The basic beginning's of the then still a novelty FM and the new FM Stereo" and not even close to the mainstay of FM broadcast we take for granted today even though FM broadcasting at this point was 20 or so years old. What a horror for most early FM stereo broadcaster's at that time keep left and right channel's honest at the transmitter. Great video!! :)
@bcbk93 That's just what I was thinking, the warm smell of the hot tubes, the little hum as You just turn it on, oh,those old days of learning to fix tube TV's. Sadly, it seems that the country that built that no longer exists culturally. Someone paid a lot for that console when it was new, and if it ever needed repair, someone who knew how to do a good job would do it. There's little going on that way anymore, people just throw stuff out,even if they paid a fortune for it new.
I've got a similar, but un-restored, model. Other than a little hum and the fact that the turntable needs a little push when it's first turned on, you'd never guess it was 50 years old. These models needed a separate FM stereo module (see the connection at 4:53). It was sometimes dealer-installed, though this "loaded" version might have had it from the factory.
The cabinet on that machine is just stunningly beautiful. It looks to be in new condition as well. We have lost something as a nation since those days.
The moto consoles are by far some of the best sounding out there. I restored a 3 channel "Golden voice" blonde console with separate speakers for the original owner who actually had worked as a salesman for motorola. It still looked brand new! I was blown away at the quality of sound that came from it. It really was hi-fi.
What camera did you use to shoot this video by the way? I'm looking for a new camera and the HD detail on yours is great!
I've always wanted one of these old tube radios with a built-in record player. I have a record player but it's from 1984 so it's actually not that old. I always thought that these all-in-one units from the 50's and 60's give the best sound quality.
Another fine example of Motorola sound products...Made right in the greater Chicago area. Motorola really pushed that three channel system. I have a similar unit which was so well loved the owner swapped the very functional V-M changer for a much higher end Garrard Type A.
It's nice to see others who like to restore and enjoy vintage mainstream audio products. Despite what many an "audiophile' will tell you, these units are really quality units for what they were designed for.
I'm surprised the foam surrounds on the woofers are still in tact, usually they turn to dust after 30 years. Those speakers can be improved too, plenty of room add some fiberglass insulation or foam to reduce the resonance of the cabinet. I'd go a step further and "restomod" it with modern 70s speakers (tweeters vastly improved by then), but that unit is mint. Does that unit have any audio inputs?
What is the purpose of the small light bulb under the right speaker? I thought sure I'd see a red power indicator lit up from it when you came back around to the front but there wasn't one so now I'm scratching my head.
Always enjoy your videos. Thank you for another awesome demonstration of a wonderful piece of American history.A masterpiece that will never be recreated again.
I appreciate you keeping these American made prizes alive.
Thank you for saving an important item of American history from imminent destruction. A lot of foolish people are inclined to dump such relics in a landfill. Very nice find.
If I were president, to fix this country I would recommend boycotting all foreign auto mobiles. Lets send all the Camrys, Civics and Accords to the crusher and start building '57 Chevys again. What made this country great was it's reign of automobile engineering and production. God bless America.
My late Uncle was a Vice-President at Drexel Furniture Co. in Morganton, NC and they made all the cabinets for Motorola TV's and console stereo's. He said they used the best grade of wood they had for those cabinets.
Mitch Miller and Ray Conniff sound best on a vintage console, be it Zenith, RCA, Magnavox, or Motorola. And yours sounds GREAT! That center bass speaker makes the difference.
@jasonlava Philco and Sylvania also made some nice consoles back in the 60s.
I did not think Mag or RCA sounded that great. My fave sounding console was by Zenith around 1960, with the Cobramatic in a front drawer. But this Motorola sure looks just a nice to me, I like that sub woofer / bi-amp design.. Curtis mathis, Muntz, and Stromburg Carlson also made nice consoles. Then there was Silvertone...
what would this cost back in the day?
PINKBOY1006 2 weeks ago
The basic beginning's of the then still a novelty FM and the new FM Stereo" and not even close to the mainstay of FM broadcast we take for granted today even though FM broadcasting at this point was 20 or so years old. What a horror for most early FM stereo broadcaster's at that time keep left and right channel's honest at the transmitter. Great video!! :)
MegaRadio90 1 month ago
Does this have FM stereo too or os FM just monorual?
schomminater 1 month ago
i dont think we can get this old hifi in england any more
mick2345vid 1 month ago
looks nise and it sounds good
mick2345vid 1 month ago
@bcbk93 That's just what I was thinking, the warm smell of the hot tubes, the little hum as You just turn it on, oh,those old days of learning to fix tube TV's. Sadly, it seems that the country that built that no longer exists culturally. Someone paid a lot for that console when it was new, and if it ever needed repair, someone who knew how to do a good job would do it. There's little going on that way anymore, people just throw stuff out,even if they paid a fortune for it new.
Oldbmwr100rs 2 months ago
You know so much! Where do you keep all that knowledge? Thank you for all the cool videos :)
goldbergje 2 months ago
mixed lows...the lively new art of electronics...I love Motorola's advertisements from that era...
MerleOberon 3 months ago
Great video. I just watched it again. All I can say is: They don't make 'em like they used to. I wish I could go back in time and buy one of these!
margaretsville 3 months ago
I've got a similar, but un-restored, model. Other than a little hum and the fact that the turntable needs a little push when it's first turned on, you'd never guess it was 50 years old. These models needed a separate FM stereo module (see the connection at 4:53). It was sometimes dealer-installed, though this "loaded" version might have had it from the factory.
lrd9999 3 months ago
Hello moto!
ShaunDreclin 4 months ago
Its a shame they don't still build today's surround sound systems in the same manner. Plastic is so utilitarian and uninteresting.
MIKON8ERISBACK 4 months ago 4
@MIKON8ERISBACK Plastic is boring, and I hate it. I wish I could buy everything in a form of no plastic whatsoever.
christich99 3 weeks ago
The cabinet on that machine is just stunningly beautiful. It looks to be in new condition as well. We have lost something as a nation since those days.
Thank you for showing it to us.
DEW409 4 months ago 3
@DEW409 was made by drexel furniture
force311999 2 months ago
This is a very good unit. Im glad you picked it up. Perhaps I should buy a similar one myself some day.
Christianpreaching 4 months ago
beautiful! thanks for the show and tell
thrillscience 5 months ago
The moto consoles are by far some of the best sounding out there. I restored a 3 channel "Golden voice" blonde console with separate speakers for the original owner who actually had worked as a salesman for motorola. It still looked brand new! I was blown away at the quality of sound that came from it. It really was hi-fi.
What camera did you use to shoot this video by the way? I'm looking for a new camera and the HD detail on yours is great!
jpdylon 5 months ago
Reminds me a lot of the RCA console my parents owned, circa 1966. Wish I still had it so I could restore it.
dmine45 5 months ago
I've always wanted one of these old tube radios with a built-in record player. I have a record player but it's from 1984 so it's actually not that old. I always thought that these all-in-one units from the 50's and 60's give the best sound quality.
Nintendoman2020 5 months ago
Another fine example of Motorola sound products...Made right in the greater Chicago area. Motorola really pushed that three channel system. I have a similar unit which was so well loved the owner swapped the very functional V-M changer for a much higher end Garrard Type A.
It's nice to see others who like to restore and enjoy vintage mainstream audio products. Despite what many an "audiophile' will tell you, these units are really quality units for what they were designed for.
WC0125 5 months ago
Geesh you think ray and the singers were right there lol.. That sounds great Doug!
Turkeydoodlers 5 months ago
I have that album to
Turkeydoodlers 5 months ago
We need to hear this play
Turkeydoodlers 5 months ago
I'm surprised the foam surrounds on the woofers are still in tact, usually they turn to dust after 30 years. Those speakers can be improved too, plenty of room add some fiberglass insulation or foam to reduce the resonance of the cabinet. I'd go a step further and "restomod" it with modern 70s speakers (tweeters vastly improved by then), but that unit is mint. Does that unit have any audio inputs?
NJRoadfan 5 months ago
Nice console! first motorola ive seen,I have three magnavox consoles for sale see my vids of them.
jdpinbaytown 5 months ago
What is the purpose of the small light bulb under the right speaker? I thought sure I'd see a red power indicator lit up from it when you came back around to the front but there wasn't one so now I'm scratching my head.
tallboyyyy 5 months ago
Simply a BEAUTIFUL work of art!!! It's almost as old as I am!! I'm sure you'll display it in your living room with pride!!!
HardKnocks60 5 months ago
what a GREAT find! A wonderful example of American craftmanship at it's best! Thanks, so much, for sharing this and all your videos!!
genoteleno 5 months ago
Always enjoy your videos. Thank you for another awesome demonstration of a wonderful piece of American history.A masterpiece that will never be recreated again.
I appreciate you keeping these American made prizes alive.
Travis
KY
tb40ford 5 months ago
Thank you for saving an important item of American history from imminent destruction. A lot of foolish people are inclined to dump such relics in a landfill. Very nice find.
78recordrepair 5 months ago
If I were president, to fix this country I would recommend boycotting all foreign auto mobiles. Lets send all the Camrys, Civics and Accords to the crusher and start building '57 Chevys again. What made this country great was it's reign of automobile engineering and production. God bless America.
78recordrepair 5 months ago
very nice ! , please do a demonstration of the AM -FM tuner next .
seaninlou68 5 months ago
That thing is in incredible shape!!!! Looks brand spanking new.
TheTarrMan 5 months ago
Holy cow! That is clean.
My '66 Motorola looks a lot different and fully transistorized. It has 2 10" woofers, 2 mids and 4 tweeters. What 4 years will do in design, huh?
Those V-M changers are tough. I have two and both of them needed only a little work to get them running again.
CenTexVideo 5 months ago
My late Uncle was a Vice-President at Drexel Furniture Co. in Morganton, NC and they made all the cabinets for Motorola TV's and console stereo's. He said they used the best grade of wood they had for those cabinets.
MAG315 5 months ago
Freaking SWEET! Love your work I love your resto jobs.
dwarf365 5 months ago
What a beautiful looking and sounding unit. Such an attractive style. That cabiet looks pristine, like it just came home from the store back in 1962!
DEW409 5 months ago
Awesome !!! Greetings. AI4QT in Alabama.
AI4QT 5 months ago
You lucked out there Doug, we need to see more of this.. I live the ones I have, there is no sound quality comparison to the 3 channel system
Turkeydoodlers 5 months ago
That's a upgraded changer to, that's the one that's in my 1961 model. Sk53, also a Drexel cabinet
Turkeydoodlers 5 months ago
Nice now your taking Doug, I have 2 of these. Very nice
Turkeydoodlers 5 months ago
Very beautiful. Thanks for the video.
Edison1252 5 months ago
What a find !!! just beautiful Motorola really made great stuff.
58stevenb 5 months ago
I love that Vibrasonic feature. Perfect for playing live recording on it. That tonearm looks like it tracks fairly light to play mint records on it.
Vinylrecordsneverdie 5 months ago
That's thing is very clean for being 49 years old.
Vinylrecordsneverdie 5 months ago
Very clean,but its got a great big sound.
chairuser4 5 months ago
Mitch Miller and Ray Conniff sound best on a vintage console, be it Zenith, RCA, Magnavox, or Motorola. And yours sounds GREAT! That center bass speaker makes the difference.
jasonlava 5 months ago
@jasonlava Philco and Sylvania also made some nice consoles back in the 60s.
I did not think Mag or RCA sounded that great. My fave sounding console was by Zenith around 1960, with the Cobramatic in a front drawer. But this Motorola sure looks just a nice to me, I like that sub woofer / bi-amp design.. Curtis mathis, Muntz, and Stromburg Carlson also made nice consoles. Then there was Silvertone...
umajunkcollector 5 months ago
how much did u pay for it
geekforlifevandc 5 months ago
beautiful! this is with the third channel bass speaker.love my 59 motorola
they put out a ton of sound and the cabinets are beautifully made.
chompo7 5 months ago