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Fisher Consoles 1959-1965

thanks for the diagram. i wish i had the original one that was on the back of the console to show you for comparison as the 490 seems to me to be somewhat different. i don't think i have the vocabulary to explain the differences as i see them but if i ever snatch the thing out of the cabinet i will take a picture.
 
The Fisher console 85w mono amp, ID and solicitation

I have a "The Fisher" 85w mono amp that I salvaged from a console unit, lo these many years ago, (pic attached). I think the console unit was a 101-P, or something that looks mightily like it, (other pic attached). It was cube-shaped and had the scroll decor framing the front grill like the 101-P. I am fuzzy on size since I was small myself. I'd love to find mine a matching amp to refurbish and make a stereo pair with. I am seeking help from the forum:
  • What is the model of my amp, (for Googling purposes)?
  • Does anyone have one to sell?
  • Where would I best look for one to buy?
  • General tips for refurbishment
Thanks in advance!
 

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Fisher Custom Electra II Console

Here is my Fisher Custom Electra II console. The chassis is the K-100 made in 1958. There are 3 speakers - one facing down. The turntable is a Garrard 88/4. In this chassis the output tubes are a pair of EL37's! Very expensive if you blow one of these.

I recently repaired a Custom Electra (model 1?) for someone and it had a K-14chassis. That chassis used 4 6V6's as the output tubes.

The K-100 chassis used a number of European tubes as compaired to the K-14 which had no European tubes. The K-14 and K-15 chassis seem to be the same.

I've worked on the chassis and it sounds excellent. The turntable isn't working - not something I'm looking forward to working on.

Here are some pictures.
 
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Fisher Custom Electra II Console

Here are 2 more pictures. I have to fix the insulation.
 
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yspm said:
I have a "The Fisher" 85w mono amp that I salvaged from a console unit, lo these many years ago, (pic attached). I think the console unit was a 101-P, or something that looks mightily like it, (other pic attached). It was cube-shaped and had the scroll decor framing the front grill like the 101-P. I am fuzzy on size since I was small myself. I'd love to find mine a matching amp to refurbish and make a stereo pair with. I am seeking help from the forum:

What is the model of my amp, (for Googling purposes)?
Click to expand...

Does it say chassis number 51 on the ID plate? I can't quite make it out. If so, it came from a Series 51 consolette - which was from 1958. The Series 101 (from 1957) had the 101 chassis. See my website for details:

http://members.cox.net/fisherconsoles/

61Jan58.jpg
 
jonboy55 said:
Here is my Fisher Custom Electra II console. The chassis is the K-100 made in 1958.
Click to expand...
Beautiful console - I believe that is what the 1958 catalog identified as the Normandy (see below). What I think Fisher meant was that it was a Custom Electra II in the Normandy cabinet.

Thank you for the chassis information - you filled in a gap in my database. I did not know that the K-100 was the chassis for the 1958 Custom Electra II. The Custom Electras from 1955 to 1958 are a confusing mess of models. They seem to have been a good seller for Fisher and were offered in a seemingly never-ending array of models and cabinets, all for only $595 throughout that span of years.

The Custom Electra debuted in 1955 with the K-14 chassis and continued through 1956 pretty much unchanged. In 1957 Fisher introduced the Custom Electra II with the K-100 chassis but still offered regular Custom Electras with K-14 and also K-15 chassis - all for $595. In 1958 your Custom Electra II in the Normandy cabinet was the only Custom Electra model offered as far as I can tell. There may also have been a 1959 Custom Electra II (Normandy II) with an R-30-S chassis, (price unknown) but it is not mentioned in either the catalog or price list and is therefore a bit of a mystery.

NormandyCatalog.jpg
 
Fisher Custom Electra II Console

I'm glad that I could help fill in your data base.

About 4 months ago I was given the console by a friend who had it in storage. I was originally purchased by her uncle.

Now for a strange coincidence. We picked it up from storage just before I had a yard sale at my house. It was still in my driveway before moving it into my house. An elderly gentlemen (87 years old) came by the yard sale, saw the console and said he had a similar radio that he needed repaired. I went to his home a few days later and he was the person who had the Fisher Custom Electra I with the K14 chassis. Unbelieveable coincidence! He had purchased his unit new. It was in the middle of his living room. His unit had one speaker and he had replaced the turntable. His radio needed a new power resistor, some caps, and a couple of tubes. It had been a year since he last used it and was thrilled to have it working again.

Let me know if you need any additional photos or information.

By the way, I'm listening to the radio right now. There is radio show on WFUV-FM in New York (www.wfuv.org). They have a radio show on right now that is playing only vinyl records! I like hearing some pops, crackle, and skips on the radio. You can listen to the broadcast live on the web site.
 
I too have a #51 amp. I pulled it from my parents phonograph that looks like the one above, but without the fancy woodwork around the speaker grill. I would have taken the whole thing, but it has been a TV stand for the past 25 years and still is. John
 
TheRed1 said:
It was extremely well taken care of (including servicing) by the Zwicke family - note the brass plaque above the receiver in the above pictures. I have paperwork from a trip to the shop in 1983 but I suspect it went back sometime in the early 90's as well - there is a very new sticker on the back from a local electronics repair shop. In addition the son was an electrical engineer and apparently did some work himself as well - I have some of his notes on troubleshooting. I just got real lucky - thank you Craigslist!
Click to expand...


"Holy Wa!" That is one nice console! :tresbon:

Rod
 

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my console

fantastic info....
mine is a 1961 custom electra IV model # E44 P
provincial/ fruitwood $545 new
36 watts
chassis are
440 T
440 A
exterior very good
sound is ok
some tubes probably need replaceing.

can someone share schmatics for its chassis ??
thanks
paul
dunedin, fl 34698
 
Any good sources? Or are C-list and FleaBay the best bet?

I'm also kicking around putting a media center pc in it with a touch screen mounted to the underside of the lid....

Main thing right now is do I want to stay vintage with it or not?
 
fastEddie said:
Hi guys, newbie here.

I just picked up (free) what I believe is a '64 Custom Electra VII in a Italian Provincial/Distressed Walnut cabinet. Unfortunately it has been gutted of basically everything except 4 of the 6 speakers - thankfully it was free!

So what to do with it??? Ideas, opinions?
Click to expand...

The easiest* thing would be to put an old tube tuner and amp - preferably a The Fisher - back in; replace the missing speakers; maybe fit a more modern turntable and/or CD player - and you'd have yourself a very elegant Radio-Phonograph suitable for placement in a living room or den.

The opening under the lid, to the left is were the receiver/control panel once was. I'm fairly certain that that was a standardized size going back to at least 1960 in Custom Electras and perhaps other models, as well. (Perhaps some of the other Custom Electra owners out there could help confirm that for us?) Here is a list of tuners that you might be on the lookout for that would almost certainly fit (and the associated amps and years):

310 (SA-16) 1960
510 (30-A) 1960
610-ST (30-A) 1960
440-T (440-A) 1961
460-T (460-A) 1962
490-T (490-A) 1963
590-T (481-A) 1964

*other words/phrases that would work here: hardest, most expensive, most rewarding, most frustrating, most appropriate, anachronistic, requiring-the-least-amount-of-carpentry, most likely to cause friction with the wife/girlfriend, most time consuming, most dangerous and possibly addictive...

EDIT: Called my Sister-in-law and her 1960 Custom Electra III's faceplate measures 9-5/8 x 15-5/8".
 
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