Classic Hifi Care

Wife and I have been watching the HD Leave it to Beaver episodes on Prime Video lately. The video transfers are amazingly crisp with great contrast, you can even see film grain! Hate that laughtrack, though.

Season 4 episode 6 "Beaver's Big Contest" shows Beaver's Mom listening to a record (and mishandling it) on a console, at about 03:40. I had previously noticed that the kitchen appliances are GE, maybe same for the console?

The chrome trim on the tone arm looks rather like the trim on the VM "Custom" changer and tone arm used in some higher-end GE stereos and consoles. What is the thing in the left rear corner with the two raised "arms"? It doesn't appear that it is on the changer, however. It might be a GE stereo, it's as good of a guess as any....

That thing is the 45 adaptor holder and the 45 adaptor has slipped down. I recognize that cabinet style from one I saw in person a few years ago, it is GE.

Bill

Yeah, I see that is the 45 adapter now, Bill. Senior moment, I reckon.......

I like the lid on it

Here's another one, this one is at Lumpy's house after a party. I think it's probably a GE. Has a bottom shelf? Lots of junk piled on it, too! Wally and Lumpy are discussing an appearance by Lumpy's Dad, we always have subtitles turned on, nowadays!

Season 5, Episode 24, 1962

It sure looks GE to me and looking at the tone arm, kind of the wide GE looking arm, really helps confirm it.

Bill

I'd say you're more than likely right Bill. Probably a Vacu-Magic changer.

On the Dick Van Dyke show I saw two large Magnavox radios and what appeared to be a top of the line Stereo Theatre in Alan Brady's office.

The stereo at Lumpy's looks identical to the stereo at the Cleavers' place. Both GE models. Vacu-Magic Voice of Music changer. How did GE isolate the rumble by the vacuum pump from the stereo pickup?

From photos I have see of the "Vacuum" system the motor was in a insulated box in the bottom of the cabinet with a rubber hose that plugged into a port in the bottom of the changer.

Bill

That system must really suck...

Couldn’t be anything but a GE!

General Electric was a network sponsor of Leave it to Beaver.

The table top AA5 is what is usually discussed. It was seen on the shelf in the kitchen, then was seen in the boys’ room in later episodes.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125757633@N05/45168035005