docs is SUPERB!!

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Retro Addict

Member (SA)
Hi all,

It is with great delight that I'm here posting this message. In short, member of this site 'docs' (Dave) has shown his great skill, patience and generosity by repairing my General Electric 3-5259A (Blockbuster). If you're interested in what's been going on, please read on. If not, you might want to scroll down and view the pics of my fully working Blockbuster.

Over a year ago I traded my Hitachi TRK-8600E for member d8614ss' Blockbuster. When I got the box, it had a problem with the cassette deck, where it was 'alive' but the auto-stop feature was clicking the deck off, preventing it from playing a cassette. I tried to fix this, by attempting to 'free-up' the deck, and failed. While attempting this, I accidentally touched part of the circuit board with my screwdriver. There was a 'POP' and a flash. Hoping I hadn't blown the main fuse, I powered the box up, and all seemed fine. Until I put the box back together. FM Stereo had stopped working.

I got in contact with a local radio repairer, who was willing to look at the box for me. He managed to adjust the deck so it played cassettes again. But he wasn't able to fix the FM Stereo issue. He kept asking me for a schematic - but, being a box sold in the USA, schematics for the Blockbuster aren't easy to get hold of in the UK. I tried and tried, but couldn't get one. I looked on the internet, and I could only find one site that had the schematic I needed. The frustrating thing was, there was a message on there saying that they only post within the US. I gave up, and the Blockbuster stayed with the repair man for almost a year.

Then last month or so, Dave asked me about the Blockbuster, and said that if it hadn't been repaired, he would be willing to look at it for me. It was not long after this, that I retrieved the box from the repair man and took it to Dave, who lives about 45 minutes drive from me. I must say that he and his family are some of the most accomodating and friendly people I've met. While at his house, I was treated to a very exciting demonstration of some of his boomboxes, including his JVC RC-M90 and Toshiba RT-S932 (with wireless remote). Within a few days, Dave contacted me to inform me that he had fixed the FM Stereo issue. It had taken a lot of diagnosis, as he had replaced a number of capacitors before discovering the faulty part - a tiny resistor, which I have kept "as a memory".

I'm overjoyed with my repaired Blockbuster, and really can't thank Dave enough for all he has done for me.

A very big thank-you for all your hard work Dave, I owe you one. :cool:

Here's some pics...

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The cats came over for a look!

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I hope you liked the pics. :-)
 

Gluecifer

Member (SA)
Absolutely awesome teamwork there guys!

Love the Blockbuster, it's probably the single most classic design ever, great to see you've got a working one now Luke!!

I think I need to make greater efforts to get the Blockbuster off my neeeds list and into my collection.



Rock On.
 

ford93

Member (SA)
Great story Retro and cool to hear more about mini meets they really bring the members closer. :thumbsup:

Cool lookin' box looks new and glad your friend Docs was able to fix her. :yes:
 

Fatdog

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Hey RA, where is your Delorean time machine? Because that Blockbuster looks like it just came off the factory line. :yes: :-D
 

docs

Member (SA)
Many thanks RA/all. and I must say that RA (Luke) is areally nice guy. Was a pleasure to meet and share our passion together (for stereos :-P ) and will deal with Luke again any time.

So glad the GE is now working again, hope you are now able to enjoy it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

The photos look great !!!! :drool: :drool:

Thanks to Norm too for some guidance from afar (again :lol: )
 

docs

Member (SA)
wowminister said:
You could have a nice little cottage industry Docs....

I have a few boxes that you could work some magic on :yes:

Get em to me and I'll do my best :thumbsup: :lol: :-D
 

Retro Addict

Member (SA)
Fatdog said:
Hey RA, where is your Delorean time machine? Because that Blockbuster looks like it just came off the factory line. :yes: :-D
The US-made Blockbuster is in the house, and the US-made DMC DeLorean is in the garage. :lol: ;-)

Many thanks Dave, I will certainly now be able to enjoy this box to the full thanks to you, and other people on here who helped you and your wife fix it. :thumbsup:
 

oldskool69

Moderator
Staff member
Gluecifer said:
Absolutely awesome teamwork there guys!

Love the Blockbuster, it's probably the single most classic design ever, great to see you've got a working one now Luke!!

I think I need to make greater efforts to get the Blockbuster off my neeeds list and into my collection.



Rock On.


When you get yours Rick you WILL be happy. I wish I had mine still but it went to well deserved member Don (MasterBlaster) for his extreme sacrifice and exemplary efforts in helping to get my black Sansui CP-7 I've always wanted. :-D
 

retrohead

Member (SA)
great box,R.A-would you believe me when i say that box was on the cards for me many moons ago,but i turned my mate d8614ss down on it-darn :lol: however,im glad its ended its days with another top bloke and that good old dave (docs)has done the bizzo on it for you-dave sounds a really decent guy!nice one R.A and nice one docs:thumbsup:
 

Retro Addict

Member (SA)
Hey retrohead, you turned the Blockbuster down - did you get another box from him instead? I always wish I'd bought his lovely Sanyo M-X920, but I knew he preferred to trade for other boxes rather than accept money. And the only box I had which I would've considered to be a worthy trade was my GF-777, but I've always said that's one box I will never part with! Arron is a great guy, certainly the guy to pick if you want a smooth transaction. I can't say enough good stuff about Dave, he's extremely generous and welcoming, I mean christ I even had my tea when I was at his house, which was lovely Dave! If there is a way for me to return the massive favour he's done repairing this box for me, and not wanting to accept anything in return, that's an avenue I'll go down as he is a one in a million bloke. Thanks for the message mate. :thumbsup:
 

kraftmatic

Member (SA)
Great looking box, RA. I just picked up a Blockbuster a few weeks ago and have been gradually bringing it back to life. I did get a service guide with schematics for it, so if you're ever in need I can scan it and send it over. Meantime I'm hoping to come across a deck door for my box. May have to pick up a parts box from eBay the next time a beater shows up there.
 

Retro Addict

Member (SA)
Hi kraftmatic, congrats on getting your Blockbuster. The schematic would be very handy in future if anything else goes wrong with my box. Touch wood *slaps hand on desk*, nothing has gone wrong yet, it sounds great, and the cassette player records and plays beautifully. I've already used it to convert one of my old cassette recordings to MP3. Good luck on getting your Blockbuster fully working, and finding a door! :cool:
 

retrohead

Member (SA)
hey R.A,on the day azz offered me the blocky id just picked up my 777 and wx1 bombeat (both gone now :-/ )so my cash was wiped out and thought i had my hands full lol so i left it as at that time i didnt think he was too sure about parting with it anyway but im glad a brother got her in the end rather than it dissapearing down the plughole of ebayland :thumbsdown: and its so nice to see her in full working order-i have to say too that azz is a great bloke,always up for a trade and always very accomodating,but dave (docs) is a legend repairing the blocky for you :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 

systemaddict

Member (SA)
where do i start here?? i should start by saying i really wish i had'nt let the blocky go :-D only kidding, this is truly fab stuff guys.
i never doubt docs when he is given a box job he sure knows he's stuff, great work docs your a legend :thumbsup:
so nice to see her still looking minty clean, :thumbsup: i know the pain you went through with the repair shop Luke so you deserve nothing less.
this story has been a pleasure to read from start to finish, a massive congrats from me, well done guys :thumbsup:
also thanks for the nice comments Retrohead and Luke, i have dealt with Docs, Luke, and Rretrohead on numerous occassions and i can tell you all three of them are absolute gents. no question :thumbsup:
 
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