Anyone ever heard of Fairbanks - Morse consoles?

DirtyNeedle

DirtyNeedle

New Member
I picked up an end table sized turntable/console for free a while back. Its's labelled Fairbanks - Morse High Fidelity and it looks really old. I have googled the hell out of it but cant find any info whatsoever.

I haven't plugged it in, played with it or taken it apart at all so far for fear of damaging it if it is worth anything. The turntable seems pretty "plasticky" if that's even a word and has a felt material platter but it definitely has a tube amplifier in it.

Has anyone ever heard of this manufacturer, is it worth anything? or is it destined to remain an end table lol.

*I can provide pics if that helps at all.

Thanks
 
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Fairbanks-Morse is an old company. They were making radios at least as far back as the 1930s. They also made gas engines as far back as the very early 1900s. Quite a few oil derricks were powered from F-M "well gas" engines.


Pics would help, it could be a whole lot of different things.
 
I have never seen any HIFI from F-M. They made very good radios in the 1930,s, some are rare hard to find types. Here is a picture from my collection of one I had in the past.
 

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Thats later than I thought they were in the radio game. its not especially amazing quality but its interesting. The F-M stuff I'm more used to seeing are similar to what kcline had.
 
So is this thing even worth playing with? I posted it to reddit and some guy basically said "OMG your gonna burn your house down whilst getting electrocuted"

I don't know much (or anything really) about this stuff but could the amp alone be utilized for something else like a headphone amp or similar?

Thanks for the help guys.
 
FM bought Audiola Radio Co. of Chicago early 1934 and went into the radio biz on top of their extremely successful engine mfgring. They eventually move to new facilities and introduced lines of original styled radio sets until the factory burned to the ground in 1939 and the decision was made to leave the radio market in the U.S. rather than rebuild. The FM Canadian branch continued to produce radios for some time afterward, producing television receivers after WW-II as well as radios and radio phono consoles for some time.

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Canadian model, but I don't find it in my Radio College of Canada files.

You need an isloation transformer to safely use the amp. Triad F-68X, $15 at DigiKey.
 
kcline said:
I have never seen any HIFI from F-M. They made very good radios in the 1930,s, some are rare hard to find types. Here is a picture from my collection of one I had in the past.
Click to expand...

that is one cool radio.:smoke: i especially like the dial.:yes: what model number is it id like to track one down.
 
I think that's in between being a cheap piece of crap and something that sells, restored, for $800 on Ebay. With those 50c5s in there I (just me) wouldn't put too much effort into it. Changer looks like a fairly upscale model, cabinet is pretty decent too. I dunno, maybe upgrade the cart and amp to stereo with a remote speaker?
 
tom3 said:
I think that's in between being a cheap piece of crap and something that sells, restored, for $800 on Ebay. With those 50c5s in there I (just me) wouldn't put too much effort into it. Changer looks like a fairly upscale model, cabinet is pretty decent too. I dunno, maybe upgrade the cart and amp to stereo with a remote speaker?
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I'm afraid you have it pegged at cheap poc.


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The only Fairbanks-Morse I'm familiar with is the 38D 8-1/8" 9 and 10 cylinder opposed crank Submarine Diesels that were originally intended for Railroads. 1600HP@720rpm, 50-55gal per hour of diesel. 250psi Air Start. A lot of them are still in use for Emergency Generators. Them ROCK CRUSHER's would beat the hell out of a GM Winton V16 278A too. And not smoke or leak oil while doing it, unlike the GM.
 
larryderouin said:
The only Fairbanks-Morse I'm familiar with is the 38D 8-1/8" 9 and 10 cylinder opposed crank Submarine Diesels that were originally intended for Railroads. 1600HP@720rpm, 50-55gal per hour of diesel. 250psi Air Start. A lot of them are still in use for Emergency Generators. Them ROCK CRUSHER's would beat the hell out of a GM Winton V16 278A too. And not smoke or leak oil while doing it, unlike the GM.
Click to expand...

They are probably better known for their engines. There are a fair number of them at Rough and Tumble if you ever get up to Amish country.
 
larryderouin said:
The only Fairbanks-Morse I'm familiar with is the 38D 8-1/8" 9 and 10 cylinder opposed crank Submarine Diesels that were originally intended for Railroads. 1600HP@720rpm, 50-55gal per hour of diesel. 250psi Air Start. A lot of them are still in use for Emergency Generators. Them ROCK CRUSHER's would beat the hell out of a GM Winton V16 278A too. And not smoke or leak oil while doing it, unlike the GM.
Click to expand...

The FM OP's are a fascinating concept, supposedly for exceptionally low vibration.
The big hot bulb two stroke model Y oil engines that powered local power company electric generators are also interesting.
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I don't know about low vibration, but they were generally easier on maintenance than the GM's. Very few gaskets to leak, and no exhaust valves to adjust constantly or heads to change. But changing a cylinder liner (400#) or piston (about 80#) entailed hanging the upper crank in the overhead, and hoping the Navigator doesn't run you thru a Typhoon. They ARE GAWD AWFUL loud in that engine room, even with one @ idle (about 400rpm). But it's a sound and smell that any diesel boat submariner loves to see, hear, smell, just one more time! You tube USS PAMPANITO or USS Silversides. They both have running 38D's and have videos of the start up's.
 
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