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Unusual Fisher Console in N. Hollywood, CA

TheRed1

TheRed1

Console Conservationist
The price seems a little high to me unless it was previously owned by somebody interesting and can be documented as such. On its own, though, I think this is a very interesting Fisher console. It appears to be in good condition and it looks like it has the premium walnut veneer. At first glance it would appear to be an ordinary 1959 Contemporary II with the semi-stereo R-30S chassis. The rectangular EM84 "micro-ray" tuning indicator is the giveaway. But notice the speaker cut-outs in the side panels. This appears to be one of the "Liberty" Fishers - see ad below - which was modified to be an all-in-one stereo console. I've never seen one come up before. The question is: how did they (presumably Fisher) do it? Is there an on-board 30-A mono amp to provide the second channel? And what speakers did they add to the normal 15/8/4" Jensens?

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/atq/2276142022.html

59-Liberty-Fisher-Craigslis.jpg


59-Liberty-Fisher.jpg
 
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From that description, it sounds like they stuck the 15" to the side in some sort of summed mono configuration, with a pair of 8" mids and cone tweeters on the front baffle. Or the bass was only run on one channel, like the Philco console hiding in my garage. Odd, to say the least.
 
My assumption was that they used a stock front panel with the 15/8/4" 3-way (you can just make out the dark area in the grill cloth over the 15" cut out) adding two speakers firing out the cut-outs in each side for a very primitive stereo effect. The two circles on the smallest illustration in the ad seem to indicate there were speaker cut-outs on either side.

I just wonder what amp was used to power the "B" channel speaker - it is advertised as stereo. If they really did use a 30-A where did they cut corners to arrive at such a competitive price? Perhaps they sold these by the truckload at a very slight margin. It's just odd that I've never seen one before.

EDIT: The advertised "70 watts instantaneous (peak) output" is consistent with Fisher's advertising for the Contemporary II when used in conjunction with the "Stereo Companion". The Contemporary II's "peak" wattage without the "Stereo Companion" - and its 30-A - is only 35 watts.
 
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TheRed1 said:
My assumption was that they used a stock front panel with the 15/8/4" 3-way (you can just make out the dark area in the grill cloth over the 15" cut out) adding two speakers firing out the cut-outs in each side for a very primitive stereo effect. The two circles on the smallest illustration in the ad seem to indicate there were speaker cut-outs on either side.

I just wonder what amp was used to power the "B" channel speaker - it is advertised as stereo. If they really did use a 30-A where did they cut corners to arrive at such a competitive price? Perhaps they sold these by the truckload at a very slight margin. It's just odd that I've never seen one before.

EDIT: The advertised "70 watts instantaneous (peak) output" is consistent with Fisher's advertising for the Contemporary II when used in conjunction with the "Stereo Companion". The Contemporary II's "peak" wattage without the "Stereo Companion" - and its 30-A - is only 35 watts.
Click to expand...

To get any sort of decent stereo sound, the tweeters (and probably the mids) would need to be firing out of the front. The cutout on the side looks to be about the right size for a 15" woofer, so I assumed it was moved over there. Another option would be to move the woofer to the center, put the tweeters on either side and above it, and the mids on the sides. It might even be possible to squeeze all five onto one baffle and use the side cutouts as vents for the 30A, but it would be tight. I'd like to see the inside of that lower cabinet.

Edit - if you look at the picture carefully, it appears that the outline of the 15" woofer is in the middle of the front baffle.
 
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