Spats Bear
Amazing Performance + Superadio Tuner! 1984 GE Model 3-5266B Boombox
updated
---------------------------------------------------------
Radio Shack's top of the line deck from 1977 was their first front loader offering... but it is more of a front loader with a top loader mechanism installed backwards. Very short lived design, but it is still very cool.
The deck itself performs very well and looks great with those VU meters.
---------------------------------------------------------
I cannot find any information on this anywhere, not even a service manual or Sams Photofact.
This was made by Funai in 1972 for the Symphonic company. Funai eventually bought the Symphonic company/name in 1982. But this is back when Funai build very good, well built stuff. And this proves it.
---------------------------------------------------------
Do not try this at home!! GPX Soup and Baked GPX!!! Yummy!
---------------------------------------------------------
Once a mystery boombox with the only picture online a very blurry mess now becomes part of the collection!
As rare as this box is, ironically 3 of these showed up within months of each other. I managed to snag 2 units to make one good one. But that may be the last time we'll see this box up for sale for a long time.....
In this video I will fully restore this both cosmetically, mechanically and electronically, as well as a full demonstration.
---------------------------------------------------------
A 50% Very Special Episode of a full, in-depth tour, repair and demonstration of the very unique PXL2000 camera system.
---------------------------------------------------------
I have obtained these two Newcombs over the last several years. The terracotta orange one is the model AVC-500 and the mustard yellow one is the model EVC-100. Both identical electronic wise (except the EVC-100 does not have a separate monitor switch).
Way overbuilt industrial tanks. And they perform just as well, too. You can tell these were meant for heavy duty usage.
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
This is a very special episode because of the history of the VCR and TV in this video. While the TV is not the original, it is the same exact model. But the VCR, on the other hand, is the same exact unit.
I know the complete history of the VCR, form the unboxing in 1988, up until I obtained it in 2008, and now this video on it in 2024.
Will this VCR make it into the 2070s? 2080s? And will we still be able to demonstrate it 50 years from now? Only time will tell..... But if I am still alive by then, I will make it happen.
RCA XL-100 19" Color TV Model FFR440 - Manufactured March 1981
Sears (GoldStar) VHS VCR Model 580.53297750 - Manufactured March 1988
Exactly 7 years apart!
---------------------------------------------------------
Not quite what you'd be expecting...
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
Similar to the 1984 GE 3-5266B I demonstrated last year:
youtu.be/BCHmCJieqVc?si=KQ3rFTGF6favah-Q
But different in some other ways. But performance is still great!
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
A follow up video from the previous one on the 1984 GE 3-6025A mini-boombox.
This one is just as small, but sounds even better!
---------------------------------------------------------
A mini boombox that is quite small, yet is very feature packed and sounds great. Features ETS electronic tuning system with clock and timer controls, MLS Music Location System.
---------------------------------------------------------
We were overdue trying to get our GPX on... this was the result.
---------------------------------------------------------
Tape deck model 562.53560050
Tuner model 562.53560150
Made by Toshiba, this is a very well performing unit, but it required a bit of work to get it 100% operational again.
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
First installed May 2014; first start of the year June 2023
Carrier Greenspeed and Infinity 98 Furnace
Expect a full video on the restoration of this 21” Philco Predicta Holiday soon after a bit of a hiatus from any videos!
---------------------------------------------------------
Yes, this is a filler video, but there will be new content coming soon!
My first and only soldering station that I have ever owned.
Turns out it was a Tesla…
---------------------------------------------------------
Recent thrift store find of this cool Randix AM/FM/TV/WB cassette cube.
---------------------------------------------------------
This alarm clock is very special to me, and (more specifically) the A version of it. This video will show you the differences between the A & B versions. The A version has a slightly better performance than the B version, but it may not show up on YouTube as pronounced as it was in person.
Despite the Tanashin cassette mechanism short comings of this particular era, it still plays cassettes very well.
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
Follow up video to the Montgomery Ward/Dominion heater video. This is the fan only version of the same unit. This one is more powerful and has a different blade.
---------------------------------------------------------
Technically the 14.5 year update, but it is close enough to 15 years. This is the first time I have disassembled the heater and gave it a thorough cleaning since then. Not a single problem in the meantime.
---------------------------------------------------------
MORE about the 1969 Sears! MUST WATCH...
Previous video: youtu.be/3sutzCuwheU
3.7 amp 1/12HP motor that moves an incredible 5000CFM! And it is a beast, weighing in at 26lbs!
---------------------------------------------------------
Very rare indeed. The fan is actually an all-metal fan complete with shroud; But instead of grilles, this is wrapped around a durable, thick plastic shell. And it isn't a slouch either with a 3.7 amp 1/12HP motor that moves an incredible 5000CFM! And it is a beast, weighing in at 26lbs!
---------------------------------------------------------
Look at what those Wal*Mart supporting mice did!
---------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
This is my 3rd Montgomery Ward/Silver/Shin Shirasuna boombox. Very high quality box with a small 3.75" TV.
While recording I claimed this to be the dirtiest box I've worked on to date, but that was quickly proven false shortly thereafter... video of that boombox coming soon.
---------------------------------------------------------
Found in the same Goodwill by the Pound as the previous 1979 commercials compilation.
This tape appears to be fine, but the recording VCR's exit guide on the video drum was definitely out of alignment, as evidenced by the noise bar that could not be corrected by tracking. Audio also was not great on this one either.
The tape starts off originally on WJAC-TV 6 (NBC affiliate) out of Pottsville, PA on February 15, 1987 with The Facts of Life Down Under TV Movie. This is followed directly by the beginning of Amerika that premiered on the same day on ABC (WTAE-TV 4 Pittsburgh).
The remainder of the tape is from WTAE with WWF Wrestling followed by a bowling tournament, both in 1986.
---------------------------------------------------------
I've had this box since 2008, but finally got around to fully restoring it just now.
---------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill by the Pound find, burried in the bottom
of the bins. This is a 1979 Sony L-500 Betamax tape
recorded in X2 speed (which became known as BII) for
2 hours of play time. The tape itself has dropouts &
tracking errors due to improper storage, most likely.
Station is Pittsburgh's KDKA channel 2 (CBS affiliate)
during the news broadcasts. During the Greek Tycoon
movie, it was channel WTOV channel 9 out of
Steubenville, Ohio, which apparently was CBS
at the time (it is now an NBC affiliate.)
Played back using a recently restored 1980 Sears
Betavision Portable VCR (rebadged Toshiba V-8035)
---------------------------------------------------------
Unfortunately, the original GE motor to this ILG fan burned up. There may have been something wrong with it already, as it hummed very loudly. Possibly it may have been connected to 240V in its past by mistake, damaging it.
We found a replacement motor thanks to Andrew Block, and it works very well.
I would like to also add, despite my commentary in the video, the air movement is actually much greater than the Dayton 5 bladed fan we changed out.
---------------------------------------------------------
The story behind my first TV and VHS VCR from my childhood.
TV's full model number is 564.42093952, 564 indicated Sanyo.
---------------------------------------------------------
In this episode we install some early 1970s Lutron lighted dimmers.
I plan on doing a full video on this.
Spats Bear himself jumping into a puddle; Slow-Mo, spats, and all.