The time has come.  I have finally located the documentation I have been looking for for several years, and I am ready to tackle bringing a 1950's vintage Fisher Hi-Fi set back to life.  I will be posting the progress from start to finish as this project unfolds.  This was originally purchased in 1957 by my parents, and it will be a joy to have it "back in the family" when I'm done.

August 2009 update.  A year has passed, and I have to face the reality that sometimes I start too many projects, and some I don't have the time and space to complete as fast as I had hoped.  Needing my shop space for some other projects, and since I had not yet dismantled this unit for repair, I am pushing it back for now.  It may be another year or so before I have the time to fully complete this one, but it is an item I have a passion to complete, and, hopefully, will have it playing again some day.

August 2008 update.   Not a lot of progress since this was begun.  I have determined there a couple tubes that need replacement, which, surprisingly, I don't have.  So, I will need to order them from somewhere.  Once I have those, I need to pull the chassis, and put it on the bench and do a complete alignment.  Depending on the results, I am probably going to need to change out some caps as well.  Slow progress, but then, some summer camping trips kind of got in the way !

The original price in 1957 was $410.00.   Adjusted to today's dollars, that is about $3040.00.  This was quite an investment for my parents on a preacher's salary back then.  But, music was an important part of their life, and my mother enjoyed listening to recorded classical music (a record library I still have today), and moving from a simple 78 rpm record player to a true "Hi-Fi" system meant a lot to them.

Here is the original invoice when they bought it.  (.pdf file)

Up until a few days ago, all I had was this Operating manual (also .pdf).  No technical info.  I finally figured out that even though this is a Fisher C-800, which I could find absolutely NOTHING about in any searches, the tuner/amplifier is a Fisher Medalist Series II, for which I did finally locate a tech manual.  I ordered it yesterday, and as soon as it arrives, I'll dive into this restoration.

Nearly all of what I need to do is electronic.  The cabinet is in better than average condition for its age, and the speaker system still sounds just like it did 50+ years ago.  The "TV" input (which today would be called and "aux" input) still works.  The problem with the tuner/amplifier is that both the AM and FM sections are very "deaf".  As for the sound, my 23 year old step-son, who is very much into sub-woofers and bass sounds, is very jealous of the smooth, firm sound from this "antique".

Pictures and progress will be coming soon..... !!