From some 1957 issues of “Radio and TV News,” an electronic-serviceman’s publication, comes this collection of American Hif-Fi home audio kit of the era. Notice the fact that… it’s all mono. Commercial recordings released on stereo magnetic tapes were available as early as 1954, but it was the release of the first -ever stereo LP record in November 1957 forever turned the tide towards two-channel ‘Stereo’ recordings as the norm for recorded musical performances/productions.
Heathkit! I have one of these A7s and damn it is a good-sounding little amp. Anyone have a spare they wanna sell me (for stereo…. naturally…)?
I tend to think of Newcomb as more of an industrial-sound/PA sound company, but it looks like they made some home units too. I have one of those huge glass-covered KX25 PA heads as shown here; it’s always been a little flakey but I can’t bring myself to part with it cos it came from a Catholic church and the knobs are labeled “Pulpit,” “Choir,” and “Sacrament Table.” Take that, Kick/Ld Vox/ Bckng Vox.
Dude went to prison in 1974 for lying about the value of a music-collection that he donated to a university. Tried to get Mancini and Bernstein to back him up and they would not. Life is long….
Electro-voice home hi-fi drivers c. 1957
Eico home hi-fi amps and pre-amps circa 1957. Eico was essentially the ‘other’ Heath(kit). Eicos could be purchased either wired or as kits. Here’s a two-page article on their flagship HF60, a beautiful amp with EL34 output tubes and an ultralinear Acrosound output transformer.
One reply on “1957: A Few Bits From The End Of The Mono Age”
This is an incredible site and I am so thankful that I came across it. Lots of great ads and information from the past. I own Dynaco, Eico, Heathkit, and restore vintage guitar and hi-fi equipment. Been doing this for over 45 years. I work as a senior engineering technician during the day. Thank you for the site and for all of the good work that you do. Bill