Son's New Console

Just sent my son and his wife back to Fort Rielly, Kansas with a 1970(?) Zenith console stereo I picked up at auction for $1.00. The top and sides are wood while the doors are plastic (ick) but the unit looks mint. Obviously, well cared for. I serviced it, polished the wood with Butchers Boston paste wax and it looks like new. I don't have the model number handy but it has the Microtouch tonearm and a 16 watt amp. The tone is very good, however I think it could've benefitted from a larger pair of woofers. What's interesting is that he is getting into vinyl.

Hey Thom,

That's great! Just be carefull 'cause it could be addicting. I have a nice Zenith that I picked up at the thrift store a couple years ago for about 10 bucks. It's on legs but sits very low and is about 5 feet long. It also has adjustable speaker louvers in front...how neat. You can close them and the front looks like one solid wood panel.

I'm sure your son will enjoy his new acquisition. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I know the model very well. I have one myself. It was a Christmas present from my PoP to my Mom in 1968. It was the best babysitter my mom had. She knew that all she had to do was stack a few Dean Martins or Frankie Laines and I would not leave that living room for love or money. I have lots of other equipment that I play from tabletops to high end ( well for my money anyway), and two Hi-Fi s; a 1950s Magnovox and a 1940s Montgomey Wards Airline. You are correct. It is addicting.

Bobby Basham wrote:Hey Thom,

That's great! Just be carefull 'cause it could be addicting. I have a nice Zenith that I picked up at the thrift store a couple years ago for about 10 bucks. It's on legs but sits very low and is about 5 feet long. It also has adjustable speaker louvers in front...how neat. You can close them and the front looks like one solid wood panel.

I'm sure your son will enjoy his new acquisition. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Hey Thom,
I also have an Airline console. If it weren't for the turntable and amp face plate, you would swear it was a Magnavox. It has the horns and side-facing woofers. The actual receiver/amp chasis is the same used in some of my Maggies, the layout is very similar and could probably use the same schematics. I can't play it because the Zenith is stacked on top of it...LOL There are at least nine consoles back in this room, some stacked on their ends. Yes, I need that 12-step program...no more toys. --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

I've had to slow down too although I don't have that many consoles. I have a bunch of portables some consolettes, radios, various amps and receivers and I just aquired two 3-channel tube amps out of some electronic organs. Add to that two carillons (working) and around 6'500 records and you can see that only Divine intervention can help me now. It's a wonderful life. Over the holidays I was tasked with moving all my 78s to the basement (it's clean and dry) and will soon move the LPs down there also as I discoverd while preparing to paint the studio, which is located on the top floor of my split-level, that the floor was separating from the knee wall !! I just keep telling my Susan that I am helping to preserve a bit of history though I'm not sure if she is buying it. Regards.