Fred Waring in Hi Fi Battle Hymn of the Republic Fisher Stereo

[Turkeydoodlers]

That wood actually is what's called fruitwood, that's what mine is, you can see the little black specs in the wood work. I need to list my fisher on here

[VictrolaJazz]

@Turkeydoodlers That's exactly right!

[Turkeydoodlers]

Loved the record to, such quality, excellent video

[VictrolaJazz]

@Turkeydoodlers Sorry, I was logged into my other account when I responded!

[Turkeydoodlers]

I ended up getting a 1964 Fisher ambassador yesterday like new condition for 40 bucks. Came with all the manuals even a 1965 model line brochure, I think yours is in there to. It is one of the nicest sou ding vintage units I own now. The woodwork on it is walnut, I like how yours curves around the front. I will be posting some videos soon, just got it yesterday, also has a dual 1009 turntable in it.

[VictrolaJazz]

@Turkeydoodlers Thanks! Sorry, I was logged into my other account when I responded!

[GameICY]

Nice console. It's sad how many beautiful console stereo's were put to the curb and gone forever once smaller units replaced these colossal pieces of American craftsmanship. Love the name too (Futura)

[VictrolaJazz]

@GameICY Thanks!

[kmikeyd]

Fisher did a fabulous job of "damping" the turntable so that it did not pick up the bass vibrations and recycle them through the amps. Fisher made some really neat stuff. Also, I used to own this album, but I think I played it into oblivion. Where I lived, if we didn't buy a recording or see it on TV, we had to do without.

[timber2lake]

I enjoy so much trying to sing this 'Battle Hymn' . I also have great luck when using my digi cam, Sony--Cyber-shot, be it music and sporting events......how do they get so much quality in such a small camera. Thanks for sharing.

[VictrolaJazz]

@timber2lake Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! It is amazing what can be made in such small packages today! A friend showed me a minicam from the late 80's and it's huge compared to my Flip camera and can't do as much!

[LHUPA]

That's a Magnavox? This is a beautiful stereo console pehaps a transistor one (1969-1970)!

[VictrolaJazz]

@LHUPA It's a 1964 Fisher Futura V with a tube style amp.

[75capriceconvertible]

The sound of this unit is fantastic... you must be using a dig cam like I do! I use a Canon PowerShot, excellent sound quality but not stereo just a monaural mic. This console is a work of art and sounds terrific.

[VictrolaJazz]

@75capriceconvertible Yes, I use the most basic style of Flip camera--but I do have a tripod now which makes recording the records much easier on me and the listener, not so much movement--it's very hard to remain stock still even when sitting!

[75capriceconvertible]

@VictrolaJazz Well your cam is just great, hey I don't mind a bit of movement during a vid, lord knows I move around! Some folks just want the music, some want more shots of the equipment and such; what to do. I have a fascination for consoles... especially high end ones like yours (and mine)

[VictrolaJazz]

@75capriceconvertible Thanks! Your console is just gorgeous too--both in sound and beauty! As I said in my notes on one of those posts, I've often wondered when and why they stopped making these consoles. It seems the high point was about the mid-60's. They did have cabinet models in the 70's, but by that time they were cheesy and made of some kind of fake material. They become the focal point of the room.

[75capriceconvertible]

@VictrolaJazz testing testing?

[75capriceconvertible]

@VictrolaJazz I believe into the 70s the big consoles really started going downhill... yes the cabinets became cheaper and the components were starting to suffer also. At one time people wanted a nice piece of furniture in the room and if it made beautiful sound, that was even better! But I also remember when component type systems came out, all the rage, and the console idea was on the way out. Same with TV's... wouldn't trade my console for any flatscreen!

[VictrolaJazz]

@75capriceconvertible The idea of a phonograph as a beautiful piece of furniture harks all the way back to the early 1900's--there were period cabinets in the teens and 20's that would bring a king's ransom today. In fact, there is a book from the late 50's or early 60's titled Jazz in Chippendale. I have a Zenith console TV from the mid-80's that a friend gave me--it is a period cabinet, but the wood is obviously synthentic.

[75capriceconvertible]

@VictrolaJazz You and I know it man! I love the old credenzas - especially the orthophonic by RCA Victor... hi fi's and record players and TVs and stereos were all beautiful furniture at one time. My Zenith stereo TV is a lot of synthetics - but - blends in with the room and looks good. Good enough for me :-) but I do appreciate the finer older pieces!

[bsgs98]

I have Waring's "Battle Hymn" on a Decca 78 from the early 1940s and it sounds like the exact same arrangement except that tempo on my copy is quite a bit faster ending about 20 seconds sooner. Gordon Berger does the solo on my copy.

[VictrolaJazz]

@bsgs98 That must have been a favorite Waring stand-in for many years! It's always been my favorite!

[BigBandHeaven]

I think these 1960's sound systems are very under rated. They are great and sound really good too. This record shows this one off to the best. Thanks for posting.

[VictrolaJazz]

I think these machines are at the bottom of their value curve at 40-45 years old as Credenzas were in the 50's and 60's and have no where to go but up--I paid $40 for this one about seven years ago. There haven't been beautiful cabinet machines since the mid-60's--the ones from the 70's were practically particle board.

[Falderal1211]

Thanks for posting this. My record from long ago is long warped and gone. Now I can listen to it again and again.

[VictrolaJazz]

Thanks for enjoying it! But please, it's a tube-type machine--don't overheat it!

[Falderal1211]

the best arrangement ever of the Battle Hymn. In the l940's our glee club in Florida went to a music conference in Tampa and glee clubs from all over the state combined for a concert. In a huge auditorium this was one of the most beautiful sounds in the world!

[VictrolaJazz]

Thanks! It's always been my favorite, too. I'm sure your concert was magnificant--the quality of training you received in schools of those days would probably rival those of a college today!