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The Fisher Allegro A-190

mpholland

mpholland

R.I.P. Michael Sheppard
Don't know why I bought this...guess I couldn't pass it up for 10 bucks. Works, get sound out of both speakers, but think there is an issue in the balance knob. Wife just kind of shook her head when I put it in the back seat of the car. Don't know anything about it or where i'm gonna put it (electronics room is pretty packed already) but something about an old Fisher tube unit just said "buy me". It is an X-190 integrated, looks identical to an X-19 to me. FM-190 tuner and Garrard model 50 tuner. Haven't taken the covers off the speakers yet to peek at them. Sometimes I think I should just stay home.
 

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Well I know something about the tuner, had one but it was too far gone to restore. Built-in mpx. I think the amp uses ELL80's. For $10, you got a great deal, probably $75 in tubes alone.

This is the kind of thing I look for at the thrift stores, nothing yet. :)
 
Yes, has the original German Telefunken ELL80's in it. Really would like to look it over more, but I am pretty busy through the end of the year.
 
For stealing it or not really wanting it? If you could only see how full of electronics my place is you would understand. The worst part is I slowed waaaay down on buying stuff about a year ago. I have passed better stuff up. Thought my Cornwalls would keep me happy for a while. Guess I needed a fix.
 
I think its a beautiful piece. Maybe you should just kind of shake your head next time your wife brings home a new pair of shoes. (Sorry to stereotype, but I've yet to meet the woman who didn't obsess over shoes the way some of us obsess over vintage tube gear.)
 
I guess I figured if I was going to ever have a Fisher it would be a 400 or 500 model. Never thought I would buy an obscure little set that I am not familiar with. I know nothing about it or the ELL80 tubes that it has and I won't really know how it sounds until I do some cap and pot work which I really don't have time for. If you will notice, the pic shows it taking up most of my workbench because I have nowhere else to put it. On the lighter side, my wife has a pair of sneakers, a pair of heels, a pair of flats, and a pair of slippers. She is pretty low maintenance.
 
That looks real similar, but it doesn't have a tuner. Think that one had an X-19 instead of the X-190 (which I still can't see the difference in...hint, hint). Not sure about these ELL80 tubes either. Are they basically a twin EL34? Add was kind of misleading too. Said that unit had EL84's and I am sure they were the same ELL80's I have. Either way, not really in this for the money, just trying to keep stuff in use and out of the landfills. Have sold stuff in the past, but mainly as a way to make room and upgrade.
 
From what I understand, each ELL80 is like two tubes in one, that it runs push-pull in parallel with just one tube. Saves space, cost. Don't see them too much outside of Fisher units.
 
ELL80 is the equivalent of two EL95s - US number 6DL5 - neither number is a common tube in these parts. It's the size of an EL84, easy to confuse them - especially since the markings rub off easily. I've seen an an adapter (made by Grundig) that had two 7-pin sockets for EL95s to replace an ELL80. I suppose if I were desperate, I'd make an adapter using 6AQ5s - but I think I still have a couple of used ELL80s.
 
What year do you suppose this is? I can't find the ELL80 or 6HU8 in my 1965 RCA receiver tube book.
 
Yeh, 6HU8s are getting pricy. I had a Fisher Console that used them in conjunction with transistors. The good news is, they seem to be one of those tubes that last forever. That is a very cool Hi-Fi you found there.:thmbsp:
 
mpholland said:
What year do you suppose this is? I can't find the ELL80 or 6HU8 in my 1965 RCA receiver tube book.
Click to expand...
The Fisher Allegro was offered from 1964 through 1967 and perhaps beyond. 1967 introduced a transistorized model with a vertically oriented tuner/amp. Both the '64 and '65 Allegros (I and II respectively) had the Garrard Autoslim P record changers. 1966 (your Allegro - which has no roman numeral suffix) introduced the Garrard model 50 changer.

  • The '64 models were the A-19 (w/ FM-Multiplex - $349.95) and the A-9 (Phonograph only - $249.95).
    ***I believe the chassis were labeled FM-19 for the A-19 and A-19 for the A-9.

  • The '65 models were the A-190 (w/ FM-Multiplex - $349.95) and the A-90 (Phonograph only - -$249.95).
    ***I believe the chassis were labeled FM-190 for the A-190 and X-190 for the A-90.

  • The '66 price list only lists one Allegro model, the A-190 which appears to be a carry-over from '65 but with the newer Garrard model 50 record changer. The price was probably $349.95 but I don't know that for sure.
    ***As your chassis is labeled X-190 I guess that's the chassis number for the '66. I have no data for that model/year.

  • The '67 model was the A-192 for $389.50.
    ***Transistorized chassis 11-R.
I, personally, would love to run across a $10 Allegro.

Here's the catalog page for the '66 Allegro:
66AllegroIIICatalog.jpg
 
Nice deal!

...and nice unit! I paid ten times that for mine, and was happy to get it. 6HU8 tubes are available at the various on line sites. I'm getting ready to restore mine in the next several months...

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BTW, thanks Red for the extra info on the unit. Hopefully I can now place a date on mine. Looks like mine is also missing the Fisher emblem....:tears:

Looks like yours has all the brass knob caps. If anyone needs any, I've found a source....:yes:

mpholland, can I ask you a favor? Can you take a picture of the magnetic door/speaker holder in it's normal position? Mine seems to be slightly funky, and doesn't work quite right. I'd like to see how yours looks....:thmbsp:



Cheers!
Allan
 
Here are pics of the magnets...hope they help.
 

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