Marantz 240 black faceplate

[BeerLegs]

Has anyone ever seen a Marantz 240 black faceplate with a "rough texture?" I am not talking about the examples you normally see if you Google "Marantz 240 black face plate". This one was "experimental" and never put in production. I may have an opportunity to buy one.

 

[RossW]

I am always cautious of "experimental" stuff. Often it simply means that it was cheaper than restoring it properly. A carefully applied coat of rough texture paint will hide all kinds of cosmetic sins that you simply can't hide with a shiny finish. Does the seller have any proof?

 

[BeerLegs]

The seller previously worked at Marantz as a tech so I feel as he knows what he has. I am not talking about a repainted faceplate. I'm talking about a Marantz factory faceplate that never made it to production

 

[djwhy60]

Don't even want to know the price tag on that!!

 

[ChrisMarantz]

I have not seen a model 240 like you describe, however I have seen two authentic preproduction prototypes that came from the Chatsworth headquarters.

After getting over the initial excitement of these prototypes the reality of what to do with them begins to sink in. Both were in non-working condition and frankly they were in terrible shape.

The quandary was what should be done with them. They were interesting as a piece of Marantz history but any restoration would ruin their patina of age and possible importance to a collector.

It seems that as interesting as these units were, they have a very small market of true hard core collectors which limits their value.

They probably should be in some sort of museum.

 

[BeerLegs]

I think that's exactly what this is. A prototype faceplate for a Model 240. I will be seeing it in a couple of weeks. I'm just curious to how many of these faceplates are out there.

 

[BeerLegs]

so..... I managed to pick up that prototype faceplate today. It has a "rougher" texture than the regular silver faceplate. It also has no lettering. I was told that the black faceplate that they did eventually sell had the same or close to the same type of texture as the silver faceplate.

 

[ChrisMarantz]

Very cool find. So what are you gonna do with it?

 

[BeerLegs]

Hide it. Cover it up just like it has been since 03-73.....yuk-yuk.

Not going anywhere.

But you were right about it. The painted surface isn't the best.

Supposedly there are two of them. The other one was sold years ago.

I think eventually it"ll end up on my 240 that he took care of for me.....