Calling All Motorola Consoles!!!

[Cambo5150]

Hello. I’m new to the console world. I purchased a Motorola SK77WA at an estate sale today. The Drexel console is near mint. The unit powers up. FM tuner works, pots are super scratchy. Reverb is super loud and scratchy and cuts in and out even when turned all the way down. I just unplugged it from the spring chamber. Problem solved for now. I was able to play Bluetooth through the tape RCA’s. I really want to clean the pots but that looks like a major job to pull the unit out the top to access the pots. The turntable doesn’t appear to be working. I’m a total newbie to tubes so I have a lot to learn. I really want to restore this unit. Even with all the scratchy sound, I can tell this unit will sound good when it’s done.

 

[Omegaman]

You don't "buy" consoles, you "adopt" them

 

[Cambo5150]

I picked up the Motorola SK103W at a second hand store. I don’t know anything about it. It has switches for AM and FM and FM stereo but there’s no tuner that I can see. Forgive my ignorance but where’s the tuner? I haven’t removed the cover on the back yet but the only connections see are antenna spade terminals. Thanks for your wisdom

 

[Dswankey]

I picked up the Motorola SK103W at a second hand store. I don’t know anything about it. It has switches for AM and FM and FM stereo but there’s no tuner that I can see. Forgive my ignorance but where’s the tuner?

Wow! dude 2 Moto consoles in less then a week. Nice!!!

Just to keep this thread rolling, here's my ~'63 SK-103M. It uses a HS-1055 amp/preamp chassis with 2 6BQ5's and a 12AX7. There is a separate HS-1102 PS chassis with a 6CA4 rectifier. 1 10", 2 6" and 2 3.5" speakers.

I hear what you're saying but it seems based on this link there was no AM/FM tuner.

I'm guessing here, maybe there was an option to purchase and add one separately?

SK-103 Ch= HS-1055 + HS1102 R-Player Motorola Inc. ex |Radiomuseum.org

SK-103 Ch= HS-1055 + HS1102 R-Player Motorola Inc. ex Galvin Mfg.Co. Chicago;, build 1963 ?, 7 pictures, 1 schematics, 4 tubes, United States of America

www.radiomuseum.org

 

[Cambo5150]

Wow! dude 2 Moto consoles in less then a week. Nice!!!



I hear what you're saying but it seems based on this link there was no AM/FM tuner.

I'm guessing here, maybe there was an option to purchase and add one separately?

SK-103 Ch= HS-1055 + HS1102 R-Player Motorola Inc. ex |Radiomuseum.org

SK-103 Ch= HS-1055 + HS1102 R-Player Motorola Inc. ex Galvin Mfg.Co. Chicago;, build 1963 ?, 7 pictures, 1 schematics, 4 tubes, United States of America

www.radiomuseum.org

Agreed. I think it was an option.

 

[lhomme61]

Any recommendations on a ceramic cartridge to replace a Sonotone 8T?

 

[chefaaron]

Get ahold of gary at thevoiceofmusic.com. They might not be on the website but hes got sonotone 9Ts in stock that'll work. Thats what I used in my sk14c.

 

[chefaaron]

Sold a sk47b yesterday and took in an Sk52w on partial trade. Needs a lot of work but this one will stay with me. Now I need to drag it to the basement workshop.

 

[Dswankey]

^ I like the cabinetry, it's very subtle. Is it a Drexel?

 

[chefaaron]

Yes it is.

 

[Dswankey]

^ Nice!!, good luck with the restoration

 

[Jim Meyer]

Thank you! This is my first go at restoring something like this. I have a lot of experience with the furniture rehab but the electronics are a whole new world. I found the panel to access the pre amp tubes this morning. It has two 12ax7a tubes that I'll likely replace. One doesn't even appear to light up at all when everything is going.

Just curious how you accessed the preamp, I see not way to get to it. Thanks

 

[Dswankey]

@Jim Meyer

The member you quoted and asked a question to posted that 7yr's ago and hasn't been seen or posted since 2018 so I doubt you'll be getting a reply from him

If I remember correctly you'll need to pull the knobs off, and then by going in through the back of console you should be able to see the Pre and slide it down towards you, it might be screwed to the sides so you might have to unscrew it.

Some pics here

Motorola SK29 - aka "gullwing" 3-channel - Classic Hifi Care

www.classichificare.com

 

[cdhumiston]

@Jim Meyer

The member you quoted and asked a question to posted that 7yr's ago and hasn't been seen or posted since 2018 so I doubt you'll be getting a reply from him

If I remember correctly you'll need to pull the knobs off, and then by going in through the back of console you should be able to see the Pre and slide it down towards you, it might be screwed to the sides so you might have to

Some pics here

Motorola SK29 - aka "gullwing" 3-channel - Classic Hifi Care

www.classichificare.com

I have the entire amp and pre-amp out of the original console. I made a nice small cabinet for the pre-amp and the amp is exposed. I want to eliminate the Motorola pre-amp and use a newer one. I also want to move the RCA inputs and speaker outputs. I have recapped the entire thing and replaced faulty resistors. I still need to replace the power cord as well. Here is a picture of its current state.

I will also need to have a dedicated on/off switch if I remove the factory pre-amp.

 

[RWood]

In addition to what Swankey said, when you pull the knobs see if the preamp faceplate is attached with hex nuts on the control shafts. If they are, remove them and pull off the faceplate - you might see that the preamp has “ears” that are screwed to the cabinet. Undo those and it might pull straight up.

 

[Jim Meyer]

@Jim Meyer

The member you quoted and asked a question to posted that 7yr's ago and hasn't been seen or posted since 2018 so I doubt you'll be getting a reply from him

If I remember correctly you'll need to pull the knobs off, and then by going in through the back of console you should be able to see the Pre and slide it down towards you, it might be screwed to the sides so you might have to

Some pics here

Motorola SK29 - aka "gullwing" 3-channel - Classic Hifi Care

www.classichificare.com

Thanks for the fast reply. I will study this thing in the

@Jim Meyer

The member you quoted and asked a question to posted that 7yr's ago and hasn't been seen or posted since 2018 so I doubt you'll be getting a reply from him

If I remember correctly you'll need to pull the knobs off, and then by going in through the back of console you should be able to see the Pre and slide it down towards you, it might be screwed to the sides so you might have to

Some pics here

Motorola SK29 - aka "gullwing" 3-channel - Classic Hifi Care

www.classichificare.com

Found it by studying the photo in your link. My problem is, I was looking in the back of the console for access but in reality access is from the front of the unit above the center (sub) speaker. Thanks much for the fast reply.

 

[ElSorryUno]

Thats it! 1961 OK these ads are great!



Yes it does not appear to say drexell on it so your probably right, anyway I will get it refinished one of these days, I will get a pics as soon as I uncover it. BTW where are you finding all your ads, they look like newspaper ads? thats awsome!

I have a similar question about an SK100 Motorola Console. It's been passed down from my grandparents, to my parents and I'm interested in getting it from them to give to my daughter that seems super into retro/classic audio. The actual model is SK100805JS, in Maple finish. I've tried to get some info from my parents on it. It has a phonograph, stereo and 8-track player. There's a plaque on the inside of the cabinet that says Dover and describes the cabinet build. The only other thing from the sales tag is a "Code" that says ULTEN. The sale price from the tag was $339.95. I believe they bought it in the early 1960s. Anyway, I've tried to find anything I could about it, like specs. The whole console is in near perfect condition. Everything works, no scratches or broken pieces. I have furniture that's only a couple years old that is worst off than this and it's 60+ years old. Anyway, I don't know if anyone has any knowledge on the piece. Sorry, my mom took the picture and she's a little shaky.

 

[Tinkerbelle]

I have a similar question about an SK100 Motorola Console.

Anyway, I've tried to find anything I could about it, like specs. The whole console is in near perfect condition. Everything works, no scratches or broken pieces. I have furniture that's only a couple years old that is worst off than this and it's 60+ years old. Anyway, I don't know if anyone has any knowledge on the piece. Sorry, my mom took the picture and she's a little shaky.

It would help to see pics of the amplifier to confirm but, from online info, it looks like it could be a hot chassis design for the amp (no power transformer to isolate mains voltage from the chassis). So, take note if planning to service this.

Some info on SK-100 with schematic at Radiomuseum: https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/motorola_sk_100_4sk100_ch_hs_1201h.html

 

[Dswankey]

I have a similar question about an SK100 Motorola Console

Yours is not an SK100 model or variant

..The actual model is SK100805JS, ... It has a phonograph, stereo and 8-track player... I believe they bought it in the early 1960s.

8-Track player would probably be early 70's

Seems SK100805JS is not the actual model number but a service # whatever that means

Based on link below it seems the model # might be CS10

https://www.k-bid.com/auction/31005/item/130?offset=130

 

[orthophonic]

Your console is from 1973.