|
Success Stories If you have successfully repaired or restored a piece of equipment, why not write up what you did and post details here. Particularly if it was interesting, unusual or challenging. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
|
Thread Tools |
20th Aug 2018, 9:29 pm | #1 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
The range of HMV 'Stereomaster' transistorised consolette record players of the late 60s/early 70s is fairly well known- and fairly large too: There seem to be a huge number of variations on a theme. The common factors are a 4-speaker system with the tweeters facing forward and the mid/bass speakers firing sideways.
Despite being a BRC product, I've never seen these players badged as anything but HMV, so was intrigued to see a Ferguson version pop up on ebay. It looked a bit grubby, but a low £15 bid bagged it. I had to drive to a farm in the middle of nowhere to collect it. It was festering in an impressively damp barn with other forlorn house clearance detritus. Manhandling it into the car wasn't easy as a previous owner had boxed in the legs with chipboard (presumably to provide record storage) and mounted it on a wheeled base, all of which just about trebled the weight. Driving home I quickly became aware that the Ferguson absolutely stank! I knew that it was grubby, but didn't appreciate that it was well steeped in stale nicotine, which combined with the damp atmosphere provided a rich bouquet with strong overtones of cat pee. So it was windows down all the way home.... Once wrestled from the car, I anticipated that freeing the Ferguson of it's ill-conceived home-brew chipboard cladding would be the work of minutes. Wrong! The rusty woodscrews were absolutely not for budging, so an unseemly battle raged, involving all manner of instruments from the back catalogue of Messrs Black & Decker, concluding with persuasive force of a lump hammer. Finally I found myself stood amidst a satisfying pile of splintered wood and ruptured castors, with the Fergy finally freed from it's chipboard prison and looking as BRC had intended. So vile was the state of the cabinet that there was nothing for it but to sand it lightly back, being careful not to go through the veneer. A large plant pot ring stain was deeply ingrained, but it was possible to reduce it's appearance considerably. The cabinet was then treated to several coats of Danish oil, which provided a lovely rich colour with a classy sheen. The legs still bear screw holes (a legacy of the cabinet cladding) so will need filling. I'm toying with the idea of spraying them and the plinth they attach to with a black semi-matt finish. The knobs with their perspex skirts came up beautifully in soapy water, as did the filthy control panel and the black vinyl interior of the record deck compartment and black inserts on the cabinet front. Even the original MK mains plug was given a bath and re-instated. All these players feature a 6-knob amp configuration, with on/off, volume, bass, treble, stereo/mono and finally a gram/tape/radio selector for connection of an external source through a DIN plug (stereo tape) or 3.5mm jack (mono radio). Having recently serviced an HMV 2400 with this layout, I was surprised to find the Ferguson was quite different internally, with a simplified power supply and different amp pcb. The Ferguson is an early design, certainly pre 1970, with the red/black/green mains lead colouring. I reckon 1967/8 would be about right. The model number is 3018, incidentally. The amp featured a mouldering selection of electrolytics and some change-on-sight black Callins, so this was fully re-capped before any power was applied. Happily it worked perfectly from the initial post re-cap application of mains. The record deck is the expected BSR of the period and needed no more than the usual free-ing up and re-greasing (plus thorough soapy water treatment for the cosmetics) to restore it to health. The finishing line was well in sight now, but casual investigation of the speaker enclosures revealed that one of the main drivers had a rubbing cone. Following advice on the forum, I was able to attempt to blow/vac out any magnetized debris particles from the coil below the dust cap. This stopped the rubbing, but not completely, so I am on the lookout for an 8x5 15 ohm speaker if anyone has one knocking around. That niggle aside, I'm very pleased with the Ferguson. It's transformation from a festering box with B.O. to a fragrant addition to the room has been very satisfying and I really like the styling, perhaps more so than the HMV stablemates. It performs very well too, with more than enough volume to rattle the wndows without breaking sweat. I'm sure it's all of about 3w per channel- thus proving that it's not what you've got it's how you use it. Some before, during and after pics to follow.... Steve Last edited by Colourstar; 20th Aug 2018 at 9:47 pm. |
20th Aug 2018, 9:34 pm | #2 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Work in progress....
|
20th Aug 2018, 9:35 pm | #3 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
The cabinet after re-finishing...
|
20th Aug 2018, 9:37 pm | #4 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Together and looking and sound good, bar that pesky speaker....
|
21st Aug 2018, 9:38 am | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 9,433
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Hopefully a suitable speaker will turn up, it looks good. Lots of similar equipment made in the late 60’s early 70’s that provided much enjoyment for their owners. It’s a good size for the room as well, fits in very well.
__________________
Frank |
21st Aug 2018, 9:52 am | #6 |
Octode
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ventnor, Isle of Wight, & Great Dunmow, Essex, UK.
Posts: 1,377
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
A very credible result, Steve! Looks fantastic. All that cleaning would have pushed me over the edge though..
I've had good success in the past with grating or distorted speakers by carefully wedging pieces of foam between the metal frame and the back of the cone. It takes some experimenting to get it in just the right place. My Hacker radio has worked for years with a chunk of washing up sponge poked in the speaker. It sounded horrible when I first got it. Give it a go- it might just work for you. All the best Nick |
21st Aug 2018, 10:06 am | #7 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Coningsby, Lincolnshire, UK.
Posts: 2,820
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
That came up nice! I’ll admit I never give these things a second glance as I walk by them in antique centres, and when offered on the forum. Mostly because I don’t want anything else big!
I have a Bush SRP31D with a similar deck in it, very good deck, nice stable speed and works well. Regards Lloyd |
21st Aug 2018, 10:15 am | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex.
Posts: 5,817
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Great write up and photos for context Steve. Reading this sort of thing is like getting your favourite Radio Mag delivered
Dave |
21st Aug 2018, 7:19 pm | #9 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Thank you all for the kind words.
I suppose it's just a case of something grabbing your interest sufficiently for you to see beyond the grime. Personally speaking, I find the cleaning is the most rewarding part! I'll have a further play with the errant speaker. It's really only noticeable on speech at low volumes, but irritating nonetheless. Looking at the dirt on the controls as originally found, I dread to think what the rest of the house it came from was like.... Steve |
21st Aug 2018, 9:14 pm | #10 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 3,051
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
To be fair, there's a sort of mould which tends to grow on slightly-damp items which looks much like dirt.
Nice restoration, anyway! |
22nd Aug 2018, 4:47 pm | #11 | |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, USA.
Posts: 823
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Quote:
Made a silk purse from a sow's ear! Dave, Midwest USA. |
|
22nd Aug 2018, 11:44 pm | #12 |
Heptode
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Newport, Gwent, UK.
Posts: 962
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Hi Steve, its looking and no doubt smelling a lot better than it did when you first found it. ive recently bought a Bush SRG129 which has scruffy legs and marks mainly on the bottom of the cabinet but its nowhere near as bad as your gram was. I would probably have given up with that one and broken it up so again good work.. Cheers Neil.
|
23rd Aug 2018, 7:08 am | #13 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Hi Dave, it was a bit of a sow's ear, but luckily it wasn't a swine to work on
Hi Neil, Good luck with your Bush SRG129. That should be a nice unit when done. Keep us posted with progress! Steve |
23rd Aug 2018, 9:29 am | #14 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area.
Posts: 2,967
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
You have done an amazing job bringing this back from what it was. Good luck finding a suitable speaker replacement,
__________________
Simon BVWS member |
28th Aug 2018, 11:55 pm | #15 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Madrid, Spain / Wirral, UK
Posts: 7,498
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
So nice to see this era of kit appreciated. The UA15SS-3d is a great deck - nice size platter, auto record size detection, and a lightweight tubular arm. Well done!
__________________
Regards, Ben. Last edited by ben; 29th Aug 2018 at 12:01 am. |
29th Aug 2018, 5:16 pm | #16 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK.
Posts: 8,340
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
I have just seen 2 x NOS Goodmans 8" x 5" 15 ohm speakers for sale on eBay.
__________________
Edward. |
29th Aug 2018, 9:23 pm | #17 |
Octode
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Ilkeston, Derbyshire, UK.
Posts: 1,398
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Hi Simon and Ben, thank you for the positive comments. I really like this era of equipment and some of the BRC record players, both portable and consolette, are really rather well made and sound decent too. I have since acquired a scruffy Ultra portable, circa 1969, which I'll be having a go at shortly.
Hello Edward. Duly noted! Steve |
31st Aug 2018, 5:23 pm | #18 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ashby-de-la-Zouch (it's not by the sea)
Posts: 1,255
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
That's come up a treat Steve. Very nice.
Andy
__________________
Now where on earth did I remove that from? |
3rd Sep 2018, 9:47 pm | #19 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 714
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Excellent work Steve.
|
17th Sep 2018, 4:02 pm | #20 | |
Diode
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Manchester, UK.
Posts: 3
|
Re: Ferguson 'Stereomaster' - 98% success!
Quote:
Sounded quite good, really. Wish I still had it. |
|