This just in...and out!

[Zed Simon]

There's one advantage to paying my light bill in person: the place to do it is between two thrift stores. The Goodwill today kinda really didn't have anything, and for a little while, neither did the Salvation Army. But little by little they added things. One of the things that came in while I was there was a nice little Fisher 250 receiver. Cool little piece with a thing called Tune-O-Matic. Basically, Tune-O-Matic is 5 little FM radio dials on the right hand side of the receiver, each one with a knob you can tune to a different station. Push a knob and voila! Presets, just like your car's radio. Thing seems to have a serious AM tuner on it, and based on the minute or two I spent with it in the store, I think I'll be impressed with it.

Another thing they added while I was shopping today was a Sega Genesis bundle with the 2 controllers, TV cable and NHL 95. I tried to resist getting one for the longest time, but tonight I broke down and got it. They put it in the showcase without pricing it, so I asked what it'd cost. The cashier took it to the back...and it came back $10.99. Deal! Now I just have to brush up on my hockey.

And I scored myself a project: a non-working but great-looking Nakamichi BX-100 cassette deck for $5. Nakamichis are (were?) just about the best decks out there, and don't go cheap. I'm reading that this deck's problem is an easy fix, and I already have a wonked-out Nakamichi with the same guts as this one that may have suitable donor parts. If I can perform the transplant, I'll call it a score!

[Good Buddy]

I'll be looking for a groovy retro tuner myself soon.

a nice little Fisher 250 receiver

It was worth it just for the preset stations.

[Big Daddy Audio]

I agree -

Nakamichis are the bomb.  The BX-100 is a base model deck, and they use the small idler wheel.  You can get tune-up kits (belts, idler wheels, and directions) on ebay for about $20.00.  Sadly, once this is done, the total investment will be about $25.00, about what you would pay for a fully functional one on eBay.   On the upside, of course, is that it'll work and sound great.

I have a Nakamichi BX-2 and I love it.  I bought it thrifting for less than $12.00, fully working.

See you next time
bye for now 

[Zed Simon]

That's what it is...the idler. Apparently my MR-2 also needs one. And while I was thinking about it, I checked out my Denon deck, and wouldn't you know, THAT needs an idler too! I think it's an epidemic.