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Calling All Motorola Consoles!!!

Outstanding Job Brandon. The White looks good on that model. I'd clear it, just to keep small finger prints off it! But that's up to you.
 
Hope someone can help me here. I got an SK101m planning to just use it as furniture. It actually came with the owners manual and a paper disc for the turntable explaining operation, so I figured maybe this thing is in good shape. Turns out it still works, though maybe poorly. Have to crank it to 6 or 7 to really get any sound out of it, but it seems like all three speakers are working.

I would love to have this in good working condition as a conversation piece, but I know zero about tube systems. Anyone want to help me get started? What should I test? What should I clean/refresh? What should I replace? Is it possible to get a new stylus (it's the one you can select for LP/78)? I'm pretty lost here, and this thread is the only resource I could find searching for the model number.

Edit: on further inspection, I had the needle set to 78. On LP it was all good, except the right speaker doesn't seem to be working. I think the center is okay but I didn't check closely. So I guess the question is, how hard will it be to find a speaker? I'm pretty confident I can replace it but any advice is welcome.

Also the manual and platter cover are in great shape. If anyone is interested I can scan them.
 
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Benny, go back to page 19 of this thread and read from post 365. I think yours has the same amp, chassis HS 1057 as what Badtheba has. the rehab of yours will be very similar to what you see, so what I recommend is that you read through and think about whether or not it's something you'll want to do. Soldering, working with high DC voltagrs, reading a schematic, restoring the mechanical aspects of the record changer. It can be done, but it's not for everyone!
 
Thanks for the quick reply! Will do. I'm pretty confident about the work with the exception of voltage, but I'll read up on it. Honestly even in its current state the console is nice, motor seem to work fine, I don't really care if the changer works or not, but I would love to get all three speakers working. Time isn't really an issue.

Again, thanks, I'll do some research.

Edit: the changer is working perfectly. The turntable is great but a bit "grindy". The right speaker is getting a signal though I can't tell just yet if the signal or speaker is bad. Anyway I'm optimistic that I got a piece in fairly good shape, even if it is one of the cheaper models. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.
 
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Benny BNut said:
Thanks for the quick reply! Will do. I'm pretty confident about the work with the exception of voltage, but I'll read up on it. Honestly even in its current state the console is nice, motor seem to work fine, I don't really care if the changer works or not, but I would love to get all three speakers working. Time isn't really an issue.

Again, thanks, I'll do some research.

Edit: the changer is working perfectly. The turntable is great but a bit "grindy". The right speaker is getting a signal though I can't tell just yet if the signal or speaker is bad. Anyway I'm optimistic that I got a piece in fairly good shape, even if it is one of the cheaper models. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.
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I just completed the restoration of a SK29. Here are a couple links you will need:

https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/default.asp
This is where you will learn everything you need about the changer. You will need parts and manuals. This guy has them.

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=186294
This is a step by step explanation of how to disassemble, clean, and relubricate the changer. Do this before you use it. Mine is running like new now. This is the best step by step I could find. Very detailed.

And my biggest piece of advice is take LOTS of pictures from every angle as you take things apart or you won't get it back together correctly.

Good luck!
 
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, thanks in advance for any help.

I pulled a Motorola console off the side of the road, great condition, looked barely used.

Console SK68

Power Amp is a 3 channel HS960

Pre-Amp is a 196SH

Only the center channel seems to be working.

I stripped this down and have the Preamp and Power amp on a desktop. Both the phono and receiver are completely disconnected, as is the Vibro (I shorted out the connector to the receiver so it will turn on). I have an Ipod into the FM input (Stereo)..

I did some preliminary trouble shooting, all tubes replugged are glowing, but I am getting zero voltage out of the left and right speaker channels.

Any preliminary ideas on where to start? Is the stereo to 3 channels split in the preamp? I have some general skills but by no means an electronics expert. The power amp if fed with a round connector so I would need a decipher the multiple wires coming from the preamp. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.
 
Jehr said:
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum, thanks in advance for any help.

I pulled a Motorola console off the side of the road, great condition, looked barely used.

Console SK68

Power Amp is a 3 channel HS960

Pre-Amp is a 196SH

Only the center channel seems to be working.

I stripped this down and have the Preamp and Power amp on a desktop. Both the phono and receiver are completely disconnected, as is the Vibro (I shorted out the connector to the receiver so it will turn on). I have an Ipod into the FM input (Stereo)..

I did some preliminary trouble shooting, all tubes replugged are glowing, but I am getting zero voltage out of the left and right speaker channels.

Any preliminary ideas on where to start? Is the stereo to 3 channels split in the preamp? I have some general skills but by no means an electronics expert. The power amp if fed with a round connector so I would need a decipher the multiple wires coming from the preamp. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thank you.
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This is probably a stupid question but have you downloaded the schematics for your particular model? They should be pretty easy to source and will help answer your questions. You may have also done this already but I would start with the power amp, tracing the continuity back to the input source until you find where the voltage drops off. If you're getting a signal all the way through then do the same with the preamp. I wasn't getting stereo out of my '59 Motorola 3 channel and after testing everything on the preamp and power amp I realized all I had was a bad rca interconnect between the record changer and preamp. Should have started there first.
 
Thanks Brandon, I do now have the schematics. It appears that both the left and right output transformers are showing open circuit (I do not get the 480 ohms). Could these both be cooked? Is there something that could cause both to go? The center channel output transformer measures the proper resistance and that channel is working. Thank you!
 
Running the amp with no speakers connected could have done that, but it is fairly unusual to find bad OTs on these consoles, let alone two of them.
My questions: were the speakers connected to the power amp when you found it? (if not, it could explain why the OTs failed and why the thing was put out on the street)
And exactly how are you measuring the resistance on the primary?
 
Diverted said:
Got a great score today on Craigslist: 1961 Motorola "Cantonesian" console in a Drexel cabinet. This 26-tube set was Motorola's top of the line in 1961; cost $995 new. It's big and heavy, and has Motorola's three channel amplifier system with a 15" Jensen for the center channel. It also has the "Vibrasonic" feature, a built-in reverb spring.
This was about 80 miles from me, asking price of $40.
I've come across some very nice consoles recently and thankfully I've been able to find room for all of them! This is going to be one impressive set when done and will go in a place of honor.
The seller said it works great and she listened to it often, but she is moving and has no room for it in the new house.I am not going to apply any power to it until it's open and on the bench. Can't wait!View attachment 893444 View attachment 893445 View attachment 893447 View attachment 893448
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One of my dream consoles.
 
RWood said:
Running the amp with no speakers connected could have done that, but it is fairly unusual to find bad OTs on these consoles, let alone two of them.
My questions: were the speakers connected to the power amp when you found it? (if not, it could explain why the OTs failed and why the thing was put out on the street)
And exactly how are you measuring the resistance on the primary?
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Thanks Rwood, the speakers were connected. In fact, I don't think the back was ever taken off. With the amp off, I measure the two primary wires at their source. Thanks.
 
Jehr said:
Thanks Rwood, the speakers were connected. In fact, I don't think the back was ever taken off. With the amp off, I measure the two primary wires at their source. Thanks.
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Hi,

I had a tech look at the amp and confirmed that the primaries are open. All the tubes tested fine. Is there any market for the individual amp, preamp, tuner, turntable and golden voice speakers? They all seem to work except for the blown primaries on the stereo power amp channel. Ebay ? Any direction would be appreciated.

Thank you.
 
I've been trolling this thread for a while and decided to share. My lovely wife gifted me this SK39MB for Christmas. My parents had a SK29W when I was a kid but gave it away while I was in the service. I saw this on Ebay and mentioned that if it was local it would be in the basement. She took the queue and went about getting it from CA up to Portland which was a bit of an ordeal for her. I had found a SK29 on Ebay and told her about it so she had to spill the beans about getting this one. Everything works (one of the legs got damaged in shipping) but she started to make noises which made me put her on the bench for a full rebuild and add a MPX for FM stereo. I used to do vintage guitar amp repair back in the day so it doesn't scare me too much looking at all the point to point wiring. Fun winter project. Cats have already claimed her as a perch.

SK39MB.jpg
 
Would anyone have a schematic for the HS-838A power amp that came in the SK45CW. I just picked one of these up and can find a schematic for the pre-amp, but not the power amp. Also, if anyone knows somewhere to get a service manual for one of these units, that would be beyond awesome. Thanks in advance for any info.
 
RWood said:
Here’s a discussion of that amp we had a few years ago:

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/motorola-console-with-hs-838a.387321/

But radiomuseum.org claims to have a schematic:

https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/motorola_sk45cd_hs_837_hs_838.html
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Hey, thanks!! I found a schematic for an HS-835, which seems to be correct enough to at least get me started! I got it up and running today, and it's so clear and robust!! I'm 32, and this is actually my first time hearing a fully analog stereo! The sound is phenomenal!!


index.php
 
Here's my Motorola SK16W found locally. Had to clean out some shell corn, but didn't find any other rodent damage. I rebuilt the amp (HS-711) with all new caps and resistors, as I found some of the wafer style tube sockets to be cracked and figured I might as replace what's there if I'm already removing it. I also replaced all the wax caps in the tuner/preamp (HS-710) and some out-of-tolerance resistors in that as well. Also fixed the wiring to the speakers, took out the alligator jumper wire, and replaced the crossover cap with a Solen. Cleaned and lubed the changer, and had to replace the Sonotone 2T as the rubber was completely dried up. Installed a Chromecast Audio in the AUX input for streaming ability. I'm missing the accompanying right channel speaker (S16W) that I've seen a few ask questions about on here, but it still sounds great. I'd still like to find the right channel speaker though!
 

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Paul Allen said:
Hey, thanks!! I found a schematic for an HS-835, which seems to be correct enough to at least get me started! I got it up and running today, and it's so clear and robust!! I'm 32, and this is actually my first time hearing a fully analog stereo! The sound is phenomenal!!
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That uses the same amp/preamp as my SK44BW. I have the schematics from RadioMuseum.org if you'd like them. Just drop me a PM with an email address and I'll shoot them to you.

1961 Moto 01.jpg
 
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