TOTL Newcomb TRS-1680 and ext speakers $20

[macgolf]

I was too late for this one. I probably should have investigated after it was in my possession. Didn't need it but thought it might be good for some 78's that my MIL brought with her when she moved in. It tracks at over 6 grams so wouldn't probably risk other records on it. PP 6BQ5 stereo amplifier with 2 optional speakers. According to the link below the unit retailed for $429 and each speaker retailed for $133. I think that would have bought a lot of console in 1966, but they aren't portable.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 6341027896

http://www.kjq.us.com/turntables/newcomb.html

Mark

[William]

I like Necomb products, maybe some day I will find one close by at the right price. Nice find, Mark.

Bill

[electra225]

That is a nice find, Mark. I still have my dad's old Newcomb he bought new in 1953 or '54. It was dropped at some point, so it needs a turntable. IT still works. It has two 12" speakers and P-P 6V6''s.

[macgolf]

A funny thing happened along the way to being 2nd to commit to purchasing this set up. A few weeks ago I received a message asking if I was still interested. Made the 90 minute round trip the next day. The original "buyer" kept putting off the seller. 6 weeks is more patience than I would have for a buyer, even knowing they're coming from out of town.

This one got it's start in a high school music department. The sellers father was head of the department for over 30 years and he thinks they were given to him when he retired. I enjoy the history behind my finds as much as I enjoy the units.

I think this was Newcomb's only stereo tubed unit. PP EL84 with a trio of 12AX7's and a pair of 6AN8 driver tubes. This is my first for the 6AN8's and the 5U4GB rectifier. The Foster transformers date to mid 66 and the power tubes late 66 and very early 67. The Oxford drivers date to mid 67. I don't know how long Newcomb was making tube units. This one has a 6 digit S/N beginning with 4 and a Reverb sale from a few years ago had a 6 digit S/N beginning with 8. I thought they would have been well into making their transistor units by then. Perhaps they were making both simultaneously.

I donned some gloves and mask and got rid of the crumbling black foam and closed the speakers up for a while. I had just finished up a flooring job and was done with pulling staples so they stayed. Found some foam sheets in my shipping stash and my power stapler. Forgot to take pics of the finished product. I will eventually find more foam and do the sides but this little bit has helped with the speaker resonance.

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Mark

[macgolf]

The speakers are KN-200 a 12" Oxford and horn set up with a crossover. I don't believe I'll be recapping these. A couple of members have Newcombs but this is my 1st experience with their 2 prong plug. The 8/16 ohm switches needed a lot of cleaning initially. The front panel has plugins for 4 speakers but I guess you could instead add 1 speaker to each speaker to spread them out farther.

There is also a 8/16 ohm switch for each channel on the amplifier chassis. My Fisher integrated has 16 ohm secondaries but haven't seen a switch like this before. 2 more switches that required extensive cleaning.

Newcomb added a small schematic diagram to the inside of their units. I think I captured a crisp enough photo when it's time to recap this unit.

The record player part will probably wait for this winter. The motor turns but it has some major rubber grommet rot going on. Hopefully it's not more serious than that. It looks like an astatic 13T cartridge and I think there is a better replacement
(p-266?) but I'll look into that when the time comes.

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Mark

[William]

That is a very impressive unit, Mark, great score. I am interested in following your restoration and hearing your comments on how it sounds once done. Those power point style cartridges are getting hard to find, I know Gary does not have any 13T's left. All the best, Mark.

Bill

[macgolf]

Thanks Bill. The schematic shows an Astatic Model 17 but this looks like a 13. Not surprised to find them in short supply. The link in the original post shows they replaced a 13T with a P-226. Not sure how complicated that will be. These carts are a new adventure for me.

Mark

[William]

That should be a pretty easy change, Mark. If I remember correctly both have 1/2 inch mounting so swapping out should be pretty straightforward and the P-226 will sound nice. Please keep us posted going forward.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

That looks heavy for a portable..

[electra225]

Thanks for sharing that, Mark. I was not aware that Newcomb built stereo equipment.

[TC Chris]

That looks heavy for a portable..

Remember that these were commercial-grade units, intended for schools and such. They were intended to be moved around, but not like a child's home portable. They had to have the oomph to fill large spaces and the durability to function whenever needed.

Chris Campbell

[William]

I remember the ones we had at school. They were mono units and were always kept on a cart so they could be easily moved from room to room without picking them up.

Bill