Hi-Fi Shop Santa Rosa, CA 1958

They don't make Hi-Fi shops like this anymore. Ahh the glory days of Hi-Fi. Thanks for the photos Fini. These are incredible.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

The Archive PBS Real Stories.

What an amazing story. One man and his insanely huge archive estimated value at $50 million... He almost sold it for $3m in 2008. I don't doubt the figure. I hope someone saves the archive and keeps it together. Paul Mawhinney is my hero.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Afro Funk Body Music via Secret Stash Records

Thank you Secret Stash for another great reissue. I really dig the special editions for the first 200 orders. I posted on another record from SSR not long ago check it out. This release meets the same high standards.

Excerpt from http://secretstashrecords.com/
Body Music, Afro Funk's 1975 LP, was recorded and released in London, England. The band was comprised mostly of West-African expatriates residing there. At the time, the city was host to a vibrant African music scene. The massive success of Osibisa created a swarm of young bands trying to use London as a launching pad for international stardom. Unfortunately, Afro Funk did not find the success they were looking for and Body Music became their only album. The deep funk grooves and driving afrobeat rhythms featured on this rare LP have made it a desired addition to record collections around the world.

After its small private press release in London on "Kabana Records," Body Music was also released in extremely limited quantites by Kojo Asare's Chairman Records in Ghana. Despite the well crafted mix of various West-African styles and American funk, without the support of a label and no major touring it quickly faded into obscurity. Today copies rarely surface. Secret Stash is proud to present the first ever reissue of this collectable piece of African music history. As always, this vinyl only release includes a digital download card giving the user high quality MP3s of the entire album.

The limited edition version is blue and white as is the vinyl.

Gotta love details like wax seals. I slit the side with a scalpel so I could leave it intact.

Hand numbered.

The vinyl looks superb. I must admit to being a sucker for colored vinyl art vinyl or picture disc. This LP looks superb!!

They also provide free digital downloads for LP orders.

Check out this great preview from Secret Stash Records.

Thank you Secret Stash Records for another amazing reissue. It seems the special edition already sold out but don't let that stop you check out the track previews and if you dig it place an order. http://secretstashrecords.com/store/afrofunk/

There are a handful of record labels resurrecting very important music that would be otherwise very expensive or difficult if not impossible to find. This is very important work they are doing and SSR does a great job of getting the music back to the people. Thanks again SSR.



This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

The Boomerang Klipschorns

So I sold some Klipschorns a year or two ago. They are fairly ugly B style with some fugly unmatched Oak lacquer finish. The guy I sold them to found a pretty pair of walnut khorns so he offered them back to me when I just happened to have enough cash in my pocket. The timing was good so now they are home again.

This leads me to my latest project. I need to find a reasonable priced great looking veneer. I'm leaning toward teak or Tineo Indian Applewood or zebrawood but I'm still looking around. Anyone have suggestions? I'd like whatever veneer I pick to go well with cane grill. This leads me to my next question which is does anyone have a good source for cane grill?

Here is some khorn porn.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Retro Hi-Fi Girl Friday

Another Julie Newmar pic from this cool series. I was born too late back in the 50's girls had curves and looked more like girls instead of now a days when girls in the media look like 12 yo boys..... Oops I started to rant like my burlesque dancer friend. That is not a good sign LOL but I do agree with her.

Amperex EL34 Ad

Here is a late 50's Amperex ad. I've never had an EL34 amp so maybe I'll have to try one sometime.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Straight Horns

I'd love to hear these horns. It looks like a nice size mid bass horn and a goto horn and a speaker lab horn and some sort of bat slaying tweeter. I'm just guessing not sure what they are exezctly. If I only had a really big space it would be nice to build some really big horns....

Thanks for the additional info Aceaudio.
The Tweeter is a Pioneer TAD ET-703Beryllium Diaphragms and the finned driver next to it is a Pioneer TAD 4002 Beryllium Diaphragms. I have these drivers in my Pioneer TAD 2401 studio monitors.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

The Magic Band - Crow's Milk documentary

Here is a great documentary from 2004 my friend Byron sent me. This is really cool. The narration is by the late John Peel who was also a huge fan.

The greatest rock and roll band of all time and the story continues.... THE MAGIC BAND.









If you think this good check out the Magic Band albums Back To Front http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-to-the-front/id266621431 and 21st Century Mirror Men http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/21st-century-mirror-men/id295221660.

Western Electric Public Address Systems

I was just going to post this one page but thought I'd include the section. Looks more like industrial art than PA system.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Retro Hi-Fi Girl Friday

Big Ole Horn

Siemens or RFT big ole horn. Dang I love big horns. This is just right for my living room..

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Build Your Own Heathkit For Fun

Nice Heathkit ad from the 50's. This time I switched to grey scale scanning. It looks better.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Bell Laboratories - The Evolution Of The Input Transformer By F.E. Field

I need to find more of these Bell Laboratories volumes. This a a cool article about the history of the input transformer from 1904 to 1926. Hope you enjoy this one.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com

Give Your Pick Up A Chance - Popular Electronics 1958

Here is another little gem from Popular Electronics. I feel like I have my duh hate on as I have been scanning in color which exaggerates the yellowing of the paper. From now on I'll do everything in greyscale. Oh well live and learn.

This post originated at retro vintage modern hi-fi http://itishifi.blogspot.com