Phonola

[hermitcrab]

Got this freebee today from one of my co-workers... I guess this was his wife's back in the late 60's early 70's , it is a tube set, uses 50C5's for outputs so not that powerful... maybe 3 watts a channel?... anyways it has been in his garage for at least 20 years and he finally remembered to bring it in ... it is a Phonola , but the tags are all missing and I see nothing on the chassis ... anyone out there have a idea of a model number? My searching says this company started out making wind up phono's for sears, and I see they also had a 3 channel set ...this has AM/FM and a VM 1200 changer, looks like it can be mounted to a wall if need be.. but without a model a schematic might be tough to find ...any ideas?

[hermitcrab]

I dated the tubes , they are all GE and all various dates of 1964, so I have the year , but no model #

[electra225]

I'll bet if you look in the 1964 Beitmans, you'll come up with something close enough. You can also find out what folders are for 1964 models in Sams and do the same thing. Having the year of manufacture is a huge benefit. Good luck.

[William]

That's a nice looking Phonola and PT powered to boot. I have a 3 channel Phonola that I went thru several years ago. It sounds pretty good for what it is. The only tubes in the whole thing are the output tubes.



Bill

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

This one looks close.

It uses 50C5 outputs.

[William]

I find it interesting how much the Phonola that Elton got and the Phonola that Mr. Mogul posted the schematic of look like the GE Trimline series. Coincidence, or on purpose?

Bill

[hermitcrab]

After searching around I found a ad from 1964 with this set in it... it is called the "Venus" model 5002 , the brackets on the back that look like mounting on a wall are for a special metal stand that puts it about waist height ... the stand was a option , that I might reproduce out of wood , if I get this thing going ....as far as looking like the GE trimline series , I have to agree ... and coming loaded with 8 GE tubes, make you wonder , it even has a 12 pin compactron tube 6M11 for the stereo section of the FM...it has a power transformer but only 5 tubes use the 6.3 for their filaments, the 50C5's and 12AX7 run directly off the ac line in series ... weird setup the sams is dated 8-65 so this might be considered a 65 year... thanks guys for your help in ID'ing this ...

[electra225]

I have a Silvertone TV set and the B&K TV Analyzer that have power transformers, but use string-filament tubes. On TV's I think they did that to isolate the line from the chassis. Perhaps they did that on a stereo to eliminate hum? The TV Analyzer was made like that to isolate the line and to not blow up your other test equipment or the TV under test.

GE Trimline stereos were not as well-built as the Phonola. They had PCB chassis with the tubes hanging upside down, aluminum cabinets. They did sound good for what they were, though. They were sold cheaper than most other stereos, strictly entry level stuff. Only the top-line model had a radio in a GE Trimline.

[William]

That's cool you found the ad, Elton. If anyone can build the stand for it, it's you. I hope you have fun with the rebuild and stand.

Bill