fuck i did lose the circlip though it flung off never to be seen again but its quite satisfying bringing something like that back to working order... Anyway thanks for the vid keep em coming!

[@Still_Shining]

Man I glad I found this Video, I help me out . I have similar model unit .1958 RCA stereo & record player AM Fm radio. 1st inside cabinet there is a set of RCA jacks hanging from the Amp on 14” of cord the other side just goes into Amp . What would these be for ? ? 2nd I found a replacement needle for this model on EBay. But you replaced yours with a 4 pin unit how do I know what pins to solder too. If I go that route? ? Thanks again for your videos

[@AndrewCalhoun]

I’m doing the amp on my 1955 Orthophonic first, and haven’t yet touched the turntable. I’ll be surprised if the rubber inside my turntable is in any better shape than the rubber in this one.

[@lyndaglasser2983]

Have a old RCA the needle will not go over to play record. What could be the problem?

[@petermundy3339]

Brad, Has the other player got a removable speaker that you put across the room, My parents had one very similar which did

[@omikl]

I'm 5 minutes in, waiting to see if Brad loses concentration and starts turning it into a guitar amp out of force of habit!

[@TheGuitologist]

I am tempted.

[@michaelaaronorton4001]

Yes it's worth the full restore that console can sound nice and it was her grandfather's

[@martianshoes]

A neighbor cleaned out his mother-in-law’s house, stripped one of these consoles ...he kept the speakers and gave me the beautiful tube amp!

[@debrabelton3161]

Can you use those in a modern setup? New ones start at $1000 and go up with the smaller Macintosh at $4500.

[@ajwindmeyer2272]

technically 1957 was the first year of stereo record players. My Magnavox Micromatic was 1957.

[@1953childstar]

Magnavox would install a stereo conversion kit for you and replace the cartridge. Then they would sell you an additional speaker system.

[@fredroper398]

the money is worth it trust me i did it with mine and adds years of pleasure

[@MrGTO-ze7vb]

Orthophonic means that it is music that is for your dancing feet

[@1953childstar]

That was RCA jargon for "high fidelity music" that was recorded on tape and transferred to an LP..

[@larryshaver3568]

does the changer shut the amplifier off automatically

[@williamking7420]

Hey Brad, I'm really surprised that you didn't use a pair of snap ring pliers to remove the turntable instead of two little screwdrivers. Wouldn't that have been easier?

[@TheGuitologist]

It would if I owned a pair, sure. Always managed without them.

[@leepresley2055]

An old creaky legged RCA record player is priceless...

[@kenjimac2211]

So even smoke that wasn't installed at the factory is bad lol. Dust Smoke, know that smell well and swore I could smell it when you mentioned it haha.

[@impala966]

Where can I find only the 33 & 45 rpm pulleys? I´m from Ensenada Baja California Mexico

[@kevkeelan5106]

...man I love that smell of cooking tubes!

[@TheGuitologist]

That's a good smell...this one is not. The difference is subtle, but you know it when you smell it.

[@grhinson]

Just go down to the local o-ring house. They keep all types of elastomers. Or stack O-rings together

[@ScottFrye000111222]

We have a similar model. I rebuilt some of the motor drive system.

[@1530FDR]

the main drive wheel peal the rubber off and replace with a large O ring it works perfectly done it and now in service

[@kennethgarner3789]

Brad, I have this same record player. It was my grandparents and I am interested in restoring it. How can I get in touch with you to get a price?

[@TheGuitologist]

Hey Kenneth. Right now I'm not taking anything outside in, unless you're local to Louisville. I might make an exception in that case.

[@Iam_Dunn]

ANYTHING can be restored!! But, at what cost? :) Looking forward to Pt.2

[@mcopado]

Damn you, left us hanging just when it was getting good.

[@donnyhughes9617]

Can a unit like this be made into a guitar amp without destroying it as a record player ?

[@larryshaver3568]

Zenith used crescent changers for one of their mono [1956] i heard

[@backspin6698]

Future classic quotes from Brad to his daughter "Burning tubes, sweetie. Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of burning tubes in the morning." :) Nice to see that people wants to spend money on a nice piece of history like that. And I bet that the sound is awesome.

[@larryshaver3568]

Magnavox had mono tape with a receptacles for a stereo fm adaptor

[@AndrewCalhoun]

Running into trouble restoring my own '55 RCA amp. I know Brad has held up books he uses/has used in at least one video somewhere, but I'm having trouble finding that video. Does anyone remember which video(s) he showed books he uses (or the list of books)?

[@AndrewCalhoun]

OK; now I see how Brad puts "Stuff I use" in the comments of several if not all of his videos, which include books.

[@TheGuitologist]

There you go. Sorry for late reply.

[@larryshaver3568]

RCA came out with another changer that had a triangular lift on the tonearm

[@anthonysandoval8518]

Hi, My name is Anthony. I have the same model, but a portable. Does anyone know how to secure the turntable so it doesn't get damaged during shipping? I have to ship mine but I don't want it bouncing around and getting all messed up.

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

I for one hope they say yes to everything. It seems in good cosmetic nick and the rest is function. I say yes.... But it ain't my dough.

[@dhelton40]

If you remove the original turntable you damage the value as a collectable antique. Always keep in mind the future value. Even small things like the original knobs and cracks in the plastic count against the value.

[@larryshaver3568]

those cartridges were crystal

[@EdDanaGuitar]

1958! One year older than me! Holy cow! Haha, I know that smell!

[@EdDanaGuitar]

Nice!

[@natee3459]

I bought one of these and had it repaired, I am getting a very imbalanced stereo image. My repair shop is telling me this is normal for this amp. I know its a mono image. Its just missing half of the stern signal and isn't a full composite sound any ideas on if that's correct?

[@nickmodrich4153]

Would like to buy an RCA shf - 5 model somewhere if anybody has one for sale call 608-547-2190 thank you

[@1953childstar]

This unit had a matching "satellite" speaker system for full spectrum stereo sound.

[@bertskoi]

What was the verdict?

[@freepress8451]

Sensible move going for a modern deck . . . we wait with bated breath for part 2

[@Andersljungberg]

if you do that then you lower the value of this stereo very much. ask any antique dealer. He will agree with me

[@larryshaver3568]

can a red-plating 5y3 be corrected?

[@TheGuitologist]

Check power caps. One might be shorted. Unhook the leads going from the 5Y3 plates. See if the red plating stops. If it does, the problem is with another component downstream, such as the power caps.

[@larryshaver3568]

@@TheGuitologist that's what i wondered about. i know bad filter can caps are big offenders

[@whynotme5926]

Good luck finding anything for a dollar, anymore. I've got an old sansui 9000,I think it is a 9000. It is in my storage building. I was on ebay one day and saw the prices these things are going for and I might need to go get it and sell it. It has been probably 15 years since I played it but I remember the volume was 100 and 30 was as loud as you could stand, it would shake the glass in the windows..

[@russellhltn1396]

That's only half of a stereo. The twin speakers in that cabinet are wired in parallel. It's "stereo capable" but would require another (speaker) cabinet to get real stereo. I'm not even sure if you've got a stereo power amp there. Trust me, early stereo was weird. I've got a amp that was a "upgrade kit". Stereo pre-amp but only a single channel power amp. It had a pre-amp out for the other channel and you used your existing HiFi. Edit: Re-watching, it's labeled as "HiFi". It clearly has a stereo preamp, but I'm not sure how much more then that.

[@TheGuitologist]

It won't be when we're done with it. ;)

[@russellhltn1396]

Uh, Oh. >:D

[@1953childstar]

Those units had a matching "satellite" cabinet with speakers and possibly a "mini amplifier"..

[@russellhltn1396]

@@1953childstar "Upgradable" to stereo. Like I said, early stereo was weird.

[@albert2241]

I need to have mine serviced it smells when you plug it up and turn it on like it's going to catch on fire

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

Total recapping required, why can't it be replaced with something that will give you everything the recording engineer intended you to hear you know something like a Linear Tracking Turntable, has anyone tried to convert a RCA Selectavision player into an audio only record player to play 78's and 33.3RPM .and changing the tone arm for a MARANTZ needle and getting rid of the video circuits.

[@richardturk7162]

Best to call and find out what she is willing to spend

[@Andersljungberg]

the question of whether it's worth it. It's about what people are prepared to pay for an RCA stereo in perfect condition from 1958. It wouldn't surprise me if a person looking specifically for an old functioning stereo is willing to pay a lot. Ask a person who is an expert on the value of antique stereo devices how much such is worth in perfect condition

[@larryshaver3568]

anastatic 348 with an adapter bracket would work

[@Johntweety007]

Why did you make me think of that scene in Apocalypse Now? It could the smell of cooking capacitors 😷

[@SciPunk215]

In this episode, The Guitologist gives himself a case of sticker shock. LOL I'm the same way when I watch videos by X-Ray Tony and Blue Glow Electronics, and they're restoring old Marantz receivers... they're like "These were pretty inexpensive parts... only $70 each..." But they seem to make it all back... and then some... on the resale market. Being this is for a customer, she's the one to make the decisions. I would really love to see all those parts brought back to their vintage glory. But I'd also be fine with some work-arounds... hell, you are bringing this up to date with a Bluetooth mod, so why not replace the turntable as well. I wonder how many of your viewers are purists and think it's a sin to replace the old components, and how many are more practical and just want to get things working at a cost-effective price point. I wonder which one I am... damn, I have to think about that now.

[@TheGuitologist]

We'll find out soon enough.

[@jimrick6632]

SO WHAT HAPPENED...IS THERE A PART 2????

[@acfinney1]

You need to keep this thing correct..

[@Andersljungberg]

I wouldn't be surprised if a stereo collector would want to pay thousands of dollars for a 1958 RCA stereo

[@fireantsarestrange]

Snap ring pliers ... Harbor Freight ... like 5 bucks.

[@MHM1975]

You need to get some seeger pliers!

[@peterbustin8604]

5:31 "completely lube up", last time I heard that was in a gay club in Brighton!

[@albert2241]

I got one of the those

[@Schlipperschlopper]

Here the first european made stereo turtable PE3310: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqbNh6p5jbOceq8&lc=UgyOe3SDRkLDMLMdloV4AaABAg

[@lyndaglasser2983]

I just found you.

[@tinecrinec4769]

Who knew labor costs $1 per minute.

[@vtjmproductionsusa2390]

Dim bulb. And veriac would have been helpful. 😂

[@acfinney1]

That is a ceramic cartridge

[@TheTrashologist]

CAN YOU SMEEEEEEELL WHAT THE RADIO IS COOKING?!!!!!!

[@Andersljungberg]

Rubber will crack sooner or later just because of age. the rubber gets dried out

[@RCALivingStereo]

That’s not the correct 45 adaptor

[@jorgemellooliveira9611]

OK

[@TempoDrift1480]

Those are called Jesus clips.

[@whynotme5926]

hmmm