Blonde Symphonic hi-fi tabletop record player

[radiotvnut]

A friend picked this mid-to-late '50's Symphonic record player up for me at a yard sale. This is a dual speaker model that has seperate bass and treble controls and uses a BSR/Monarch record changer. The amp uses 3 tubes (12AU6 preamp, 50L6 output, 35W4 rectifier). It won't shake the floor; but, it should sound decent. One thing odd is that it has a BSR "full-fi" TC8 cartridge; which, according to my research, kicks out 4 volts output. I find this a little odd, considering the amp uses a 12AU6 preamp. With such a preamp stage, a .5V to 1V cartridge should work fine and it seems that a 4V one would overload the amp. I suspect that either this cartridge is either something that someone installed later or the amp has a resistor shunted across it's input to pad down the output of the cartridge. When I restore this, I'll use a more modern low output stereo cartridge and if the amp uses a resistor across the input, I'll remove it. The cartridge is standard 1/2" mount; so, I can be flexible with what cartridge I use.

Of course, I have not tried to power it up; so, I'm sure the amp will need an overhaul and I can tell the changer needs to be degunked. I don't know what BSR used for grease; but, it's the world's worst at turning to glue.

[Jon A.]

In regards to the grease used in BSR changers, I once watched your video on how to free one up. Safer method than I used in the past I suppose, I would just twist the platter back and forth while pulling up to get it off. Worked fine when put back together with new grease.

[bob91343]

Gee I thought you gave up buying old record players! Anyway this one looks like a fun project.