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Old Motorola tube console

scout5039

scout5039

Bass Player
I was recently at a yard sale, and stumbled across these two large wooden speaker boxes. Upon questioning the owner, it turned out that one was indeed a large speaker box. The other was a Motorola tube console. They wanted $50 for both. I ended up giving them $10 and a weight bench that I was trying to get rid of.

After I got it home I had to use a dolly to get it in the house becuase of how heavy it was. Both have matching, funky tweed type stuff covering the front. It turned out to have a heathkit tube radio inside it, as well as 2 Jenson 6`s, 4 Jenson 8`s, 1 Jenson 15, and 1 Motorola 15 for speakers(in two seperate cabs). The turntable`s needle was shot, so I hooked up my turntable to the AUX in. This beast is rated at 190 watts, but I haven`t turned it up all the way. Man, that thing sounds good. I was considering getting rid of my other stereo in favor of this one.

It was a little dusty inside, not suprising since it didn`t have a back. I have it apart to clean it right now, but I had an idea. Since I have limited floor space, I want to build someting like a box for the preamp and power amp, then chop the box that used to have them down to just above the speaker, put that box on top of the other cab, then the amp on top of it. This would also break it down into parts that I can carry. I don`t intend to use the old turntable as I already have one(that works), and I don`t need the Heathkit radio. Pics are here. Just out of curiousity, what is the heathkit worth, if anything? Any comments or potential problems with what I want to do?

Thanks,
Jake
 
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That is a nice unit you got there.
There are stickies at the top of the tube forum about care of old tube stuff with lots of info like this one http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=778 and this one http://www.antiqueradio.org/recap.htm

I would read them and recap the amp before you play it too much.
If you need help doing it just post up here and we will help you through it.
And remember these units can have 600 volts or more inside them so take your time and be safe.
 
I`m not too worried about it as it was in use up till a few weeks before I bought it. The turntable hadn`t worked for years, they just used the radio part.
 
Nice find, Jake! Welcome to AK!

Endspec's right, though - you'll want to replace some of the older parts in the amp and tuner to make them safe again. Old capacitors can present a very real fire hazard, whether they've been used a lot or not. They're probably 50 years old at this point, and may have been spec'ed to last 20. No telling when they'll give up the ghost, and when they do they'll cause damage to the amp (at a minimum) or burn down your house (at worst). :sigh:

Your console amplifier looks like it is probably a push pull 6BQ5 stereo amplifier, which will put out somewhere in the neighborhood of 12-20 watts per channel, typically. The 190W listed on the back is the power consumption of the unit when it is plugged in.

Ask more questions, take your time, have fun!
 
Once I have the values for the caps, where would you recomend to get caps? Would radioshack stock the values that I need? I don`t have much other than them in the way of electronic parts store around where I live.
 
Oh, I also meant to acknowledge your superior bartering skills - anyone who can move weight benches as trade fodder has my respect!

Most people can't give those things away for free!
 
Thanks, lol. It took me 3 weeks to get rid of it, and the whole time it was unsecured in the back of the truck. I was hoping someone would steal it, but it turned out to be a good thing that they didn`t!
 
there should be a model number on the amp. i am just finishing a recap one a old moto console amp myself. i think mine is hs-711a but not exactly sure. i do know it looks like the one in your avitor, the output trannies and layout look the same... if so i would be more than happy to share the schematic..

p.s. the can capacitor is almost impossible to find... i used one with (2) 40mfd taps and a seperate 30mfd and 220mfd electrolytic mounted under chassis.. all my parts were had at tubedepot,com
 
The model # is SK14M. Any idea about how old this thing is? I am considering just using seperate caps, and leaving the can for looks. Also, I would be grateful for the schematic.

EDIT: the # for the whole console is SK14M. The power amp is # HS-696B. The Preamp is # HS-709A.
 
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I have tubes that are marked EL84/6BQ5. Are these tubes normally the same when they are only marked one or the other?

Jake
 
If it were me I would stop using it. Looking at the pictures you have posted the output tubes are redplating which is caused by bad coupling caps. If you continue to run it like this the tubes are doomed as well as possibly the output transformers. Depending on your skill level this is not a difficult fix.
 
I have quit using for awhile. I figure since its apart for me to clean everything, I`ll just wait till I can replace the caps to put it back together.
 
motorola tube blues

i have a system almost just like the one in your photos scout, i found it in a scrap pile at a recyclying ctr. i have the tuner/preamp/amp only. it works sort of. i know nothing at all about tube equipment but i do love the look and the way it sounds. i would like to find out the issues with it and possibly get it repaired. any advice for a novice?
 
scout,
attached are a couple pics of my sk16w... just got done with the recap (my first ever) and am digging it. of coarse i have it hooked through a pair of ev aristocrate 3's and it does sound wonderful.
please note most likely same amp as yours, be patient and you will be rewarded.
 
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Fixit, I only like to sound like I know things ;) I really only know a few things about home audio type stuff, the best advice I could give is to find a forum with helpful people to give you useful advice. But, you`ve already done that :D

Perchdog, that is clean looking. It is a little different than mine, but the power amp appears to be the same. 4 6BQ5`s, 2 12AX7`s, and a 5U4GB rectifier? The preamp looks similar as well, one 12AX7 per channel? Anyway, nice job!:thmbsp:

I will be modifying mine somewhat. I would like to do away with the tuner and built in turntable and mount the actual amp part where it can be seen. Do you guys think it would be worth it to try and sell the tuner and turntable?
 
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