Vintage Products

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 07:00:14 GMT

Well, sorry but I have no more info on this. It's most likely an early test- or prototype unit as already suggested.
It has been put into storage now.

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

tournedos — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:18:21 GMT

Hey Martin! We're hanging on a cliff here!

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:06:01 GMT

It is actually the "grey" facia version as in the early version.
It's just that instead of the speakers two small plastic "fillers" with white stripes are
fitted at the sides of the dial. This is normal.

The solder joints are normal on the boards themselves but the solders of
the interconnecting leads look a bit "quick" made.

The speaker DIN sockets are not the usual types either.

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

beaker — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:20:41 GMT

I thought the early versions all had the grey coloured facia. Could this be a "bitsa" unit made up from different units. An early, maybe radiogram chassis and a later cabinet and dial.

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Blackrix — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:28:00 GMT

I'd go for the red label:" Early sample. Not to be in accordance with specifications".

But all fun aside, it must be a prototype or it must be something that was put together by a handy technician.

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:23:15 GMT

Yes, the stereo lamp is present but it doesn't have a proper holder.
It's merely squeezed in and held by a rough piece of foam.
There's no hole through the chassis for the wires either.

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Blackrix — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:15:25 GMT

Might be a prototype of BeoMaster 900, since it says BeoMaster 900 on the front. Maybe you can slap a red label on the backside...... Is the Stereo lamp also in the radio?

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:04:59 GMT

And here, right next to the fuse where the service manual for the Master 610 shows
no components, only holes, some components were obviously cut out

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:53:20 GMT

No socket for a stereo decoder.

But a decoder has been mounted nevertheless

No threaded hole to accept the frontmost screw, which was then just left out

And also lacking a threaded hole, the cooling fin for the external transistor just sits in with the wires

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:47:12 GMT

Mika is onto something here.
What's happening with that volume control ?

It's the same type used in the radiogram and TV combo models where the balance control on the backside
cannot be easily accessed.
This one has the balance control at the back but ALSO the twin volume controls at the front. All working!
Don't mind the stray dial pointer behind the dial. The string has snapped and it's just rattling around in there.

But it's not a 900M case;
The usual countersunk chassis screws underneath are not here.

The paper clips that once held the built-in antenna fitted underneath the cabinet are present, though.
That suggests a Master 610 since they had the antenna clamped underneath the cabinet as
a (usual red) wire.
In the Beomaster 900 the antenna was fitted into grooves cut into the inner sides of the cabinet.

I just told you all a few posts higher up that the Master 610 wasn't produced in a model
without speakers.
That was not true, then.
Obviously, a least one was produced.

Even if missing, the serial number label always leaves a trace from where the glue held on to the metal.
This one carries no traces of any labels on the back.

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

tournedos — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:33:33 GMT

Dillen:
And what do we have here ?

Hmm, a split volume knob.. the receiver chassis from a radiogram or AV centre ( ) installed in a 900M case?

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:32:20 GMT

Just another Beomaster 900 ?
Well, yes - and no.
The backside says Master 610

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dillen — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:28:09 GMT

And what do we have here ?

Martin

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Steffen — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:16:01 GMT

The 5000 system of the 80's with wood-trim was probably not just a prototype. Has anybody else noticed, that in the service manuals they show the part-numbers for cabinets with Rosewood, Teak and Oak trim..? Even the drawings shows the cabinets with wood-trim...

I have never seen pictures of those systems with wood-trim in any catalogues...Nor have I seen them in real life -except for the one in Struer Museum (Beogram) shown on Dillens picture.

Re: Wierd variations and oddities.

Dennis — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:23:39 GMT

I have a Beomaster 6001 (Beomaster 6000 prototype) and it also has a red label. It came with a prototype Beomaster Terminal which also has a red label. The protype Terminal is identic to the final production Beomaster Terminal. My father (Earlier Bang & Olufsen employee) told me, that back in the days, when Bang & Olufsen produced prototypes with red labels, these prototypes were offered for sale to Bang & Olufsens employees. If employees bought one of these red label prototypes, they agreed, that they wouldn't sell them, and if the sometime wanted part with them, they would have to bring them back to Bang & Olufsen - But this hasn't always been the case! A few of the prototypes are still around as you can see.

AFAIK Bang & Olufsen don't produce prototypes that they offer to the employees afterwards anymore. I think that's because they are "Not guaranteed to be in accordance with specification" as Bang & Olufsen has written on some of the prototypes. And also because they know of experience, that they may won't get all the prototypes back when and if the employees or exemployees part with them. AFAIK all prototypes are getting destroyed now, when Bang & Olufsen are finish with them, if Bang & Olufsen don't keep a few of them on the fabric like this one.

- Dennis