1957 Pye Black Box - Finished 

I own a Black Box with an old BSR autochanger/handbook/turntable paper mat with extra info printed on it. Bought from an auction in Paignton, Devon some years ago where I was able to find a small Torquay shop which put it into working order for me. It's a lot of fun when playing old 78rpm dance band records from way back, with performers like Bidgoods Broadcasters and other vintage ensembles from the heyday of dance bands. I do agree about the bass obtained from this unit - hi-fi (as its badge declares) in its own time. I'm intrigued by the spindle attachment that plays 45rpm discs without the centre piece. I have some of these that I can interchange when playing discs from my small pop collection of half a century ago.

Nice.

Wow it REALLY does sound good

Well yer little boy really scrubbed up well. It is now a fabulous piece of equipment and I love it. This is one of my favourite videos of yours cos it is such a fabulous end product. You and George make a wonderful double act. Looking forward to your next make over.

Great to watch and hear you again. Your love of these machines always shines through. The Dansette Tempo is still well and being enjoyed by all but especially me. Thanks again Graham

Hi Graham! Thanks for stopping by! So pleased you're still enjoying your Tempo...It was a pleasure to work on it for you! It has the same BSR SX6H cartridge as I fitted in the Black Box. You're right...I do love these old machines! I get a lot of pleasure from bringing them back from the grave. Be careful the next time you open the lid on your Tempo...The youngan from Lancashire might be in there checking I did a proper job...haha!!! Please send my regards to your lovely lady! :)

Yes it was great fun making that video!!!.

Hi Phil...I didn't know you watched my videos? Wow! Many Thanks for your kind words! The old Black Box does sound far nicer than my little camera can show...I've been told they were available on your side of the pond as a 'Columbia 360'. This one does have a 110V position on the transformer. Hope alls good with you! Thanks for commenting! :)

Well that was a different take on things and thanks for introducing George. Enjoyable and educational to, I also wondered what those centre of the turntable things were for. I always thought they were for a badge insert or something like that. Lovely sound Jon, well done.

Tubes & real wood = Fantastic audio!

Hi Rob. Yes it was a little different to my normal videos...haha!!! George is Great! He's got some superb vintage equipment if his own and he's a dab hand with the repairs too! Can't wait to see that Kriesler of yours finished! Thanks for commenting! :)

What a fantastic player! And great team work from the both of you:)

Great vid. Very entertaining as well as educational. My dad recently purchased a Black Box from a vintage fair I co-organise. Any idea if the original or earlier turntables were Monarch or Garrard? I'm trying to find out from him if he can see a model number written on it. He's mechanically minded so I'm sure he'll get it going. I think he's got it spinning but there is no sound, the valves have gone? I'll let you know if any developments.

Love this machine fella. done a very nice job on it (as per usual).

Hi Ap...Thanks for stopping by my friend! :) The old Black Box turned out quite nice...But you're an old hand with them...So I don't need to tell you what they sound like...haha!!! :)

Hello! This is amazing! I'm on the hunt for one of these for my son who will turn 14 in December. I've seen a few on eBay, etc. but am unsure how to choose, especially when I see what you've done with this one (stereo sound, etc.). Would you be able to find me one or restore one in a similar fashion. I'd greatly appreciate any help you could send my way. Thanks! Shirley

Yes it was George! You may be 250 miles away...But thanks to 'ThiPod' you made a Great assistant! Thank You! :)

The black box looks great finished. I got myself a lenco and it is playing really well, even ripping and uploading some of my dads old Trojan and Motown records onto my channel now however I have just been given a black box by my mum, do you fancy restoring another one?

did you put a switch in there to cut out the signal from the phono wires

Hi Neil...That George Fiddler gets everywhere...haha!!! The Black Boxes do sounds nice...I moved my isolation transformer from the shelf to under the bench...All I could hear was it humming away...I would have moved it back and done the video again...But though the first take was too funny...haha!!! A Cavalier is good match for the Black Box...They sound quite similar! George has an eye for a bargain...And seems to find them all! Many Thanks for commenting! :)

Hello. I've found a pye black box 1954. To play stereo records what stylus/cassette should I get? Is it easy to do? Thanks John

Is it easy to fit 2 phono sockets on the back for stereo out?

jon honestly if i had my princess and i was 5 years older id be on the motorway and paying congestion charges because id be in your videos in person!

I was left a comment on my previous video telling me they were available on your side of the pond as a 'Columbia 360'...Sure enough I did a search and they appear to be the same machine. They do sound far nicer than I can show with my little camera...Not huge players either! Many Thanks for commenting! :)

Oh Joe...You're far too kind! I thought you might get a giggle when George appeared inside the Black Box...It was all spontaneous...haha!!! It sounds far nicer in real life...It has such a large sound, my little camera can't handle it...I had to keep the wick down all the time. The Jon and George show?...He's starring in your next video...Right behind the old SP25 MKIII...Download the Skype ap for your Android...haha!!! Thanks for commenting my friend! :)

George is quite simply amazing! But you already know that...haha!!! Many Thanks for your kind words...The video doesn't really show how nice it sounds...But you get the general idea....haha!!! Thanks for commenting! :)

I've opened up my black box and the internals look very different to yours? It's hit two ecl86 abs one ez80 valve , any ideas?

do you sell these? I'd love to get hold of a black box again

Thank You! It did come back from the grave quite nicely. It's very hard to make the camera hear how nice it really does sound...Its got so much volume and bass. George is young version of me...He's just great! He may be 250 miles away...But thanks to 'Thipod' he made it to the workshop...haha!!! As always! Many Thanks for commenting! :)

I want to know why when technology should have improved AND therefore become cheaper, is absolute CRAP today - and they charge you the earth!?? It really irritates me... You have to pay a fortune for Speakers with any kind of ‘bass’ - and they still don’t sound as good as this... Don’t even get me talking about the button Speakers in modern TV Sets...