Phonola by Electrohome

[diamondsouled]

Picked up a Phonola by Electrohome console for free yesterday. It has a treble clef as the P, a 6GW8 amp in it, and sounds not too bad. Fairly good radio reception even with the built in antenna. Bit of hum but the lytics are needing to be changed of course.

Don't seem to have the manual for this one.

While looking for some info I came across these pages that have some history about Electrohome that is quite interesting:

http://keithwright.ca/CAPP/Phonola/phonola.html

http://doorsclosedwaterloo.wordpress.com/electrohome/

http://www.keithwright.ca/CAPP/Phonola/The Record on Phonola.html

Not sure what to do with this, can't keep the cabinet but the amp would make a nice headphone amp or sumpin.

 

[ferninando]

IMO it belongs in a museum. as an example of music playback history.

 

[diamondsouled]

Ya I know. Problem is people can't give them away. Well actually they can give them away, that's how I got this one.

The cabinet is walnut veneer and is very sixtish in styling. Had I not taken it off the auction guys hands it would now be sitting out at the landfill. Sad but true, that's where most of these are heading. If I can salvage useful parts from the cabinet as well as the amp/tuner I'm at least reusing/recycling. :yes:

When an auction house gives stuff away you know they have little to no monetary or collectible value. I've seen them sell boxes of miscellaneous used kitchen items but they can't sell these old consoles. Even the old folks are going to the Bose Wave systems. Who has room for a console these days? Not many folks.

At one time I had three consoles on my deck, this one would have made four. What's a person to do? If I contacted the local museum they'd politely ask if it was a Victrola vintage item and if it wasn't they'd pass. These consoles are in a grey area age wise where they are not quite antique/historical/museum type items. They will be one day though and I'm sure that some will survive to sit on display.