1964 Zenith MM2608 Console Stereo Scandal featuring Patty Smyth, The Warrior

[Tallgoose05]

Excellent Sound!!!!!

[josys36]

I still prefer the Magnavox changer. It would use the tone arm to see what the next record size was, drop the record, and then play. Zenith had a few different ways they would do this. However, it is nice to have record changers that will play any size record and you can mix and match. Just as long as you went largest to smallest the changer would handle it.

[SesameSquirrel]

I once had this exact same changer, except in a "swing-down" portable unit where the hinged wing speakers formed the front of the cabinet.

What was the purpose of the white button on the turntable? (appears as a white dot on the video) Was it to "tell" the changer that the record was 12" (if the record pressed it in when it dropped), and thus place the tone arm accordingly?

[joshb80]

@SesameSquirrel Honestly, I don't know what that dot is for on the platter. There is a lever at the back of the turntable near that tone arm that is hit, when a 12" record drops. I have always wondered myself what the dot was for, and now you have sparked my curiosity again.

[SesameSquirrel]

@joshb80 Oops, shoulda read the other comments first. It appears that if a record hits the dot but not the lever in the back, it's a 10". If it hits both it's a 12", and if it hits neither it's a 7-inch. Gotta give VM credit for devising that mechanism with '60s technology. More advanced than a later Hitachi unit we had which used 4 lever settings: 33-12", 33-7", 78-10", and 45-7". But this leaves out 12" 45s (remember the "maxi-single"?), 7" "little golden records" on 78, and 10" 33s.

[joshb80]

@SesameSquirrel I guess I should have read all of the comments myself, because that white dot is indeed for a 10" record. I had one and tested it out, and it worked as it should have. Thanks for asking and bringing this up, or I wouldn't have noticed the comments on my upload.

[ShitFromShinolla]

nice but don't you think it would have been more appropriate that you play something from 1964 like The Beatles or The Beach Boys on your 1964 stereo console? Or maybe it's not really from 1964? Looks like it's more like a '69 or '70 console.

[joshb80]

@ShitFromShinolla You'll have to check out some of my other videos, there is some older material featured. I agree with you that it looks like a late 60's early 70's model, but it is indeed a 1964. My relatives received it for Christmas 1964, and all of the serial numbers inside the unit definitely agree.

[Duncan2037]

Even all these layers of digitalism fail to smother the original organic analogue sound. Incredible.

[arhuxtable]

My late paternal grandparents had a Zenith console stereo almost like this one except the Micro Touch 2-gram tone arm was very slender just like a solid stick.

[75capriceconvertible]

I love watching this changer... I notice the small button on the TT - to sense an LP or 78rpm record? Does it sense 10" or 12" records.

[umajunkcollector]

@75capriceconvertible I have a simular VM changer, that is for 10" records.

[75capriceconvertible]

@umajunkcollector Ah OK... I'm not familiar with the VMs.. Voice of Music right? Wow back in the day they sure made all the changers slightly different... fascinating.

[lrd9999]

@75capriceconvertible Yes, I believe VM originally stood for something else, but when they started selling players under their own name, they needed a catchier slogan. They were sure the masters of disguise; most of the GE, Zenith and a few RCA players from that era had them. I remember getting a $19.99 mystery changer at Radio Shack that was a dumbed-down version of the ZMT. Also, the BIC 920-980 "programable" changers weren't British at all, VM made them.

[75capriceconvertible]

@lrd9999 well guess what! It turns out the changer in my GE hi fi combo AM radio/record player console is a VM. I made a few vids of it on my channel. There is no badge; no name on it, so GE must have had some kind of contract with them to purchase a certain amount of them? Would be interesting to know the complete history of VM, I love this kind of stuff.

[lrd9999]

@75capriceconvertible There's a lot of interesting information at (dubdubdubdot)thevoiceofmusic(­dotyouknowwhat)(slash)record_c­hanger(dot)html

. They stock "old new stock" parts too.

[75capriceconvertible]

@lrd9999 Thanks for that. I'm fortunate to have a local place right in town here, they have a warehouse full of NOS and replacement parts for almost anything electronic. But if I get stuck I'll do some surfing, thanks

[75capriceconvertible]

@umajunkcollector ah, got it, thanks.

[JRNelsonSr]

@75capriceconvertible Not quite - it senses 10" vs. 7" Pause at :53 - you'll see a black sensing lever between the tone art and the support arm mount - THAT senses 12" discs. Either a 10" or 12" will cover the sensing nipple on the platter, so if the record doesn't hit that side trip it's assumed to be a 10" record. This allows intermixing of the two sizes (10" was the original LP standard), but if you leave the support arm off for replay of the last disc, it'll only play the inner 10' area.

[75capriceconvertible]

@JRNelsonSr got it... thanks for this. I am always intrigued by the engineering that went into the different record changers. Having grown up with these things (I'm 51) I find it all fascinating... and sometimes perplexing!

[gmmcnair]

Nice old Zenith. I always thought that older (pre 1970s) Zenith and Magnavox consoles were some of the best sounding mainstream stereos produced.

[spintheblackcircle4]

Very nice stereo. I have a more modern Zenith changer, but it's not a full console. I like that song too! 5 Stars! =)

[SlimeTron5000]

Why do I hear the right channel prominently?

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

I have this 45 too w/ the picture sleeve.