Rheem-Califone "New Yorker" classroom record player

This is a Rheem-Califone "New Yorker" tube-type classroom record player that I bought today at the local flea market for $5. This unit uses a 50L6 output tube, a 12AV6 driver tube, and a solid state rectifier. Somewhere, I think I remember reading that Rheem and Califone joined in '61 and they seperated sometime in the early '70's. This unit is very dirty and the case covering needs to be glued back down in one spot. Despite the fact that this record player has seen better days and probably has not been used in 30 years, it still plays a record. However, it will need a new cartridge (Astatic 81T plug in "powerpoint") and the usual mechanical overhaul in order to work to it's full potential. Hopefully, when I open it up fully, I'll find some date codes. I also have a newer looking Rheem-Califone 1410 tube type model from 1970 and the amp looks very similar to this one. I think by 1970, most of the Califone line had switched to solid state and this tube model was an economy model that was built in an effort to use up old parts stock.

During my school years (from '83-'95), there were still some old tube type Califone 1410's still in service, as well as the blue cased and brown cased solid state 1430K's with the little light on the end of the tonearm. In the early '90's, the school system bought some gray cased 1430C's. In later years, I found out that the newer models had cheap DC drive motors and I've actually had some of the newer models with bad motors. As far as the old AC motors go, they usually don't need anything besides routine cleaning and lubrication.

Just for the record, here are my other two Califone players. The first one is a tube type 1410 from '70. I also remember a very similar looking model 1440.


The next one is probably from the late '50's, before Califone became part of Rheem.

I like the old units, but I could kick myself for letting go of some Wollensak mono reel machines. The metal beige ones with the silver lid. I'd also like to find the VM suitcase record players with the automatic changers. They were dark brown with a front mounted speaker, didn't look like the typical classroom record player and did not have a removable lid. In fact, they may not have been for that purpose to begin with, but we had them back in 1965 at the elementary school. I remember the music teacher having to let it warm up before playing. I think I was in 6th grade at the time. I did a quick pencil sketch to give you an idea of the cabinet. Haven't found anything like it at the VM website.

I'd also like to know where Audio-tronics fits into the scheme of things as fars as classroom equipment goes. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I think Aduiotronics was based out of North Hollywood, CA and came on the scene in the late '50's with the earliest version of their model 300 classroom record player. They made many versions of the model 300, beginning in the late '50's up until around '80. There were both tube and solid state versions. Some came in a beige case and the later ones came in a green case with a wider, more modern looking tonearm. The earlier tube models used 3 tubes. The later tube models had a solid state rectifier and a single 6T9 compactron that contained the driver and output tube in a single envelope. I think the tube type models were discontinued in the very early '70's. Your unit looks to be from the mid-to-late '60's. If you look on the motor label, there will probably be a date code. In the early '80's, the 304 series replaced the old 300 series. These 304's were cheaper made and used a cheap plastic tonearm. Sometime in the '80's, Audiotronics was bought by Telex and the brand name was changed to Telex. Audiotronics also made reel-to-reel tape recorders, cassette recorders, and other equipment for classroom use.

Newcomb was another big player in the classroom record player market; and, these models seemed to be the best built. I think they went belly up sometime during the early '80's.

I suspect the VM models with the record changer were meant for home use. Some of those VM portables were quite nice and sounded very good. VM also made single play classroom models up until the mid '70's.

I remember the Newcomb models back in 1968, when I was in Junior High. One unit had the turntable/amp plus two big speakers (12" woofers) that clamped together to make their own case. The beast was Loud!

Oh, my 300-E is tube driven. I opened it up once years ago, and I think it had only one tube, like a 12 AX7, very simple configuration. --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I have a mid '50's Newcomb that has a seperate speaker. It uses a GE variable reluctance magnetic cartridge and can play records up to 16" in diameter.

Newcomb made a small phonograph that was about the same size as your Audiotronics 300E. I don't remember what tube the Newcomb used; but, it was a single 9 pin miniature tube that contained the driver and output in the same envelope. I'm sure your Audiotronics uses the same tube. The larger 300A used a single 6T9 compactron, which is physically larger than the 9 pin miniature tube used in the smaller players.

And, I just remembered two more brands: Hamilton and DuKane. I don't think I've ever seen a tube type Hamilton model; but, there were some tube type DuKane models that had built in filmstrip projectors.