Post WWII Capehart

[that70sguy]

Not sure what I have here, but I know it's got tubes, which is why I bought it. Found it at an estate sale for the grand total of $20.00.

It's in great shape cosmetically (a little dusty), the radio works, but the record player needs repair. It comes with two interchangeable tonearms, one for 33/45s, the other for 78s. I found a little info on this console at http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/farnsworth_32p9.html

Anyone here familiar with this model or Capeharts for that matter? Here's some pics.

 

[Thespeakerdude8]

That dial face is gorgeous...reminds me of a sparton sleigh radio (one of the blue glass ones.)

You did great for $20! Do some googling on Capehart, they were pioneers in record players...some of their earlier models cost as much as a house back in the 30's and 40's and are full of western electric speakers and exotic tubes. They also had wild heavy huge turntables that were chrome plated and flipped the record over! Yours looks a bit later, probably has a jensen woofer in it, but take some photos of the guts for us!

Gorgeous oak on that by the way!

 

[wgrr]

A real beauty.

I suspect that oak is finished using ammonia mist. It gives the wood a nice transparent dark very mellow look.

Very popular finish that was abandoned because of the extreme danger it posed to the factory workers and/or carpenters if the ammonia escaped. I did ammonia refrigeration for a few years and I can tell you ammonia will put you on the ground real fast.

 

[markus]

very nice : ) those interchangeable tonearms *should* have GE VR cart's on them . . .

amp is most likely 6v6, and it'll have a 12 inch field coil jensen :thmbsp:

 

[JBL GUY]

Very Nice!

And with both tonearms.

Thanks for the pictures.

 

[diamondsouled]

Wow, beauty. I would find it impossible to pass on that one even though the wife would probably kill me if I brought it home.

Some pics of the back/insides would be nice as well :yes:

 

[that70sguy]

Here are some pics of the innards of the Capehart. Not sure what speaker that is, but it is branded Capehart. I'll be taking the component out to clean up and I imagine will need recapping, etc. Will post more pics of my progress.

 

[that70sguy]

very nice : ) those interchangeable tonearms *should* have GE VR cart's on them . . .

amp is most likely 6v6, and it'll have a 12 inch field coil jensen :thmbsp:

Yes, it has a 6V6GT output tube. It is a 12 inch speaker, but not sure of the brand, although it has the Capehart stamp on it. Did they make the loudspeaker?

And yes, the tonearms have GE cartridges.

 

[diamondsouled]

Some good info here on Capeharts as well as links to more:

http://www.myvintagetv.com/updatepages1/capehart/capehart.htm

 

[orthophonic]

It is from about 1950.

 

[toxcrusadr]

That is really cool especially with the original tonearms. Although I'm no console expert I do collect old radios and I have not seen that model with the dresser drawer front. In perfect shape inside and out. Keep that one for the museum!

 

[RogerKulp]

very nice : ) those interchangeable tonearms *should* have GE VR cart's on them . . .

amp is most likely 6v6, and it'll have a 12 inch field coil jensen :thmbsp:

What's remarkable is the original boxes for those arms.Pure class all the way. They don't do that anymore.
Two speeds two arms.This was no doubt a model for the 1948 Christmas season.

I gotta start hitting estate sales more.All I see at the thrifts is overpriced solid state junk.$150.00 for a Magnavox "Spirit of '76" dry sink anyone?

 

[dieseljeep]

All show and no go! With all that fancy glitz, you would think it would have a push-pull output stage. See all the hole plugs on the receiver chassis.

 

[Yorxdorx]

All show and no go! With all that fancy glitz, you would think it would have a push-pull output stage. See all the hole plugs on the receiver chassis.

That's probably why he bought it, it's quite a showpiece. Who cares if it's not a powerhouse. That's like saying a vintage Porsche 356 isn't worth much because a 911 will blow it's doors off. I'd rather have the 356 personally.

Besides, judging from his avatar, I think he has plenty of go.

 

[wa2ise]

very nice : ) those interchangeable tonearms *should* have GE VR cart's on them . . .

If so, don't play stereo records with them. IIRC, the VR cart expects only side to side grooves, and will carve off any up and down motion. The up and down motion is roughly the stereo difference (L-R) and side to side is mono (L+R).