1958 RCA Victor Hi-Fi Stereo Console with turntable

This is my 1958 RCA "Orthophonic Stereo" HI-FI console. I bought this about a year ago from a thrift shop. It had a couple of blown tubes, I replaced them and was ASTOUNDED by the sound quality this thing puts out. I thought a Stereo from 1958 would sound like shit, I was sorely mistaken. It has an "Electronic Tuning Eye" which is very, very cool. In this video you will watch as it warms up, plays music, see the "Tuning Eye" in action, and watch the record stacker stack! Oh, and I should mention I took this console home in the back seat of a Civic sedan... with two other people in it.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• RCA
• victor
• victrola
• record
• player
• tuning
• tubes
• stereo
• HI-FI
• hifi
• orthophonic
• phonograph
• radio
• turntable
• vintage
• music

[Oniconga]

Where would one sell these things?? no-one knows what they are lol i've asked pawn shops and thrift shops.

[LynolsOffice]

I usually see them at yard sales and thrift shops or antique shops.

[vashonislandguy]

Notice the word "Ortho?" that is who you would have to see after lifting this thing! Good system and please, do not be offended by my joke

[LynolsOffice]

Lol. It was VERY heavy, and I had to haul it up to the 3rd floor!

[bertskoi]

that 2nd "Brunswick" record is from like WWI or just about right after it, it wouldn't have a higher fidelity sound to begin with. I have an original 1959 RCA HiFi STEREO, I am the original owner, I believe it was the first that year ('59). Great vid, keep it up!

[LynolsOffice]

Thanks. I wish I could play HI-FI records on it, but I only have a good needle for playing 78's right now; I just wanted to illustrate the changer. I found a way to read the date codes on it, shows it's from 1958.

[basspig]

I always get a kick out of how RCA used to call the volume control "Loudness".

That electric eye tube is quite unique. I've only seen it on one other piece of equipment, a Collins FM tuner that I'd had some fifty years ago.

[lrd9999]

Cool tuning eye! Shows both signal strength and center of channel. I've never seen one like that before.

[gbennett1987]

whats the first record you played?

[EXTREME4YEARSTOCOME]

sounds absolutley beautiful. sereo in the home came out in late 1957 so you have one of the first

[Nivicoman]

Sweet piece. I can hear the warm easy tube sound right through my computer sound card and Nivico solid state console hi-fi.

[segersystem]

I have the exact same model here in Michigan

[desoto1961]

Beautiful!! I would love one!! 

[maynardcat]

Very nice sounds great. I just saw one of these today at an estate sale in nice cosmetic condition, they had it priced at 140.00. The ticket said works fabulous, but it didn't at all,It sounded really bad. The radio picked up stations,but were badly distorted. The changer worked ok ,but not much sound. I would say it probably needed all new caps, & maybe tubes. Since I have an RCA console, and two smaller table model RCA hi-fis, and running out of room I decided to pass this time..

[MusicMike1285]

I wish you would post another video of this stereo if you still have it! I'm jealous lol

[RedDodge1968]

Very Nice, am currently searching for a similar model. Great piece!!!!