Murphy A854SG cabinet record player - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

kirstyd · 30th Apr 2016, 11:17 pm

I bought this for 5 pounds for the sole purpose of robbing it of its Sonotone cartridge and the Garrard deck. On getting it home I had a quick look at it. The cart was dangling by its wires because the screw that secures it had come out. [I found it in the bottom of the cabinet] Once it was refitted I tried playing a record, and was rewarded with what I can only describe as very good quality sound although the record got stuck half way through due to the usual dried up grease turning to glue. Inside there are two amp units that look very much like the ones fitted to the Bush SRP51 record player, and two 6 inch speakers and two 3 inch tweeters. I did find an old advert for this machine on line, its described as [not quite HI FI but not far off]. The amp has 7 watts per channel which I can well believe as the unit will play very loud with lots of bass and treble. There are also 5 pin DIN sockets for tape and radio input. Controls are bass on off combined treble volume a selector switch and a balance control. I have decided keep the unit and fix it up [its too good to cannibalise] anyone know what the decals should look like? some of them have worn away.

Radio Wrangler · 1st May 2016, 5:17 am

It's an interesting example from the end of the radiogram era when manufacturers were scratching their heads over what to make instead, before the market settled on hifi separates and 'music centres'. Not many will have been sold, and few will survive.

You won't get much stereo effect with speakers so close together, but it probably has a better sound than most other things it could donate its Sonotone cartridge to.

David

Edward Huggins · 1st May 2016, 12:11 pm

A very good sounding unit with an excellent turntable and cartridge combination. You can search out the details of the Murphy decals/lettering by googling this specific model (it's model number is on the abck) and enlarging the photos therein. Edward

kirstyd · 2nd May 2016, 10:23 am

thanks guys .heres a better view of whats inside .The cabinet had some chunks out of it and one of the speaker slats had been snapped off .all of this has been repaired with car filler and then a few coats of grey undercoat with a rub down in between also the flap that covers the controls is missing i will doctor this up in due course .Once the black paint is dry i will be spraying the rest white .the Garrard deck has been cleaned and lubricated and is working perfectly the Sonotone cart is also in good order .All i have done to the amp is squirt some switch cleaner into the pots oh yes and heres the old advert i found for the Murphy radiograms

Nickthedentist · 2nd May 2016, 10:29 am

That's a nice example of refinishing a tatty machine to make it look like a mint example of a more desirable model in the range. Well done.

kirstyd · 9th Jul 2016, 7:36 pm

Hi everyone
This Murphy has been on hold while i put in a new kitchen but i have finally got round to finishing it .just thought you would like to see the finished product .The Garrard deck has been cleaned and lubricated all i had to do to the amplifier was clean the pots with some servisol .The sound can only be described as excellent and with 7 watts per channel it will play very loud with plenty of bass and treble .the lid flap that would have covered the controls was missing so i fitted one of the old pull strips from my old kitchen and i have to say it looks as though its always been there .i am very happy with the results just dont know what to do with it now

music-centre · 9th Jul 2016, 8:08 pm

That's come up really good, I always liked the painted models when I used to look through those Murphy catalogues in the late 60s/early 70s
Steve.

Nickthedentist · 9th Jul 2016, 9:48 pm

Very nice, and fits in beautifully with your decor.

kirstyd · 10th Jul 2016, 12:10 am

i also liked the painted stuff Murphy did .My parents first colour TV was a Murphy not sure what model but it was white all the controls were on the top and it had a swivel stand it also had a really large speaker[ for a telly] and sounded very good the Murphy record player would have made the perfect companion .I cant get over how good it sounds and as you say it looks quite at home in my lounge but it cant stay because i already have another restoration survivor down at the other end .That was just the empty cabinet into which i fitted a Rotel receiver and an SP25 .theres a CD player in the left hand side and its equipped with Bluetooth

30th Apr 2016, 11:17 pm	#1
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Murphy A854SG cabinet record player I bought this for 5 pounds for the sole purpose of robbing it of its Sonotone cartridge and the Garrard deck. On getting it home I had a quick look at it. The cart was dangling by its wires because the screw that secures it had come out. [I found it in the bottom of the cabinet] Once it was refitted I tried playing a record, and was rewarded with what I can only describe as very good quality sound although the record got stuck half way through due to the usual dried up grease turning to glue. Inside there are two amp units that look very much like the ones fitted to the Bush SRP51 record player, and two 6 inch speakers and two 3 inch tweeters. I did find an old advert for this machine on line, its described as [not quite HI FI but not far off]. The amp has 7 watts per channel which I can well believe as the unit will play very loud with lots of bass and treble. There are also 5 pin DIN sockets for tape and radio input. Controls are bass on off combined treble volume a selector switch and a balance control. I have decided keep the unit and fix it up [its too good to cannibalise] anyone know what the decals should look like? some of them have worn away. Attached Thumbnails

1st May 2016, 5:17 am	#2
Radio Wrangler Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Fife, Scotland, UK. Posts: 22,894	Re: Murphy cabinet record player It's an interesting example from the end of the radiogram era when manufacturers were scratching their heads over what to make instead, before the market settled on hifi separates and 'music centres'. Not many will have been sold, and few will survive. You won't get much stereo effect with speakers so close together, but it probably has a better sound than most other things it could donate its Sonotone cartridge to. David __________________ Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done

1st May 2016, 12:11 pm	#3
Edward Huggins Dekatron Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Southwold, Suffolk, UK. Posts: 8,335	Re: Murphy cabinet record player A very good sounding unit with an excellent turntable and cartridge combination. You can search out the details of the Murphy decals/lettering by googling this specific model (it's model number is on the abck) and enlarging the photos therein. Edward

2nd May 2016, 10:23 am	#4
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Re: Murphy cabinet record player thanks guys .heres a better view of whats inside .The cabinet had some chunks out of it and one of the speaker slats had been snapped off .all of this has been repaired with car filler and then a few coats of grey undercoat with a rub down in between also the flap that covers the controls is missing i will doctor this up in due course .Once the black paint is dry i will be spraying the rest white .the Garrard deck has been cleaned and lubricated and is working perfectly the Sonotone cart is also in good order .All i have done to the amp is squirt some switch cleaner into the pots oh yes and heres the old advert i found for the Murphy radiograms Attached Thumbnails

2nd May 2016, 10:29 am	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,853	Re: Murphy cabinet record player That's a nice example of refinishing a tatty machine to make it look like a mint example of a more desirable model in the range. Well done.

9th Jul 2016, 7:36 pm	#6
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Re: Murphy A854SG cabinet record player Hi everyone This Murphy has been on hold while i put in a new kitchen but i have finally got round to finishing it .just thought you would like to see the finished product .The Garrard deck has been cleaned and lubricated all i had to do to the amplifier was clean the pots with some servisol .The sound can only be described as excellent and with 7 watts per channel it will play very loud with plenty of bass and treble .the lid flap that would have covered the controls was missing so i fitted one of the old pull strips from my old kitchen and i have to say it looks as though its always been there .i am very happy with the results just dont know what to do with it now Attached Thumbnails

9th Jul 2016, 8:08 pm	#7
music-centre Heptode Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 687	Re: Murphy A854SG cabinet record player That's come up really good, I always liked the painted models when I used to look through those Murphy catalogues in the late 60s/early 70s Steve.

9th Jul 2016, 9:48 pm	#8
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,853	Re: Murphy A854SG cabinet record player Very nice, and fits in beautifully with your decor.

10th Jul 2016, 12:10 am	#9
kirstyd Heptode Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 902	Re: Murphy A854SG cabinet record player i also liked the painted stuff Murphy did .My parents first colour TV was a Murphy not sure what model but it was white all the controls were on the top and it had a swivel stand it also had a really large speaker[ for a telly] and sounded very good the Murphy record player would have made the perfect companion .I cant get over how good it sounds and as you say it looks quite at home in my lounge but it cant stay because i already have another restoration survivor down at the other end .That was just the empty cabinet into which i fitted a Rotel receiver and an SP25 .theres a CD player in the left hand side and its equipped with Bluetooth Attached Thumbnails