1963 GE tube console stereo

[radiotvnut]

A few years ago, I was at the home of an elderly lady from my church and I spotted this console stereo, with a newer plastic junker stereo from the '80's sitting on top of it. I asked her about the old one and she said she really didn't have any use for it; but, if she gave it to me, it would leave a bare spot on her wall. She said she'd keep me in mind if she decided to get rid of it.

She is now 97 years old and is rapidly goind downhill. During the past month, her family members got the ball rolling on getting her in an assisted living home. Before she knew what hit her, they had her in the home and her family members had an estate sale company lined up to sell her stuff. I asked her again about the stereo and she said that it had already been inventoried for the estate sale.

I got in touch with the guy running the sale and he quoted me $125; which, is too much. A lady who I know, also knows the lady who owned the stereo. They were talking about me and the lady who owned the stereo told her that she would have given me that stereo, had they not pushed everything off on her so quickly. The lady who we both know has known the guy who was doing the estate sale for years and he sold her the stereo for $95. Then, she called to tell me that the stereo was mine and for me to go pick it up. I offered to pay her back and she wouldn't take any money. She said the only thing she wanted was a TV (does not have to be a flatscreen) for her livingroom. So, I'm going to fix something up for her and give it to her.

The stereo is a 1963 tube GE, with the original instruction book and the invoice from where she bought it for $254.80 in 1963. The cabinet is in nice shape, for the exception of some damage on the lid from where the rubber legs from the newer stereo melted. I think it will be an easy fix.

Electronically, it somewhat works; but, will need a full electronic and mechanical overhaul. The record changer is a VM, with a GE type C-100 ceramic cartridge. Fortunately, the cartridge seems good and I'm happy about that because this cartridge is likely better than any currently produced ceramic cartridge. The amplifier uses a 6AQ5 output tube for each channel. The only thing I'm concerned about is possible silver migration issues with the IF transformers; which, is a big problem with GE's.

She also had some records; but, they were the usual type of music that people in their 80's and 90's listen to. There was a Reader's Digest box set of big band music inside the stereo and I bought a Ray Coniff LP, and a couple of LP's by the San Sebastian Strings. The records were priced in the $2-$4 range and I didn't have much time to look (my Mother wasn't happy at all about having to take me or about me getting the stereo). So, I pretty much had to get in and get out.

[dieseljeep]

I like the job, someone did, on the electrolytic replacement for the amplifier. It's a better cap than the original.

[Olorin67]

Looks like a decent console. the changer is a VM, check the Vm website for parts.

[Findm-Keepm]

Bryan,

PM me your address - I have a NOS Astatic N360 needle for this unit. Yours free, of no use to me.

[DavGoodlin]

That's really clean - congratulations! That tuner is a TU221, likely mono and those were used for several years without much change, except for adding a multiplex stage.
I saw a 1965 combo color set (CA chassis) with the same tuner (stereo version) that had a transitor amp and 16-ohm speakers.
Didn't GE start using their own record changers in the later 1960s?

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

That's really clean - congratulations! That tuner is a TU221, likely mono and those were used for several years without much change, except for adding a multiplex stage.
I saw a 1965 combo color set (CA chassis) with the same tuner (stereo version) that had a transitor amp and 16-ohm speakers.
Didn't GE start using their own record changers in the later 1960s?

I bought a GE stereo at an estate sale. Last day, everything half price or best offer.
IIRC, it has a 7189 SE amp. The AM-FM tuner is rather impressive with nine tubes.
They also had a large impressive Magnavox solid state stereo. A younger man bought it for his parents. It looked like one, that had horn tweeters and 15" base speakers. Rather pricey, when new in excellent condition. $20.00

[Olorin67]

GE bought out Glaser-Steers about 1965 to have their own source of record changers, Then they cost reduced the design a lot over the years. For a couple years before that, they used GS changers in their higher end units.

[radiotvnut]

I think it was around '64-'65 when they bought GS and stopped using VM changers. I've seen a few "last gasp" tube models that used the GE changer. Before that, they used VM, GS, and Garrard.