HELP!! Need to identify Fisher? console
I recently purchased a console with an Ampex Monitor 970 reel to reel. I took the console apart sure I would find chassis ID numbers with a manufacturer's label but alas no joy.
The clues I found are the tubes all labeled "The Fisher" the AM antenna is printed "Fisher Radio Corporation" I have reviewed all the images of Fisher consoles presented here and not one from the fifties to the mid sixties match.
I have attached photos of the console cabinet along with pics of the chassis and one of the amps (also no manf. numbers). If anyone can help me ID this console it would be most appreciated. I collect and restore old radios but this is my first post 1950's (the reel to reel got me) and I love returning them to original condition but that means having the schematic and associated docs to do it right. I found all the docs on the reel to reel and am currently bringing it back to like new condition but need to find the chassis numbers to get the AM-FM side running right. If its any clue the FM Multiplexer is a G.E. MA-2G Ser. Number L210968. This is the only thing with a number on it.
Thanks again for your help
Arcee

That does not look very Fisher to me, but I may be wrong. The Amp chassis does not to me either. How about a shot of the radio portion? There is always a chance the tubes came from another machine. John

PM AK member Thered1 and see what he can tell you.....:thmbsp:

The appearance of the amp says "Ampex" to me... I have few Ampex amp schematics with those tubes.

GE Multiplex schematic is here: http://members.shaw.ca/pacifictv/wanted.htm

The appearance of the amp says "Ampex" to me... I have few Ampex amp schematics with those tubes.I was stumped until I saw Tom's post. What you have there is a truly remarkable 1958 Ampex Crescendo stereophonic console. That's very early for a stereo console. And at $1,795 it was more expensive than the '58 Fisher Executive II at $1,595 but not quite in the stratospheric range of the '58 Fisher President II at $2,495. Please post a photo of the tuner which should be a 'The Fisher' if it's *hopefully* still original and complete. If AK had a 'Console of the Year' award you'd definitely be in the running, though the Commander's might be hard to beat and the South African team is putting out some surprisingly strong contenders.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb275/irwinbay/AmpexCrescendoNov57.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb275/irwinbay/AmpexCrescendoNov57A.jpg

Tom,
You Hit the nail square on the head!!! I have attached photos of the AM-FM chassis and one of the ampex recorder. Ive just got the recorder working perfectly replaced brakes caps tubes and various minor componets along with a through cleaning. Shes just humming along.

NICE !

I'll bet the original TT was a Garrard (RC90 or similar) with a GE VR cart . . .

those amps look like a ^v^ version of the 6973 amps that came in my Ampex console :thmbsp:

NICE !

I'll bet the original TT was a Garrard (RC90 or similar) with a GE VR cart . . .

those amps look like a ^v^ version of the 6973 amps that came in my Ampex console :thmbsp:

Thanks for the inspiration markus. A search on the Garrard RC-90 yeilded this (http://midimagic.sgc-hosting.com/changers.htm) pictoral history of the record changer.

What a great site! (and nice resource for guys like me with stacks of console TT's in the boneyard in the garage)

Garrard RC-90.....:thmbsp:

http://midimagic.sgc-hosting.com/garrc90.jpg

Recharon, could we see a photo of the back of that tuner? If that is a Fisher tuner it's not one I'm familiar with. Does it have any sort of a model number on the back? Also, it looks as if the faceplate is common to two different chassis - the tuner and the preamp. Is that the case?

Recharon, could we see a photo of the back of that tuner? If that is a Fisher tuner it's not one I'm familiar with. Does it have any sort of a model number on the back? Also, it looks as if the faceplate is common to two different chassis - the tuner and the preamp. Is that the case?

I don't think the tuner/preamp is fisher . . the greyish - tan paint on the faceplate screams Ampex . . .

Pretty sure it's not a Fisher.

What leads me to believe that it may be a Fisher tuner are its Fisher tube compliment, that its AM antenna has "Fisher Radio Corporation" printed on it and the that the ad copy mentions that the Crescendo has a "custom designed FISHER *FA-AM tuner" (*probably a typo for FM-AM). I'm thinking that Ampex subcontracted the tuner chassis portion of the console out to Fisher and used their own preamp and faceplate. Possibly a good photo of the back of the amp might reveal an unknown Fisher tuner.

What leads me to believe that it may be a Fisher tuner are its Fisher tube compliment, that its AM antenna has "Fisher Radio Corporation" printed on it and the that the ad copy mentions that the Crescendo has a "custom designed FISHER *FA-AM tuner" (*probably a typo for FM-AM). I'm thinking that Ampex subcontracted the tuner chassis portion of the console out to Fisher and used their own preamp and faceplate. Possibly a good photo of the back of the amp might reveal an unknown Fisher tuner.

Red's got the bit between his teeth...don't get in his way....:D

I'm thinking that Ampex subcontracted the tuner chassis portion of the console out to Fisher and used their own preamp and faceplate. Possibly a good photo of the back of the amp might reveal an unknown Fisher tuner.

AAAHHHHH! . . . I gotcha :yes:

wow . . so this could be an as-yet-discovered Fisher OEM tuner ? i

I agree with Red. Between the ad with "custom designed by FISHER Tuner", and the antenna, and tube compliment, I'm also tending to think it's a AMPEX Branded Fisher built preamp/Tuner. I'd like to see a couple pics of the top and underneath of the tuner for parts compliment. I wouldn't think AMPEX would put "THE FISHER" on the DIAL Glass tho. But the lettering on the dial Glass is damned close to late 50's Fisher numbering font.

Kinda like some Realistic Re-Branded Pioneer stuff 20 some odd years later. Not obviously PIONEER but there were subtle clues.

Red: Have you noticed that Fisher used a lot of GERMAN made PIO caps in their tube stuff. Lots of them in the 49A/T and 59A/T's. Something to look for here too.

Larry

I have attached a photo of the rear of the chassis and the am antenna. Yes red the dial cover extents over to what appears to be a pre-amp and switching box. These appear to have the same finish as the tuner so I suspect the tuner and the pre-amp switcher are made by the same company. I have confirmed outputs for exterior speakers and a TV out as per the ad. It has JBL speakers the bass being a MODel LE-10 and the high end being an LE-30 with an LX-3 adjustable cross over. There is also a General Electric Model MA-2G Multiplex adaptor for the FM. But I believe this was added later by the original owner. Since you found out for me what it is I done some more research and think that the Mono blocks are indeed Ampex. I strongly suspect they are Ampex Model 2010's 10 watt.
If you go to the Vintage Solid State forum I through stupidity posted this thread in there and was redirected by one of the members of that forum. It has attached several more photos as of the chassis top and bottom with the cover off. Please note the three RCA plugs you see on the back of the chassis are NOT wired from the factory. Only the "Main Output" and "Multiplex" are used. I hope we can fiqure this out I would really like to find a schematic for all of it.
Anymore ya need let me know
Thanks
Arcee

I created a photo bucket files with more pics of Crescendo console. at this URL:
http://s581.photobucket.com/albums/ss255/racharon/?start=all
Thanks
Arcee

Go to
www.radiomuseum.org click AMPEX, and go down the list to the CRESCENDO AMP. 12Watts per amp. Part of the Crescendo Home Music System.

Larry

The tuner dial face looks like the Fisher 80-R - take look at the Sams and Fisher data here: http://www.audiophool.cjb.net/hifistuff.html

The amp is similar to the 620, though it uses a 6267 instead of the 5879 in the voltage amp and probably doesn't use the EQ network they used with the portable.

Racheron, thank you for posting the excellent photo essay on the Crescendo. I just spent the better part of an hour perusing it. I was glad to see that the louvered speaker covers open up. I can't imagine it would sound very good with them closed.

It definitely looks like a variant of Fisher's 80-R, Tom. Both have 13 tubes but the tube types are not an exact match. Recharon's tuner doesn't appear to have any ID markings on it at all. Finding that specific schematic may be quite a quest.
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss255/racharon/FisherConsole-AM-FM-BareDialFace.jpg

A photo of the 80-R from the Fisher Doc's website for comparison:
http://fisherdoctor.com/pictures/fisher/tuners/fisher80.jpg

Thats what I was afraid of Red this has been the most difficult radio I have ever researched and that includes some Ive done from the 20's. If I cant find documentation on it I will hand draw the schematics on autocad and post them so they get around. Meanwhile you seem to be the resident expert on Fisher so maybe you can come up with a chassis designator until (if ever) we can find the documentation. I havent given up yet as I sure hate doin em by hand but I hate even worse not having the documentation with my radios when I finally turn em on. I will most defiantly take a look at the 80-R the pic looks the same from the dial face except for the dial cover. Maybe they just removed a few circuits. if you find out any more please let me know and Ill do the same for you.
Thanks
Arcee

I found photos of this Fisher console which appears to have an Ampex reel to reel. I sent an email to the owner asking for the schematics ect. hopefully he will send them. In the meantime I thought this was very curious. Maybe an exchange of technology between Fisher and Ampex was occuring at this time. I thought you might find them really interesting red.
Thanks Arcee

Fisher used AMPEX, I think Fostex, and Later Sony R2R's. Turntables were Elac Miracord 10F(Fisher) as opposed to a 10H for the lower to mid line consoles. Basically identical except for paint color, and Marking THE FISHER" on the Tonearm weight. Upper end got DUAL 1009 and later 1019's. Could have been some SONY TT's in there too. Late 60's units got BSR's also, re-branded as THE FISHER on the name plate. The Brochure's were sometimes vague as to what ancillary equipment went in. For the most part it was top drawer stuff.

The only thing I don't like about my '69 Royal Electra is the BSR TT. I'm really tempted to put a Miracord 10F I pulled out of my '65 Futura when I put in the Miracord 50H. It may end up needing a new plinth board tho. Have to look at it. The BSR runs fine, I'm just not a fan of them.

Larry