Collaro RC49. Help and value.

[Carefulman]

Hello all.
Today I was given an early 1950's record deck in a fabulous solid oak box to match. I dont believe it has had any or very minimal use. I am unable to find the model stated on the deck itself or the service manual that came with it anywhere on the internet apart from a service manual pdf. They are both marked "Collora rc 49". There is a letter enclosed from Collora to the purchaser which explains the service manual being present dated April 1953. In the middle of the deck is a paper disk with three bands of narrow lines like a bar code and on the reverse it explains it is for "stroboscopic calibration". There is no speaker but a lead with an early jack plug which I assume is the output. The power cable is original corded two core.
Can anyone help with more info and possibly a rough value please?

[Carefulman]

Sorry all you specialists out there my original post should have said "Collaro" not "Collora". Anyone any ideas please? I have contacted the Philips museum in Eindhoven and they can't shed any light on it. It must be rare or specialised or unusual.......PLEASE HELP!

[unitaudio]

This is a 78 r.p.m. only deck and that'll limit it's appeal if you're after selling it. It's fairly rare now but that isn't enough by itself to make it particularly valuable. Someone might be prepared to pay a bit over the odds for it if they have a unit which needs such a deck to complete a restoration but you can't really bank on that. As for a specific value, it'd be hard to say. I appreciate this probably isn't what you want to hear and I'm sorry about that but it's better than telling you it's worth a mint and then letting you find out the hard way.

Regards,
Paul

[peter_sol]

1949 or 1950 would be its date.
The 1953 letter is a red herring
Is the manual for the RC49?

[FIXITNOW]

I have a similar one I picked up locally for £5 it's made to plug into the back of an old radio, so has no speaker or amplifier.

[Carefulman]

Thanks unitaudio for the info.

The only inaccuracy is that it does all three speeds and has some unusual quIrks like no retaining arm to sit on the record pile, a strange stepped spindle and side mechanisms that somehow relate to record changing.

Thanks peter sol. Yes the manual is FOR an RC49.

Thanks FIXITNOW. That explains the jack lead.

Any more info would be great!

[Station X]

Some pictures of the unit would help. I assume it has no control knobs or speakers, so hence is just a deck and not a record player?

[Edward Huggins]

The 3 stripe prints are a strobscope. What does Carefulman plan to do with this? If this is to be used via a seperate amplifier system bear in mind we have no pictures and so don't know what kind of cartridge is fitted, but it probably can't play stereo pressings. Its value is limited and would be hard to sell. Edward

[peter_sol]

It will not be an RC49 if it has 3 speeds.
As stated a picture would help.
It sounds more like a Garrard deck.

['LIVEWIRE?']

Could it be a Collaro Conquest? Record sizing on this deck is achieved by the PU arm gently striking the edge of a disc. As stated. Picture(s) would help.

[peter_sol]

Conquest has 4 speeds.

[Carefulman]

Here is a selection of pics. I mistakenly stated it was three speed but I now realise it is only single speed. I hope this helps?

[qualityten]

Because your deck is in such good condition, and in a fine oak plinth, I think it has more display value than functional value. It might be marketable to companies that dress sets for period plays and films. Such users would probably not expect it to be in playing condition either.

[Carefulman]

Thankyou for that valuable information. I do not want to sell it really but just wondered more what it was, whether it was a rare piece and had some sort of value.