500B new journey

visman

AK Subscriber
Subscriber
So I am starting a new Fisher journey with a 500B. It’s a version I have always wanted with it’s amazing symetrical brass faceplate.

So, I took a chance on that E site for a very reasonable BIN. The unit arrived Safe and with help from member rufleruf I got three missing knobs - with brights off that E site I now have a really amazing 500B.

It came with 7 Fisher 12AX7’s 5-Holland and 2-West Germany . all tested strong. All the power tubes tested poor ☹️but I happen to have a quad of NOS RCA’s. The two 12AT7’s where bad and the 6AU6’s tested weak mostly. End of the day I felt pretty good that the Fisher 12AX7’s tested strong.

Next step is to bring up on variac - see what I have and then a recap.

Here she is....

6604B579-57C3-4FFF-BD15-AC3FC7466B41.jpeg
 
For those keeping track the serial number looks like 24136E - not sure about the E - but there you go!
 
It's a looker. Haven't seen too many gold faceplate 500B's in good shape. I'm glad the knobs found a good home.
 
Ah thanks rufleruf - those knobs arrived in the mail the same day as the brights

It’s hard to get a nice picture of the gold faceplate - but this one is really nice.
 
Brought the 500B up to 90 volts on the variac (over 24 hours). Got some nice hiss in both channels and both dial lamps glowing - good enough for me - now it’s time to do the caps etc.
 
Looking forward to your 500B journey! My 500B came from Ellsworth and now resides in York County.
 
Just got my shipment of Hayseed Hamfest can caps - now need to order the rest. I have had luck with Jim McShane in the past and may see if he can put a kit together - either that or just order them off the Service Manual.

RS Steve - that is sweet.

Here are the new can caps.

208BD5C0-A978-496A-A957-D2844732831B.jpeg
 
Well I can finally update my post - how time flies!

After a full recap (by me) and visit to my tech (funny how diodes installed backwards really effect performance) - I now have a fully restored and working 500B. The Can Caps are Hayseed and all other caps and resistors are McShane (Jim’s stuff is good and he is extremely helpful). I do have a very nice original cabinet ordered and notice that my glass needs cleaning - other than that here she is (nudies included). Oh, and it sounds terrific!

B9C71A51-8308-4227-BF0B-A73ECAB03B55.jpeg EF2F8D60-33CB-4BBC-B320-41497835B412.jpeg 238BD377-2B6E-4E34-928C-589260A0F241.jpeg 3E145430-E8A0-46B3-892F-2D30BFA5E4F1.jpeg 84958DF1-4253-4ABF-BFBB-841B22C7D787.jpeg 0D46BECA-5BDF-4A87-9A88-D1F0E967987A.jpeg 678EDF36-2435-4EB6-AB47-3933A5548E64.jpeg 02A164D7-5780-4E0E-89A0-2129AB505137.jpeg 79FF1B16-853D-43B4-AEEC-BC4D97955F52.jpeg 4F924359-3F7D-4331-9D2F-261F3CD3B0F8.jpeg
 
Beautiful. Who’s your tech?

BTW I left my dial glass as is, didn’t clean it. The residue is part of the charm of this 60 year old relic!
 
I think you are right about the glass - hear lots of horror stories about cleaning gone bad!

I use John Hoef in Westbrook.
 
You have a very nice and clean 500-B. Not many look so good. I like the dial with the tuning eye tube - neat!

Enjoy!

Joe
 
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