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Vintage BARZILAY Mid Century Stereo Consoles?

MisterDK

MisterDK

Addicted Member
Just brought home a vintage stereo console -identical- to the one pictured below. It’s still outside in the van but just as pretty looking as this. Pretty sure it was made by Barzilay in the mid ‘60s.

Anyone know what this model was called? Anyone here have the same unit?

Was told by the seller that it had 15” Altec coax speakers in it when he got it - but I bought it empty. I’m thinking of stuffing it with mid to late ‘60s vintage gear.

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Omegaman said:
They are great if you got 9 feet to spare
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Here is the amazing restoration
https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/1961-barzilay-fisher-resurrection.517275/
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Wow - it’s very nice! It sure had some work into that one but it came out gorgeous!
I can’t believe anyone would want to paint over all that walnut and hide it.

This cabinet measures just 80” long - and I’ll find the room for it. ;)
It’ll most probably contain a dining room system, replacing a shorter buffet cabinet in there. My wife will get over it..

Our house is quite a whacky mix of different woods but I love wood grain. Maybe someday I’ll settle on one wood and make things match. Got a few mid-century pieces - but in both walnut and teak. House is also a mix of pine and oak..

I still haven’t taken this one out of my van but will this afternoon. Maybe there’s a product tag on the underside; still don’t know what this model is called. I’ll shop for speakers and components over the next couple of weeks. An Empire 298 or 598 turntable (already have both) will likely go on a wall shelf above the unit. Don’t want feedback from putting a turntable inside or on the cabinet - with big 15” speakers inside.
 
Kodaline said:
Is "mid century" an actual term now? I thought just hipsters said that.
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As much of a term as “Renaissance” or “Baroque”. It’s just meant to describe a certain period in our history. “Mid-century modern” has been used as a term for quite a few years now and likely will for quite a while longer.

Yeah, I know; we used to just call it “old stuff our parents and grandparents bought”.. At the time it was offered to me, I didn’t want the Magnavox console my parents bought new in late ‘60s. It sounded good - but had tube amps..yuck! Old junk.
I wanted modern separates, not that old tube stuff which heated the room.
That Magnavox actually sounded pretty good..
 
Also, I have never heard a console feed back with an internal turntable, no matter how big the speakers. They are typically designed so the pieces of wood comprising the turntable enclosure are short enough so they don't resonate easily.

Doug
 
I love Barzilay cabinets.
I have passed up several nice deals the last few years because I didn’t have the space.
Here’s one I did try to buy but the seller would not separate the cabinet from the electronics so I passed.

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Moby Dick said:
I love Barzilay cabinets.
I have passed up several nice deals the last few years because I didn’t have the space.
Here’s one I did try to buy but the seller would not separate the cabinet from the electronics so I passed.

YSnliDn.png
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That’s a pretty one. I prefer it, and the style of omegaman’s better than the one I bought. They’re all nice looking, though.
I’m trying to pick out some speaker drivers for mine right now. I want some old Tannoys - but their cost is prohibitive.. Any suggestions for woofers are welcome.. Speaker box volume is 4.25 cubic feet.
 
Doug G. said:
Also, I have never heard a console feed back with an internal turntable, no matter how big the speakers. They are typically designed so the pieces of wood comprising the turntable enclosure are short enough so they don't resonate easily.

Doug
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Their phono response is limited from 80 hertz down to keep acoustic feedback at bay. Usually how factory consoles are designed.
 
Finally, someone with the same Barzilay console we have! I've never seen another example. We picked this one up at an antique shop in downtown San Antonio around 5 years ago. The outer two sections are for drop in speakers - I have a vintage set of KLH's in there, along with the original ELAC turntable. I'm restoring a Marantz 2245 to drop in there, since the Fisher integrated amp was long gone before I bought it.

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Very nice consoles, guys!
Anyone know how many basic styles they offered? Any good websites with info on Barzilay furniture?
 
In my 1969 Allied Radio catalog, you have the Barzilay 300E Mediterranean 3-pc Ensemble. It's priced in the catalog at $499.50 ($21 dollars a month if you need to make payments).

'ner
 
WaynerN said:
In my 1969 Allied Radio catalog, you have the Barzilay 300E Mediterranean 3-pc Ensemble. It's priced in the catalog at $499.50 ($21 dollars a month if you need to make payments).

'ner
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Wayne, you’re awesome! Thanks for that!

Mine is actually not that 3-pc Ensemble but could be the equipment cabinet listed below it. My top is solid and the speaker boxes are fixed in place. At least I now know what the model was called. :)

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