Rob_Feature
Rob Feature
My mom picked up this beautiful condition Grundig console this week from an estate sale and gifted it to me. She said the radio was playing while she was there, but she didn't think the turntable worked. Nice of her to get it, but now I'm diving into a new project to see what I can do, or whether I need to just take it in for repair.
First, since she said the radio was playing I felt like the amp/tubes/tuner were probably OK. Getting it home (after they transported it) I find that the radio 'sorta works'. I can tun in barely any stations and the volume/right/left goes kinda crazy when tuning across the dial or turning the balance/volume knobs.
This seems to me like either a reception issue (its got a built in FM antenna, but I need to probably figure out how to hook up a better one and see if reception is part of the problem), but also like it really needs to be cleaned. I think these knobs need a good detoxit.
But I need some advice on how I get behind the dials to clean this thing. I've got the back off so I can see the amp/tuner unit, but I hesitate to pull it out and clean it since I don't really know how it disconnects cleanly. Advice on that?
Second, the turntable doesn't turn on. In the pic you can see the knob labeled 1/2/3, and the 2 position is the 'manual' run position. But the knob is FIRMLY stuck in 3 (stop) position.
I haven't owned a turntable this old before...is there something I need to do to 'release' this knob (ie have something in a certain position) or is it just jammed? The whole turntable unit was pretty gooped up inside from lack of use...I gently manipulated the arm to loosen it up a little, but that told me it needs a good de-gunking.
So my 2 questions boil down to:
1. How do I clean the tuner knobs, etc (ie. how to safely remove the amp section for cleaning, disconnecting it from the front display)
2. Is there any magic ju-ju to get the turntable knob to turn to 'play' or is it just jammed? (ie. am I ignorant of how this works, or is it busted?)
Thanks in advance!
First, since she said the radio was playing I felt like the amp/tubes/tuner were probably OK. Getting it home (after they transported it) I find that the radio 'sorta works'. I can tun in barely any stations and the volume/right/left goes kinda crazy when tuning across the dial or turning the balance/volume knobs.
This seems to me like either a reception issue (its got a built in FM antenna, but I need to probably figure out how to hook up a better one and see if reception is part of the problem), but also like it really needs to be cleaned. I think these knobs need a good detoxit.
But I need some advice on how I get behind the dials to clean this thing. I've got the back off so I can see the amp/tuner unit, but I hesitate to pull it out and clean it since I don't really know how it disconnects cleanly. Advice on that?
Second, the turntable doesn't turn on. In the pic you can see the knob labeled 1/2/3, and the 2 position is the 'manual' run position. But the knob is FIRMLY stuck in 3 (stop) position.
I haven't owned a turntable this old before...is there something I need to do to 'release' this knob (ie have something in a certain position) or is it just jammed? The whole turntable unit was pretty gooped up inside from lack of use...I gently manipulated the arm to loosen it up a little, but that told me it needs a good de-gunking.
So my 2 questions boil down to:
1. How do I clean the tuner knobs, etc (ie. how to safely remove the amp section for cleaning, disconnecting it from the front display)
2. Is there any magic ju-ju to get the turntable knob to turn to 'play' or is it just jammed? (ie. am I ignorant of how this works, or is it busted?)
Thanks in advance!