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Martel FAX-800?

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k12techman said:
I’m looking for any information anyone might have on this equipment. I’ve tried my Google Fu all day and have come up essentially empty.

I’d love to find a manual, advertisement, history, anything.

Many thanks in advance!

Front View

Front View


Back Plate

Back Plate

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Damn! Always having trouble with that "quote" feature.

I don't envy your chances if it's a schematic or service manual your looking for. Last year i wound up with a Rolecor receiver which I learned was a brand name mostly sold by the EJ Korvette aka Korvettes department stores in the eastern US. I live on the west cost of Canada so it took a road trip once upon a time. They were also made by Roland in Japan and at one time, Rolecor receivers had that FAX prefix.

FAX 600 came up more than once.

I came across a mention made that Martel was a west coast sister brand probably intended for a different department store chain.

One bit of trivia I can pass on is that Roland, supposedly, was where Rotel originated or was connected with somehow.

I'm still picking away at the Rolecor. Replaced a lot of stuff so far and it still doesn't sound right. If/when I get around to it, I was planning to replace all the carbon composit resistors to see if that makes any difference.

A saving grace is that they are not overly complicated and there's a fair bit of room inside so boards are easy to get at. Not badly built though. In my limited experience I've been inside things much better known than these that had much cheezier circuit boards.

IMG_3562.JPG IMG_3558.JPG
 
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Cosmetics are somewhat evocative of the Lafayette LR-800 receiver -- although I think that one was made by TRIO (Kenwood) in Japan.

LRELA800 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Maybe "Martel" was the same OEM as "Rotel"(?).
So - no idea about the Martel FAX-800, but I reckon it was made by the same Japanese OEM as were these:

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DSC_9820 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
(the "Viscount" on the bottom, that is)
 
I've got a Martel FAX-800, but it doesn't have the nice wooden case like yours. Information is scarce for this and many similar units. Pretty sure it's a Germanium based unit. I can't use mine with my most efficient speakers due some noisy parts that need replaced. Until then I'll keep it paired with some low 90's speakers and enjoy.
 
I collect these Roland badge rebranded Department Store units from 1967 - 1971.

They were, indeed, made in Japan by Roland (later Rotel). Seems they wanted to make a name for themselves and over-engineered their units and built them to last.

Started with tubes around 1964 and as transistors became more powerful they made Solid State units. First had only 8 or 12 watts but each year saw huge improvements and we all know how this led to the Receiver Wars just a few years later.

Germanium all around and (a guess) they never made silicon units for others and went into their own line around 1971.

Transformers for all of their units are well made and work 60 years later.

The name was always on the FM dial glass, and thus easy to rebrand for any customer.

Some badges:
Belcor in Canada.
Martel for USA west coast for unknown dept chain.
Monarch on USA east coast unknown.
Rolecor for EJ Korvettes. Most units I have gotten are from metro NYC and Philadelphia areas.
XAM possibly Korvettes as owners cat name was Max, and also XAM was the brand of speakers sold with Rolecor at Korvettes.

These speakers are ordinary in sound but do have vintage styling.
Allied possible as well as others.
Possible they learned from Trio/Kenwood factory hence similar styling.

Sound on all are punchy, warm, and louder than wattage would suggest. FM stage is good and phono and line are good as well.
Bass is outstanding and often needs to be turned down with modern speakers.

I have 17 W 630 and 12 W 600.
Martel 800 likely top of line 30 W a guess.

Rolecor are $60. Martel and Monarch go for $200 to $400
 
I don't know, -but I love the model name and brand. It sounds like it should have been originally equipped with an acoustic coupler. Something with a respectable baud rate for it's day.

:D
 
MaroneOffer said:
I collect these Roland badge rebranded Department Store units from 1967 - 1971.

They were, indeed, made in Japan by Roland (later Rotel). Seems they wanted to make a name for themselves and over-engineered their units and built them to last.

Started with tubes around 1964 and as transistors became more powerful they made Solid State units. First had only 8 or 12 watts but each year saw huge improvements and we all know how this led to the Receiver Wars just a few years later.

Germanium all around and (a guess) they never made silicon units for others and went into their own line around 1971.

Transformers for all of their units are well made and work 60 years later.

The name was always on the FM dial glass, and thus easy to rebrand for any customer.

Some badges:
Belcor in Canada.
Martel for USA west coast for unknown dept chain.
Monarch on USA east coast unknown.
Rolecor for EJ Korvettes. Most units I have gotten are from metro NYC and Philadelphia areas.
XAM possibly Korvettes as owners cat name was Max, and also XAM was the brand of speakers sold with Rolecor at Korvettes.

These speakers are ordinary in sound but do have vintage styling.
Allied possible as well as others.
Possible they learned from Trio/Kenwood factory hence similar styling.

Sound on all are punchy, warm, and louder than wattage would suggest. FM stage is good and phono and line are good as well.
Bass is outstanding and often needs to be turned down with modern speakers.

I have 17 W 630 and 12 W 600.
Martel 800 likely top of line 30 W a guess.

Rolecor are $60. Martel and Monarch go for $200 to $400
Click to expand...

Some of the XAM stuff for EJ Korvettes was harman/kardon OEM and some was Electrovoice OEM, as well.

Any idea about the OEM of this "Viscount" branded receiver (bottom, under the h/k FA-3000X)? Think it's Roland/Rotel?

viscount and hk by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

Radio Shack also sold the same receiver at one point under their house brand name (Realistic)

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source: https://www.radioshackcatalogs.com/flipbook/m-sale_1966_152.html
 
My Martel/Rotel FAX sold by Montgomery Ward back in the day. Roland + Martel = Rotel. It came with a metal mesh case but the wooden one is a DIY.

P1010007.jpeg
 
This Martel was most likely Martel electronics, who used to be the USA importers for Uher tape recorders. A further note, Roland Electronics in Japan who built this for Martel is now known as Rotel.
 
KentTeffeteller said:
This Martel was most likely Martel electronics, who used to be the USA importers for Uher tape recorders. A further note, Roland Electronics in Japan who built this for Martel is now known as Rotel.
Click to expand...

The same FAX tube receiver as shown above was sold under both the Martel and Rotel name. Martel and Roland joined forces hence the name Rotel.
 
k12techman said:
I’m looking for any information anyone might have on this equipment. I’ve tried my Google Fu all day and have come up essentially empty.

I’d love to find a manual, advertisement, history, anything.

Many thanks in advance!

Front View

Front View


Back Plate

Back Plate

Click to expand...

Also @MaroneOffer and Martel friends,

That 800 is GORGEOUS. I've just gotten into collecting for aesthetics more than features and love these old symmetrical faces. I am on the hunt for a nice 800 myself but may settle for a 600 in the meantime. Any leads, lemme know.
 
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