The 900K had to go back to the place in my avatar, so I needed a new system for my PC table. Here's what I managed to get together, from two completely separate sources on the same day! Not much of a project either, the Beomaster 5000 needs a new "stereo" bulb and that's about it. The Beolab 5000 has the usual wear under the volume slider and somebody has lacquered the woodwork in the past, but otherwise it's quite nice as well. And even better an amplifier than I expected!

I believe "well chuffed" is the term!

Congratulations on your purchase!

I have yet to hear of anyone who has been disappointed by the Beomaster/Beolab 5000 combination.

Simon

That is very nice!! Looks in good condition from what I can see in the photo!

Very jealous Mika - where do you find all this stuff???

I wish it were easy to get a Beolab 5000 setup + a Beolit 1000 here in the UK in the space of a week!!

j0hnbarker:

Very jealous Mika - where do you find all this stuff???

I wish it were easy to get a Beolab 5000 setup + a Beolit 1000 here in the UK in the space of a week!!

I got the Beolab in a local auction, and surprisingly cheap as no-one else was interested - I obviously wanted these both so before I placed a bid, I noticed the Beomaster on eBay, closing later that evening. I just had to have it (how long do you have to wait to find lone, good units conveniently for sale?) and therefore it ended quite a bit more expensive. It's very near to mint, though - even the stereo light works, it just needed a better antenna and adjustments.

And I haven't even told yet about the van-load of stuff I collected on Monday I believe my budget is now used up for a while, though...

Nice system indeed ! 
Frede (Classic) can supply new front panels with lettering etc. on exchange basis.
That would cure the missing lettering. Worth dropping him a line !

Martin

Congrats on your system. Looks wonderful!

Very nice! The ultimate B&O collector's item! Now you will have to look out for the Beogram 3000 to go with it! Frede can no doubt help!

Dillen:

Frede (Classic) can supply new front panels with lettering etc. on exchange basis.
That would cure the missing lettering. Worth dropping him a line !

Yes, I read about that earlier, and I'll certainly consider it. The wear doesn't bother me that much though - I've always thought that equipment this old doesn't need to look like new, they have seen a lot of life and I don't mind it showing, as long as they don't look trashed.

But, does anybody know why they are often so worn, as I don't want it getting worse, either? Is it some kind of abuse or just the years and years of fingers rubbing the markings?

Yes, Peter, I will definitely get the 3000 when I see one There's even the full speaker set on German eBay, but I need to skip that as I wouldn't want to put the job of getting them shipped to anyone. Not that I'd have space for them, either...

The reason they wear is that the numbers are simply not that tough. Later models used a different process - I cannot remember seeing a Beomaster 3000 with any missing numbers. I would certainly get a new panel - I know what you mean about older items having a certain patina but B&O looks its best when perfect. I am going to pick mine up in July and will post lots of pictures. Frede has been drip feeding me little snippets for a while!!

The worn lettering .. I think it's because of the way the lettering is printed on the metal.
These early machines are practically the only ones to suffer from this.
The later ones (Beomaster 3000/901 etc..) never see this problem.
Fredes new panels have the lettering integrated in the eloxation if I understand the process
correctly, so would be a lasting solution I should think, in that it's probably
the way the newer items were printed.
The older ones seems to be printed "on the extreme outside".

I basically agree that the older things are allowed to have little marks of wear and normal use.
Tiny nicks and chips here and there from use, dusting etc. to show that the item was used but indeed loved
and cared.
New front panels would be the way to go if doing a complete restoration or if you want the perfect B&O look.

Martin

EDIT: Peter beat me to this post. I don't write that fast.

This was my system at one point - I think this was the period whn I had redone the numbers using Letraset - I used a Helvetica font. The Beogram is the Acoustical version of the 3000 - Andy has this now.

Welcome to the club Mika!

When I move any of the sliders, I only touch the perspex, knowing how easy it is to wear off the lettering.

Whatever you do, don't try to clean the lettering on the sliders themselves with isopropanol. one wipe and they'll be off!

If you add up the cost of the full system in the late 60s including the Beogram 3000 that Peter so kindly gave me, and the Beocord 2400 Reel to Reel that Casdave 'threw in', it comes to the price of a small house here!
Taking this into account, you won't wear off the lettering.

Enjoy!