Califone "Premiere II" record player from '61 & others

[radiotvnut]

Here's a Rheem-Califone "Premiere II" tube classroom record player that I recently picked up. When I lifted the motorboard, I was shocked to see a power transformer and an EL84 output tube. For the exception of the bigger transcription record players with the seperate 12" speaker, every Califone tube record player that I've seen up to this point had a series string chassis; so, this must have been one of their better classroom record players. All the date codes point to late-'61; so, this was likely made in late-'61 or early-'62. It needs the usual mechanical and electronic restoration that I'll get to in the near future.





I also picked up a Califone 1410 tube model from 1970 and this one uses a series string chassis (50L6, 12AV6, SS rectifier). I think this was their very last tube offering and my elementary school had this model during the '80's. I've already fixed this one and it works well. Here's a video of the repair: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRHjJ7NsBsM



Another one on my list of things to fix is this Rheem-Califone 1430C solid state record player from 1972.



Lastly, I picked up this 1977 Califone with the light on the end of the tonearm. This one is marked "Califone International" and was made after Rheem and Califone split up. My elementary school also had some of these, along with the later brown and grey-cased versions.

[jsowers]

I remember my health teacher getting one similar to the 1410 in 1970 when I was in sixth grade, but I think it was solid state and had a tone control. It was the newest record player in the school. Back then that was a big thing.

Later I worked on these record players for the same school system as part of my job, retiring just last December. I remember all the ones that came after that 1970 model Califone, but none like the Premiere II. We didn't get specific money to buy AV equipment until 1966. All that early stuff had "ESEA-I-66" on it. There were a few things older than that, but not much.

Your phonographs look to be in good shape. Not written all over or scratched up and frayed. I doubt if there was a single one we had that didn't have marker on it somewhere, or a card pocket. Now I don't think they have a single phonograph left.

[radiotvnut]

I think our school district got rid of all of theirs in the very early 2000's. They may have kept one or two at each school, "just in case"; but, I doubt it. A few years ago, I called an old friend who works in maintenance for the school district and I asked him about the old record players. He said that that a year or two before I called, they had a major housecleaning auction and the record players went to the dump after no one bid on them.

I remember a 1430 that was solid state and looked similar to the tube 1410. The 1430 had 3 knobs - off/pause/play, volume, and tone. I think there was a solid state 1420 that looked like the tube 1410. I think the 1420 had an IC for the audio output stage.

I didn't like the later Califones from the '90's and up because they used DC drive motors and these motors failed a lot quicker than the older AC motors. In 25 years of doing this, I can count on one hand the number of AC phonograph motors that I've had to replace. Usually, cleaning and lubrication is all they need.

[radiotvnut]

The 1430C has a problem that I may have to be creative in order to fix. The rubber suspension that's part of the tonearm has melted and I hope I'm able to take the old tonearm apart in order to fix it. The suspension on the 1410 is starting to harden; so, it's going to need help in the not-to-distant future. I've got a few other classroom record players where the tonearm is tilted to one side and I suspect the rubber suspension in the tonearm is to blame.

[Jody Thornton]

I really really like that Califone 1410. In perfect working condition, how hard are they on LPs (especially stereo records)? I saw a YouTube video of one that was restored, and besides running a tad fast, it seemed to sound quite good.

[radiotvnut]

Honestly, I wouldn't play any mint condition, valuable, or prized LP's on one. They are good for 78's and non-valuable LP's/45's that have seen their share of playings. I still think one of these in good working order is better than a current crosley.