A Nex Acquisition

Well, I thought I was doing good by abstaining and resisting temptation for months, but it got the best of me.

I picked up a phono/radio console. It's an "Electrohome", Model Armada S600-225 with a Dual 1009 auto/manual turntable, from Ontario, Canada. The thing must weigh about 150 pounds, made of mostly thick plywood. The finish is black, but it looks more like a dark chocolate.

There are two sliding panels in the front to hide the speaker grilles giving the appearance of four doors. Other than the small ventilation panel on the back, it seems like the speaker chambers are sealed and the entire back is thick plywood with a gazillion screws. It also has connections for extension speakers plus 360-degree satellite speakers. Included are the original operator manuals (in English/French) for the turntable and the console, plus a Sams Photofact Folder dated 1967. The tonearm headshell is there but there is supposed to be a separate cartridge and cartridge holder that pops out when you slide the finger lift toward the rear. I wonder if it's magnetic or ceramic? There was mention of an ASTATIC 187D in the Sams. I do have a listing from Garage-a-Records and will check that out.

The radio is supposed to work, but haven't checked it out yet. It does have one scratch along the lid, probably from the bozos handling it at the thrift store. Scratch remover should take care of that.

I think it's a very beautiful piece of furniture, (My Maggies come first...LOL) and may fire it up this weekend. Right now, it's in the kitchen turned up on its side...there's just no more room. Sorry for all the rambling, but was wondering if anyone was familiar with this brand and I only paid $40.00 for it. It says DOMINION ELECTROHOME INDUSTRIES LTD., 809 WELLINGTON ST. N., KITCHENER, ONTARIO, CANADA. Thanks so much.

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

That record changer will work with either magnetic or ceramic. It's the amplifier that needs the specific type.

The same cartridge shell works on Dual 1009, 1010, 1011, 1013, 1015, 1018, and 1019, so if you find one for any of those, it will fit.

Astatic usually made ceramic cartridges, but they had a few magnetic ones.

I would bet the automatic spindle doesn't work. It had natural rubber expanders, which rotted away in just a few years.

Thanks for the response, Larry.

I was impressed that they would put such a turnable in a console. I messed up the power cord when I slid it in the doorway and will replace that...gives me a chance to see the guts anyway The tall spindle is still intact, the short one is missing, may have fallen inside the cabinet. I may have a spare somewhere.

Would you or anyone else out in cyberspace know about the Electrohome brand itself? Just curious about the history. Oh, I meant to type "NEW" acquisition, not "NEX". It was early in the morning when I did that posting. Thanks so much. --BB

If the rubber expanders are not there, all of the records will drop at once.