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Color of Fisher Receiver Faceplates?

A

Avagadro1

New Member
Color of Fisher Receiver Faceplates?

I have observed that the faceplate on some early Fisher receivers (500-S, TA series and perhaps others) are a strong brassy/goldish color. I believe (not sure) that the later 500B and 800B were light goldish in tone, but not so much as the earlier models. I recently saw a clear photo of a 500C and an 800C; here the faceplates appeared to be a more silver or aluminum color, not gold/yellowish.

Can anyone (I understand that some Fisher collectors own many different models) tell me the faceplace color sequence. Was there ever the same model receiver produced in two different faceplate colors?

Thank you for your assistance.
 
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Some of the earliest stereo units had brass plated steel faceplates while others were solid brass. A magnet will easily determine whether the faceplate is brass or plated steel.

The solid brass faceplates were used on the TA-800, 500-S, and tuners FM-50, 100-R, FM-200 and 202-R. This probably holds true of 1960-61 amplifiers as well.

When the new 1962 models were introduced in summer 1961 (500-B, 800-B), they had brass anodized aluminum faceplates. By sometime in 1962 these were changed to champagne anodized aluminum.
 
The TA-'s and other receivers, amps, tuners from '58 to '61 model years had stamped brass or brass plated steel faceplates. From '62 model year on they are extruded Aluminium that was anodized. Fisher had more than a few suppliers and depending on anodizing process the color of the anodize could be very very pale(practically clear) to fairly dark (brass colored) or anywhere inbetween.

My KM-60 and X-101-B from '61 to 63. Both have the anodized aluminium faces, however the KM-60 is anodized darker. I also have a FM-100-B that is about 1/2way between these. My 800c's and 400's all are a smidgeon darker than the X-101-B.

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Ok, I now understand that even the same model number of 500c or 800c could have a somewhat different color faceplate.

As a receiver, a little difference in color is probably no big deal. I would think, however, that if, in the day, one purchased both the integrated amp and a tuner he would be quite upset if, from different manufacturing lots, he ended-up with faceplates of noticeably different color. Hopefully he had a good retail dealer who would do a swap.

Thanks.
 
The very earliest Fisher stereo component, the 400C (and its 400CA evolution), had flat gold anodized aluminum faceplates. Then they went to the brass faceplates for everything in the Fisher line that I'm aware of, then back again to anodized aluminum with the "three groove" version for the components, and the extruded version for the receivers. Even among the same years of production, the color of the anodization shifted, and after years in different environments, things have gotten crazy. Some components are a golden brown, some are almost a plain aluminum color. I have an FM-200, which was one of the early components with the new aluminum faceplate - it's almost brown. The later production MPX-100 stereo mutiplex decoder sitting next to it is a silvery gold color. They don't even come close to matching in terms of color, but it's Fisher's best tuner without an onboard MPX decoder, and what is probably the overall best MPX decoding circuit that Fisher built. Together they're a pretty potent FM reception team. They just look kind of weird.
 
Does anyone know any methods (secrets) for restoring the brass like finish to panels. I have a 800B that has the darker brass finish. It looks like someone cleaned it, and possibly replaced some lettering. Where the lettering has been replaced, the brass look is now more like the lighter brass or even aluminum in spots. Are they any stains, or furniture or car refinishing products that may work?
 
That sounds more like knob wear from fingers rubbing the faceplate lettering. I use Flitz polish and seen McGuire's mentioned but not sure they'll do what you want. I love those gold 800b faceplates, would like to replace my champaign one.
 
Sam Cogley said:
The very earliest Fisher stereo component, the 400C (and its 400CA evolution), had flat gold anodized aluminum faceplates. Then they went to the brass faceplates for everything in the Fisher line that I'm aware of, then back again to anodized aluminum with the "three groove" version for the components, and the extruded version for the receivers.
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The 202-R and FM-200 tuners have the three grooves and are solid brass. Mine are, anyway. I could see a late production version of either having an aluminum faceplate since these were produced just prior to the rollout of the 1962 models which had aluminum faceplates.
 
My 101R matches my 400CA exactly, the 100 MPX is slightly lighter, not quite as dark, but they look like 24 Karat gold compared to my 800c, I’d call it champagne colored.
 
mrphilco said:
The 202-R and FM-200 tuners have the three grooves and are solid brass. Mine are, anyway. I could see a late production version of either having an aluminum faceplate since these were produced just prior to the rollout of the 1962 models which had aluminum faceplates.
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I'd be quite interested to see that. I've never seen a brass three-groove faceplate.
 
Tom B said:
Does anyone know any methods (secrets) for restoring the brass like finish to panels. I have a 800B that has the darker brass finish. It looks like someone cleaned it, and possibly replaced some lettering. Where the lettering has been replaced, the brass look is now more like the lighter brass or even aluminum in spots. Are they any stains, or furniture or car refinishing products that may work?
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Hi Tom,

Not that I am aware of. A few of my tuners with brass front panels had brown stains which I polished out...now the polished spots are lighter than the rest. :no: You can see such an example above, post #11, bottom center of my FM-200 photo. I know why (loss of lacquer coating), just not sure what to do about it, if anything. In my case, given a choice between a brighter brass spot and a brown stain, I prefer the former.

I would think it would be next to impossible to replicate the color on aluminum. Tinted lacquer comes to mind but one would need just the right shade, and would need to be a skilled artist, to make such a touch-up look right on an aluminum faceplate.
 
I'll take a closer look at my FM-200, but I think you'll find that those are anodized aluminum, not brass.
 
Nope. They are brass. I've removed both faceplates (to clean glass and replace lamps), and they are considerably heavier than aluminum.

I've had a few FM-50-B tuners pass across my workbench, which have aluminum faceplates. The difference in weight is obvious.
 
mrphilco said:
Nope. They are brass. I've removed both faceplates (to clean glass and replace lamps), and they are considerably heavier than aluminum.

I've had a few FM-50-B tuners pass across my workbench, which have aluminum faceplates. The difference in weight is obvious.
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Curious, for sure.
 
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