Right place, Right time!

Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
I found a deal that I couldn't pass up and....It's HERE!:clap: I am so excited! I have always wanted a Blockbuster! A fully working one was out of my price range. I just needed to wait until one popped up with issues that I know I can fix. Well, here she is!!

This one has cosmetic and a few mechanical issues but no electrical issues. It only suffers from the typical cracked tape head block and stuck meter issue (Left). It's possible it may need take-up spindle idler tire and/or gear. Fortunately though, all of these parts are available. I may try to repair the head block with JB Weld 1st. I already have an idler tire coming. If I need a gear, I know exactly where to get one on analogalley.com. Aside from these issues, there are some minor cosmetic issues and pots that need cleaning but aside from that, 100% complete.

The tuner is strong in this thing. The amp and speakers are healthy and it goes loud! It blows my 3-5267A model out of the water in bass. The battery compartment is clean and the aux inputs work great also. I'm listening to it now while I am trying to stay focused working.

Anyway, here she is. I have already named it Blocky. It's going to be fun to dig in and get this thing going again :-)

20250512_120109.jpg20250512_114502.jpg
 
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Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
Went through and looked at a few things this evening. The miracle of the evening was getting the VU meter to come back around. Especially with those delicate needle return springs. Those things are so easy to deform, which I did a little but I was able to get it to do spring things again. Basically I got lucky.

Then I moved on to the deck. Checked everything out. Surprise surprise. Needs a head block. I have an idler tire coming. The head is well worn but still outputs sound. Belts are tired.

So it needs head block, idler tire and belts. Should sing after that (hopefully).

Rigged it up enough to hear it play a tape before going any further with buying parts. Looking promising. Who knows how long it's been since it played a tape.

 
Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
Cpl-Chronic said:
Nice work! That Blockbuster is sweet looking...love the analogue VU's.
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Thanks brother. I'm still working on the cassette mechanism. A few parts are needed before I dig back in but I am the most stoked about getting those VU meters bouncing again. This radio is putting off all the right vibes. Everything wants to come back to life. It's a lot easier working on a radio that wants to live. :lol:
 
floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
These are a damn good looking boombox.
Like you said it's great when they just want to live .
I they made a tv show about my boom boxes it would have to be called "death valley hospital" lol.
Starring J.B. weld M.D.
The Dr would have a pair of headphones instead of a stethoscope.
 
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Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
floyd said:
These are a damn good looking boombox.
Like you said it's great when they just want to live .
I they made a tv show about my boom boxes it would have to be called "death valley hospital" lol.
Starring J.B. weld M.D.
The Dr would have a pair of headphones instead of a stethoscope.
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I've been there for sure.

I have one boombox that I have kept its soul prison within the confines of its plastic tomb long after it should have been left for dead. It's been begging to let me let it die for decades. It puts up a good fight sometimes. Changing the batteries has been known to lead to an all day process of opening it up to force it back into submission. One of my best friends told me, and trying to keep what he said as friendly as possible for a broad audience, that it has likely been apart more than a (you know what's) legs. :lol: I do lose battles and accept defeat every now and then.
 
floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
Transistorized said:
I've been there for sure.

I have one boombox that I have kept its soul prison within the confines of its plastic tomb long after it should have been left for dead. It's been begging to let me let it die for decades. It puts up a good fight sometimes. Changing the batteries has been known to lead to an all day process of opening it up to force it back into submission. One of my best friends told me, and trying to keep what he said as friendly as possible for a broad audience, that it has likely been apart more than a (you know what's) legs. :lol: I do lose battles and accept defeat every now and then.
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Yep they'll sucker you in every time.
that's why I have a lot of radio parts in boxes instead of one piece.
They refuse to cooperate and ultimately I end up with a bigger mess to deal with.
 
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Transistorized

Transistorized

Member (SA)
Northerner said:
Nice…gotta love a blocky
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Thanks brother.

I was watching Johnny Depp in Nightmare on Elm St work the Blockbuster. I noticed he never presses play when he loads a cassette. Instead, you see him switch it back to the radio because the Stereo light comes on at the top right. At first I assumed he did this because it's a movie but seeing as how common these decks crack the head block and stop playing I wonder, maybe it was broken and needed Cautions 3D part :lol:

I am now wondering how long they actually lasted before they broke. Did they make it out of the 80s? Maybe a few in the 90s still going on the stock internals? my blockbuster hadn't played a tape in a long time. All the grease was as thick as it gets in there.

She's slowly coming together though. It is coming to life very nicely. After the new head block and idler tire, it should sing again :-)
 
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Superduper

Superduper

Moderator
Staff member
Transistorized said:
I am now wondering how long they actually lasted before they broke. Did they make it out of the 80s? Maybe a few in the 90s still going on the stock internals? my blockbuster hadn't played a tape in a long time. All the grease was as thick as it gets in there.
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I imagine warranty on these types of consumer goods probably ranges from 3-months to a year. I suspect it's a 1-year warranty since it's GE. Here's what GROK has to say about GE warranties:

"For GE portable radios, warranties typically last one year from the date of purchase, covering defects in materials or workmanship. This is based on information from a discontinued GE portable AM/FM radio model (72664), which had a one-year warranty. Specific warranty details may vary by model, so checking the product’s manual or contacting GE support is recommended. Some refurbished GE portable radios, like those sold by Retrospekt, come with a shorter 90-day limited warranty. Proof of purchase is needed to validate the warranty start date; otherwise, the manufacturing date applies."

With that in mind, it's reasonably safe to say that GE never had to replace any of these head mounts. 1 year goes by very quickly.
 
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floyd

floyd

Boomus Fidelis
I think the problem is you can't ask plastic to do the same job as metal and expect it to hold up over time .
The decks that have a metal head lift assembly don't have the same problem of breakage . I found out the hard way even jvc used plastic head lift assemblies after I broke one trying to get the heads to drop after the belts went out.
These plastic head lift assemblies are usually found on soft touch or full logic tape decks.
 
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