Sears

[EVBoy]

I found a Sears Silvertone tube AM-FM stereo tuner at an estate sale. The AM works but the FM only works occasionally. Is it worth trying to fix?

 

[outlawmws]

Sure, if its not too expensive of a fix. Silvertone isn't one of the big names, but Sears (And many other big chains) usually contracted for decent gear back then. Start by cleaning it thouroly, and Deoxit the pots. You can remove the tubes one at a time and clean the pins and sockets too. I used round toothpicks for the sockets.


Be careful on the tunning gang, gently blow the dust off, but use no chemicals on the plates.

Any pics?

 

[EVBoy]

Thanks for the advice. Here is a photo of the tuner. Looks like it is from the early sixties.

 

[jpdylon]

That's a really neat lookin tuner. Is it an MPX stereo tuner, or does it need an outboard MPX decoder?

 

[EVBoy]

There are two pairs of output jacks on the back and a single jack that says "Multiplex Output". What is that for? How do you hook this thing up anyway?

 

[jpdylon]

THat tuner requires an outboard MPX decoder. All that means is that it is a plain old AM/FM tuner without it. Look on ebay for an MPX unit. The pilot and HH scott MPX decoders are especially nice. The MPX unit decodes the FM Stereo intercarrier signal. Connect the mpx output of the tuner to the mpx unit, then the mpx unit to your amp. If the tuner and MPX unit are in alignment, you will be plesantly surprised with the outcome. It must be a pre-59 if it doesn't have built in MPX.