Vinyl Devotion.

4 Feb

I feel weird posting a blog that does not revolve around foodage. What the what? When did this become a food blog?

Sometimes I do think about things other than food. This is one of those times.

I got this lovely piece of equipment at a yard sale back in 2002. I spent $25 dollars on it. Twenty-five. It’s a Morse/Electrophonic AM/FM radio, 8-Track player and record player. It came with about 18 8-track tapes as well. (Including an Elvis Christmas, Heart, Billy Joel, Carl Perkins, and the B-52’s, amongst others).

It lights up to the beat when you play music. Or talk radio. Or NPR.

Ever had an audio/visual experience while listening to Prairie Home Companion? It’s not that exciting. I should probably stick to putting the lights on only when there are strictly songs playing. I’ll work on that.

So what worked when I brought it home without testing it? Radio, yes. AM & FM, fancy. 8-Track player? Temperamental but reliable. Lights? Hells yes. Turntable? Nope. Dead on arrival.

I’ve randomly searched the internet throughout the past ten years to find a replacement. The only thing is, a replacement does not exist. Anywhere.

I eventually took my friends advice and brought the turntable to the repair shop down the street where “the guy can fix anything.” After having it in his possession for three weeks. I get a phone call. The magical repair man can’t fix it after all.

I take to searching Ebay again, and miraculously, after years of searching, there was the make/model turntable in working condition. Well, it was one model number off, but it appeared to have the same connections and doo-hickies needed. Thanks random Canadian person!

Now it is here. I’ve hooked it up. And can finally listen to my records again. The real reason I bought it, besides how awesome the piece is overall, was that I needed a record player. Now, a decade later, I have one.

The first song I played? “Nancy Drew” by Tuscadero. It was a single from 1994. It was one of the first 7″ records I bought. And I still love the song 18 years later.

26 Responses to “Vinyl Devotion.”

  1. mostlymonochrome February 4, 2012 at 17:20 #

    Nice piece of analogue technology.

  2. Bob Colby February 5, 2012 at 23:30 #

    Tuscadero! Liked them a lot.

  3. violetsandcardamom February 12, 2012 at 21:26 #

    Love this! I just got my first record player recently and adore it. Yours looks way cooler though! I wish mine had lights that flashed to the beat. 🙂

  4. Laura January 5, 2013 at 14:15 #

    I just purchased one for $25, how do i repair it. The record player doesn’t work either it has alot of static. If you can help me please e-mail me at laura.vesper.4@gmail.com..The A track is ontop with the record player in the middle, is that the way its supposed to be?

  5. LULU KNOLES February 27, 2013 at 02:18 #

    I BOUGHT ONE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND ALL I HAD TO DO WAS WIPE IT OFF. EVERY THING WORKS. CAME WITH MANUAL FOR THE TURNTABLE AND A SMALL PACKAGE OF COLORED REPLACEMENT BULBS. ALSO HAS 3 EXTRA 45 RPM ADAPTERS. IF ANYONE NEEDS ONE, I HAVE A COUPLE. FITS THE BSR TURNTABLE.I FOUND ANOTHER ONE A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO. IT WORKS BUT THE CABINET GOT WET AND IS IN BAD SHAPE. EVERYTHING WORKS ON IT TOO. IF ANYONE HAS ONE AND NEEDS SOME PARTS, JUST EMAIL ME ( stormygirl2011@live.com) WOULD BE HAPPY TO HELP SOMEONE OUT.

    • Michelle April 2, 2023 at 08:03 #

      I know this is an older post… are you still there? And do you still have colored lightbulbs as indicated in your post for Morse Electrophonic? We need a couple of these lights! . Thanks! Hoping to hear from you. Michelle / robandmitzi@tc3net.com

  6. LULU KNOWLES February 27, 2013 at 02:31 #

    I HAVE PARTS FOR THE MORSE ELECTROPHONIC WITH THE FLASHING DISCO LIGHTS IF SOMEONE NEEDS A PART. CABINET IS IN ROUGH SHAPE DUE TO LIVING ON THE COAST AND BEING STORED IN A SHED. I HAVE DUST COVER,BULBS ETC. JUST DROP ME A EMAIL stormygirl2011@live.com DON’T MIND HELPING SOMEONE OUT. PARTS ARE KINDA HARD TO FIND.

  7. n. davis December 26, 2014 at 19:56 #

    My mom had one like this. Are you willing to sell it?

  8. William Shelley February 15, 2015 at 13:43 #

    I have the exact one and still works good till this day. All original and never been repaired. Cherish it cause it was my dads. Been in the family since new.

  9. Angie March 20, 2015 at 23:15 #

    I wish I could find one of these. We had one (a larger version) when I was a kid and loved that thing. Just sitting around listening to music and watching the lights. I miss it.

  10. Sarah October 30, 2015 at 08:35 #

    Are you selling this stereo!

  11. Schuyler April 28, 2016 at 19:24 #

    I own one of the same. I am 36 and have had it since I was 5 years old. My old neibor gave it to me when he moved and it has followed me everywhere. I am listening to the 8 tracks with my 6 year old now. The turn table doesn’t work and some parts are loose. I love this thing and hopefully will get it working again.

  12. Larraine Williams June 25, 2016 at 00:30 #

    Hi I am Larraina and I
    Have one also. I know the needle is missing on the turn table and we listen to the 8 track tape so relaxing. I like ours also . I found ours dumpster diving and have had it now for about 8 years.

  13. bryan galbraith March 23, 2018 at 20:25 #

    I just picked one up today that works great , does anyone have any idea what I is worth

  14. Noel July 25, 2018 at 14:07 #

    I got one for Christmas as a kid. I’ve had it for 34 years now! it is identical to the one shown.

  15. Robyn January 18, 2019 at 17:51 #

    OMG ive been looking for thus for years. As a kid I’d listen to at the hop and watch the lights light up… Thanks for sharing I hope to find 1 on rvay

  16. Dori October 9, 2020 at 20:04 #

    My mom has one of these. I was just sitting here and decided to Google it and im happy I did. I’ve never seen another one and neither has my mom. I use to love watching the lights when I was little. I remember sticking a green crayon in the 8track player. My mom got me a Christmas album with John Denver and the Muppets and I couldn’t wait to listen to that every year.

    • Alex December 13, 2023 at 22:10 #

      Are you willing to sell?

  17. Sandra Dowdy July 18, 2021 at 22:56 #

    I have mine from 1981 when I received it as a birthday gift in the 6th grade! And I am in the same situation. My turntable does not work. I hope you are still enjoying yours!

  18. J Watts April 5, 2022 at 20:53 #

    Any one know what kind of stylus it takes?

  19. Joe May 4, 2022 at 23:16 #

    Super cool! Thanks for posting this. I just picked one up a few weeks ago and I am loving it! Super fun to watch the lights dance to the music Hoping to get everything up to speed in a few weeks, Need the 8 track player to work and speakers occasionally have some weird beeping noise. Thanks

  20. Brent September 24, 2022 at 17:19 #

    I just cleaned and refurbished my Mom’s old one best we could with today’s lack of parts. Still mostly works. One light is out and the turntable is dead. 8-Track is so-so depending on the tape. So glad the old girl is running again.

  21. Turlan Thomas April 7, 2023 at 10:25 #

    I have the same one from my Grandfather everything works and he had it before I was born in 1978. I have a bunch of A-tracks and a slew of albums. I put it on and remember the times when he was alive.

    • Alex December 13, 2023 at 22:12 #

      Are you willing to sell?

  22. Alex December 13, 2023 at 22:08 #

    Is anyone willing to sell it. Looking for my wife, she had one as a child and when she told me about it, I’ve been on the hunt for one. Please email me if you want to sell apiereschi@gmail.com

  23. AnnMarie Correa May 18, 2024 at 19:37 #

    I have thus stereo, I bought it for 50.00 when I was 17, I’m 56 now. I refuse to part with it. It’s a little banged up but still works. My only issue is I need a needle for the turntable and have no idea how to fix it. Does anyone have any suggestions?

    Email : Vze2nywi@msn.com

    Thanks, AnnMarie.

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