Look! My first "REAL" stereo from way back when!

[Dan C]

I've never seen one of these on eBay before but here it is!

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3002497667&category=3280

It doesn't look like much but it sure brings back memories.

I got it for my 9th or 10th birthday as a hand-me-down from my late grandfather. This early solid state unit probably left something to be desired, but I was in audio heaven at the time.

I also got Grandpa's old speakers, some Electro Voice EV12's which I fortunately still have.
At first I only had a cheap Panasonic tape deck but shortly I was given a BSR turntable. With eventual turntable and tape deck upgrades, this baby kept me happy for years. I don't know where the old Fisher went, I think my dad gave it away several years ago.
I'm getting a bit teary eyed. Sniffle. ;)

Dan C

[Gary]

A cool, classic antique! I'll bet it sounds a lot better than 90% of todays receivers!

[RetroSmith]

Danny...

You ought to buy it just for old times sake. At some point I'm going to put together the stereo system I had all thru the 70s......it was an all tune system that was state of the art in 1960, then was given to me.


EICO ST40 Stereo Amp
EICO Matching Stereo Tuner
Garrard Type A TT
Warfdale Speakers

This set up sounded AMAZING, and with some Telefinkens in the amp and tuner , and some newer woofers I bet this setup could sound great again.

[Gary Freed]

Hi Dan,

I was a Fisher guy too! Check this link out.
http://www.fisherdoctor.com/

[Michael]

Oh yea, When times were great and the music was greater!!!

[Dan C]

Originally posted by mikey5967
Danny...

You ought to buy it just for old times sake. At some point I'm going to put together the stereo system I had all thru the 70s......it was an all tune system that was state of the art in 1960, then was given to me.


EICO ST40 Stereo Amp
EICO Matching Stereo Tuner
Garrard Type A TT
Warfdale Speakers

This set up sounded AMAZING, and with some Telefinkens in the amp and tuner , and some newer woofers I bet this setup could sound great again.

Wow! I bet that was a killer sounding system you had. Good luck on rebuilding it. Any luck so far?

I'm keeping an eye on this to see how high the price goes. I can't get too carried away right now.
It's funny that I see so much cool vintage Fisher gear on eBay, but this one is pretty elusive. I think it was one of their earliest SS units. Just a guess from it's cosmetics. I never asked my Dad when his dad bought it. The Electro Voice speakers are very "early 60's" looking. I love 'em! They're heirlooms by now. :) Not in use anymore but I hope to have room someday to set them up again.

Dan C

[Dan C]

Originally posted by Gary Freed
Hi Dan,

I was a Fisher guy too! Check this link out.
http://www.fisherdoctor.com/

Thanks Gary. I love this site. Do you remember what you had?
Dan C

[Gary Freed]

Hi Dan,

I had the 500C receiver and the SA16 Stereo Amplifier along with a set of
KLH6's.

http://www.fisherdoctor.com/500c.html
http://www.fisherdoctor.com/pictures/fisher/amps/sa16.jpg
http://www.fisherdoctor.com/pictures/other/Speakers/KLH-6.jpg

[-=Rudy=-]

I'm still regretting that I didn't make a claim to my grandfather's old tubed Heathkit gear. It was unreliable (mainly dirty and oxidized switches that needed constant fiddling with), but he built it very meticulously. IIRC, he had an integrated amp and a tuner, housed in a wooden console. On top of the console, left side, was a Garrard turntable, and on the right, a tape deck that played stereo but only recorded mono. The tuner was mono FM, but had an add-on unit to convert it to sterero.

I bet it would have been worth something. I think someone put it out at the curb when they cleaned out his house. Grrr....

My first "stereo" was an olive-green and white G.E. I bought with my own money for $69 at E.J.Korvette's. A turntable and two cube-shaped plastic speakers. My first actual turntable was also a G.E. It was one of those record players in a "suitcase", my Christmas gift when I was three years old. With that and the Herb Alpert 45, mom says I lost bladder control in all the excitement. ;)

I never had a first 'real' stereo, but I slowly built my own system piece by piece. My first components (which in retrospect sounded like mid-fi at best) were those gold-colored separates by Realistic: an integrated amp, matching tuner, and an EQ. It beat the little two-watt amp I'd built myself! :) Still have all of those, BTW.

[Mike V]

Dan,

This is too weird. I just bought this same amp 2 weeks ago from a Salvation Army store nearby, $20 bucks. And I'm also in the Hartford area (like the eBay seller is). It probably needs a little work, but I cleaned up the chassis & blew the dust from the components. I tested it, and both channels work on headphones although they appear to be reversed (haven't hooked up speakers). And just a very occasional light click in, I believe, one channel (could that be a capacitor discharge issue? - I don't know). The phono stage is nothing special, but the line level inputs sounded great. I can see why you liked it so much! It's built to withstand nuclear attack :)

[Dan C]

Originally posted by Mike V
Dan,

This is too weird. I just bought this same amp 2 weeks ago from a Salvation Army store nearby, $20 bucks. And I'm also in the Hartford area (like the eBay seller is). It probably needs a little work, but I cleaned up the chassis & blew the dust from the components. I tested it, and both channels work on headphones although they appear to be reversed (haven't hooked up speakers). And just a very occasional light click in, I believe, one channel (could that be a capacitor discharge issue? - I don't know). The phono stage is nothing special, but the line level inputs sounded great. I can see why you liked it so much! It's built to withstand nuclear attack :)

You're kidding!!!:eek: Small world.
Take good care of her (sniffle). ;)

I think the reversed headphone channels are common on Fishers. My current tube model does the same thing. No biggie with Grado phones, they're just as uncomfortable any way you wear them. :p

I didn't buy this one in the eBay auction. No room to set it up, need to spend money on other things right now, etc. But I'll get one someday.

Dan C

[Mike V]

Yes, very small world! Every once in a blue moon I come away with something neat there (not too often these days though). All the 8-track Panasonic components were front & center on a table they set up with speakers, TVs, misc electronics. This thing was across the floor, on a shelf alongside old glasswear & typewriters :rolleyes: . I honestly don't think they knew what it was for (it's so plain looking, y'know!). It is certainly a fun little beast, as I have no equipment around the house older than '70s vintage.

If you really have to have it, I'd be happy to part with it. Drop a line when you find some extra room :)

[Gary Freed]

Hi Mike,

Hope all is well.

Congrats. on your new Fisher!

I had the 500C receiver and the SA16 Stereo Amplifier along with a set of
KLH6's.

Except for the speakers it was some of the best equipment I ever owned.

http://www.fisherdoctor.com/500c.html
http://www.fisherdoctor.com/pictures/fisher/amps/sa16.jpg
http://www.fisherdoctor.com/pictures/other/Speakers/KLH-6.jpg :)

[Mike V]

Geez Gary, those are some gorgeous pieces! Someday I'll come across something like that at Sally's or Goodwill :laugh:

BTW, I'll drop you a PM tomorrow. Time's been tight lately!

[Dan C]

Originally posted by Mike V
Yes, very small world! Every once in a blue moon I come away with something neat there (not too often these days though). All the 8-track Panasonic components were front & center on a table they set up with speakers, TVs, misc electronics. This thing was across the floor, on a shelf alongside old glasswear & typewriters :rolleyes: . I honestly don't think they knew what it was for (it's so plain looking, y'know!). It is certainly a fun little beast, as I have no equipment around the house older than '70s vintage.

If you really have to have it, I'd be happy to part with it. Drop a line when you find some extra room :)

Thanks for the offer, I might take you up on that someday. :)

There's a tube version pictured on the Fisher Radio site that looks strikingly like it. I think it's a very early SS model, maybe late 60's era?? Considering that it's amazing how good it sounds. Glad to know my memory isn't totally clouded by nostalgia.

It's amazing what you stumble on in a thrift store sometimes. A few years ago I found a MINT Marantz 115B tuner. Beautiful looking and sounding. Too bad Wyoming radio sucks. :rolleyes: I paid $10 for it. :D

(here's one just like it, but mine's not as blurry)
http://www.classic-audio.com/marantz/pics/0115b.jpg

Dan C

[Gary Freed]

Hey Dan,

That Marantz looks to be from the early 70's. I had a friend who owned
one similar to that. The Receiver secton in that thing was fantastic.