Old Hifi

[Cricketbat70]

@peter98 recent post about music inherited from your parents has included a few posts about old radiograms. It got me thinking about how I got into hifi. My mum's partner had a 1970’s all in one receiver turntable combo ( I think the proper name is music system) similar to the one pictured but I don't remember the make of his. He had a top loading akai cassette deck connected via rca. He had some floor standing castle speakers. I was 11 when I went to live with my mum and her partner (1981) but even then I thought the speakers were weird, a wood front with slots cut in it rather than a removable front fabric cover. The music centre had it's own vu meters and it had a loudness switch that when used you could put your hand on the window and feel it vibrate. Around 1984 he replaced it with an all akai separates system (I have mentioned it before very futuristic with soft touch buttons and fluorescent displays). He kept the castle speakers though. What was your introduction to hifi?

 

[davidf]

For me to play records myself, it was an all in one like that but just a record deck, with separate speakers, all in white. I'm sure it was an ITT Ferguson, but can't be 100% - I've been trying to search for it but with no luck. This was mid 70s, but I'm guessing the unit was from early 70s or late 60s. Playing records bought from jumble sales 🙂

 

[Steve983]

I wouldn't call it hi fi but when music centres appeared in the 70's they were a slight step up from the previous radiograms. My family had a Ferguson one, my cousins had a Sanyo one. Then in about 1980 I saw an advert for an Akai rack system that was made up of separates with amp, tuner, turntable, cassette deck and of course speakers - this was when the 'fun' really got started 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

My Parent's old cocktail radiograms was similar to below (Blaupunkt), the speaker mesh was the same as the photo below (Ferguson), ah yes memories.

Booze while you listen seems to be the motto 🙂

 

[Gray]

I wouldn't call it hi fi but when music centres appeared in the 70's they were a slight step up from the previous radiograms. My family had a Ferguson one

I had a Fidelity one.
A step up from a radiogram was precisely what they were for so many 👍

To anyone who'd recorded the top 40 via a microphone from radio speaker, to a mono portable cassette recorder.....
A music centre was a gift from heaven.
To be able to record FM stereo radio, direct to the tape deck - and talk in the same room.
It didn't get any better.

How many of your tapes started with?:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCZdjVQBEfc
Followed of course by the voice of Tom Browne.

 

[JDl]

My Parent's old cocktail radiograms was similar to below (Blaupunkt), the speaker mesh was the same as the photo below (Ferguson), ah yes memories.

Booze while you listen seems to be the motto 🙂

View attachment 9560

View attachment 9559

View attachment 9561

View attachment 9558

Ha, ha, ha.... awesome. Is that what you're using now.

 

[Steve983]

This was our Ferguson model, probably got it in 1975. Which reminds me that its 50 years ago this summer that I bought my first proper LP; Elton John's Greatest Hits - still have it!

 

[DCarmi]

My Mother had a Ferguson record player/radio with one of those needles that you flip over to choose for vinyl or shellac (78s). I used to play some of her LPs, which were mostly classical.

My Brothers and I used to pick up records from Woolworths 50p bin.

My first system I bought with money from my Saturday job being an ITT music centre.

 

[Gray]

We loved those music centres.
The 'all in one' was popular half a century ago 😉

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

We loved those music centres.
The 'all in one' was popular half a century ago 😉

Had a Sharp one - thought it was properly sexy at the time!

 

[Cricketbat70]

I don't know how old my mum's partners was but it didn't come with built in cassette deck, like I said he had a top loading Akai cassette deck connected via RCA. The turntable also had a second arm opposite the tone arm with a small stiff bristle brush and soft roller behind the brush to clean records in situ. Dread to think what damage that stiff brush could have been doing.

 

[Gray]

I don't know how old my mum's partners was but it didn't come with built in cassette deck

Neither does this GEC Soundeck that I've inherited.
(With transit screws still locking down the TT suspension):

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Here it is:

 

[Gray]

Here it is:

View attachment 9565

More B&O than GEC.
Being Sharp, made in Japan presumably.

 

[Jasonovich]

You know, 'Junk' has a certain quality. It comes with happy memories and that is priceless!

 

[Cricketbat70]

Neither does this GEC Soundeck that I've inherited.
(With transit screws still locking down the TT suspension):
View attachment 9564

Barry's had locking screws for the turntable suspension too and the wood side panels went above the receiver section so the lid over the turntable only consisted of a top and front panel. Just wish I could remember the make.

 

[Gray]

You know, 'Junk' has a certain quality. It comes with happy memories and that is priceless!

Junk that didn't require updates - which is why a fair bit of it is still working.

 

[Jasonovich]

Junk that didn't require updates - which is why a fair bit of it is still working.

Very true.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Here it is:

View attachment 9565

Feeling all nostalgic just looking at it. My folks had long-standing neighbours who moved and were replaced by some very noisy people - not great in a semi. I had full permission to use the volume control when my folks were out - and they were very happy to move shortly thereafter.

If it played CDs, no matter how badly, I'd be tempted to get one again.

 

[DCarmi]

I ordered my music centre, above, from a catalogue through a friend of my Mother's. One of those please wait 28 days to be delivered to someone else's house, sort of thing. When I got it and opened the box imagine my how I felt to find the needle was at a 45 degree horizontal axis to the housing. None of the local shops had any in stock.

Rather than return it and wait weeks for a replacement, I wrote to ITT head office and playing the "disappointed school kid" card. Which of course I was.

Some days later, I received a 2x2x3 foot box. It was filled with shredded newspaper and at the bottom was a tiny box containing a new stylus and a hand written note saying they hoped it arrived safely and I enjoy my music.

You don't forget helpful people who have a sense of humour!