Gentle reader,
Been a few weeks since I posted anything. I'd made my usual Wednesday (25% off) Salvation Army stop. Found a couple of nice cassette decks and some LPs and CDs.
The best find was a late-1950's Zenith "High Fidelity" tube table radio with walnut case.
A fellow behind me in line told me that "across the street" they had "thousands of records".
He was referring to Bee Thrifty. We'd been there some months ago, but were not impressed.
"What the heck, I've got time," I thought.
He was right. Thousands. Vast majority was 45s. If you are too young to know what that is, they are seven inches in diameter records that usually have only one song on each side. Like CD-singles, but records, not CDs. I have no interest in 45s.
So, the time consuming search through the many hundreds of LPs began. I picked out a bunch, including three box sets. I also found five or six classical 78 RPM album sets. Those predate 33 1/3rd RPM LP records. These dated from the early 1950s and were all in great condition.
Then, I looked to the right and saw the electronics section at the rear of the store. Oh, boy! I spied OLD speakers! At least three KLH model 6s. A pair of Wharfedale W40s, a Realistic Elecrostat-2 and some I could find no name on. Also, two reel-to-reel tape decks and lots of other stuff.
I was particularly excited about the Wharfedale speakers as they are English-made. Also, the Electrostatic one intrigued me. I carry a pair of speaker wires as well as a pair of RCA interconnect cables just for testing. However, it was getting late, I was getting tired too. So, I chose the two Wharfedale W40s, and the Realistic Elecrostat-2, untested. Each were $14.99.
Records were 99 cents each. Little did I know they would count by disc. So, I put back the 78s.
I lucked out big time as all three speakers work perfectly! The Wharfedale W40s, even had the brochure and warranty card taped to the back of one of them. They were bought in 1962! Here is one of the Wharfedales and one of a pair of RCA cast aluminum speakers found last week:
The Realistic Elecrostat-2 (below) dates from at least 1963, see: 1963 Radio Shack Catalog
It
opens at the front of the catalog. At the lower right it shows: "Go to
page". Choose page 99 from the drop-down numbers to see the catalog
listing for the speaker.
Below, you see the Wharfedales next to the KLHs I've had for a while sitting atop the Electrovoices I've had even longer. The latter need new surrounds. I'll fix 'em soon.
Below is a pair of Vintage Sony bookshelf speakers I found last week. Simple two-ways that sound better than I expected them to:
Below, you can see the Zenith as I have incorporated it into the collection. I removed a Crosley which will go on eBay, and put all the round-top radios on the bottom shelf. The rectangular ones, three of which are tubed, on top. The Zenith hums only and the string that moves the tuning needle has broken. I may fix it someday. Right now, I just like it as-is, in situ.
I've been playing the LPs. OH! I forgot to mention the ONE 78 I did buy: The 1812 Overture. It was two discs, but sadly, parts one and two were cracked. Parts three and four were fine. I have over sixty different versions of the 1812 on LP and CD, but was psyched to find it on 78!
Soon, I will post LP record group photos.
Thanks for looking!
Scott
