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Early 1960s McIntosh stereo system: for a mere $7,500...

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Well, I'm local but it is way out of my league both in terms of $$ and in terms of my appreciation of it, but especially the $$. Anyway, if anyone want's local help, just let me know. Rgds, Mike
 
Sounds like they know what they have but as a C20 owner, that looks to be an early one in rough shape!
 
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That is top of market for prime condition in St. Louis, but it is also all there. That is a strong advantage - you get your stereo in one fell swoop, rather than chasing for five to ten years.
 
The MC60s are like 3k on eBay for a pair, and the C20 is 2k or so. $7500 isn't wildly out of the question but all this stuff will need restoration probably, and that'll be another grand or two minimum. It really depends whether a collector wants it. A reseller isn't likely to pay that much.
 
Nobody mentioned the system being featured on the front cover of Audio magazine? I would think that would add something to the value.

Assuming all equipment in need of restoration -

2 MC60 $2,200
C20 $1,500
MR55 $ 200 (Note: Mono tuner)
T TT/arm $1,000
AR3a (2) $ 600
______________
$5,300

+ cabinet (?)

I would add 5% - 10% for being featured in the magazine to the total.

$7,500 asking is not an unreasonable asking; $5,000 would be well bought. Somewhere between both parties should walk away happy.
 
The speakers are described as "AR3," not "AR3A," so that will add a chunk to the value assuming they're still intact and working.
 
I have found that the mc60 amps are highly undervalued in the marketplace. Sound as good or better than mc275 and sell for about half price to the original 275. A bargain amp for sure.
 
From the photos, it's clear that only one of the AR speakers is inside the cabinet. I wouldn't be surprised if the second AR is enclosed in its own separate (but matching) cabinet.
 
From the magazine:

THIS MONTH'S COVER This month's installation is in the home of Dr. Ralph Yochim, 725 Leamington, Wilmette, Illinois. In this installation, in order to place the speakers opposite the listening area, it was necessary to locate them on either side of the area between dining and living rooms. However, a Steinway piano, which had to be placed on a particular wall (it being the only inside wall in the living room), posed a difficult problem of decor to overcome. Fig. 1. Room arrangement in Dr. Yochim's home. Note speaker placement. It was decided to construct a cabinet for the Acoustic Research AR -3, which would take the appearance of a music cabinet. This enclosure was constructed of "Avoir- dure" mahogany to match the piano. The other speaker was housed in the equipment cabinet where the AR -3 was floated on foam rubber isolation pads to eliminate feedback to the turntable. An oven lift top was pro- vided for the McIntosh tuner and preamp and for the Thorens turntable. The cabinet was constructed of matching grained wal- nut and the side- opening speaker used in- visible catches. A modern -weave cane served as the speaker grill on both cabinets. Components included a McIntosh MR -55A FM -AM tuner, a McIntosh C -20 preamp, two McIntosh MC -60 60 -watt amps, a Thorens TD -124 turntable, a Rek-O-Kut S -120 arm with a Shure M3D cartridge, and two Acoustic Research AR -3 speaker systems. The system and installation was designed by Allied Radio. pg. 58, AUDIO JANUARY, 1963 www.americanradiohistory.com
 
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nolasally said:
I have found that the mc60 amps are highly undervalued in the marketplace. Sound as good or better than mc275 and sell for about half price to the original 275. A bargain amp for sure.
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I agree with your acoustic valuation but market prices are in real dollars. This being said, the MC60's could be in great cosmetic condition, depending on how well the chrome chassis clean up. Restoration is not difficult with all new caps costing around $150 per amp...a few years ago when I last checked.
 
In that more innocent age, they published the street address of the installation! By 1973 that would have been a burglar magnet. The current sale is in a different zip code so either it changed hands or they moved.
 
I imagine it's changed hands a couple times. 54 years is two generations. Personally I think the cabinet is a negative. I would rather have the factory cabinet for the preamp and tuner. It's cool that it can be documented in the magazine, but I don't see that adding much value to the set. $4000 is my range for it as-is considering it's going to need a lot of work to restore and there are potentially very costly risks taken given there is no guarantee the transformers are good. A good power amp properly restored can be had for a lot less and I doubt my ears could ever hear the difference.
 
KiM3Ce said:
In that more innocent age, they published the street address of the installation! By 1973 that would have been a burglar magnet. The current sale is in a different zip code so either it changed hands or they moved.
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Wilmette is on Chicago's northern lakefront. Glenview isn't too shabby a place either, but not as nice as along Sheridan Road. Best pick'n grounds for estate sales are along the lakefront on the northside. Southside around Hyde Park has some deals too, but you might get shot driving through the neighborhoods on the way.
 
I love seeing these "systems" as they were, when they were originally put together. If I had the scratch and locale, it would be fun to restore it to original magazine newness, then frame the magazine above it.... museum style. It would need to be at a more "motivational" number though...
 
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