Ditto. Had a BSR in'72. Had a Lafayette amp - soldered it myself. Had Criterion 100B loudspeakers. Actually, one to start with, then another one the next Christmas. Still had them up to a couple years ago. They were absolutely dreadful.

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 3:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Need helping identifying a reel to reel deck

Hey -- Lafayette -- my first "stereo system" was from there. 10th birthday present. A little transistor amp, a BSR record-wrecker with a ceramic cartridge and two little particle-board with wood veneer speakers. This is the system on which I discovered the Beatles and Beethoven.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Biel" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 03, 2013 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Need helping identifying a reel to reel deck


> My set of Lafayette catalogs and flyers (complete 1957-end, with a few
> from the late 30s to early 50s) are in my warehouse so I am glad Richard
> found these ads.  Especially glad since it is great to find a suburban
> NYC paper on-line.  I've needed access to ads like this for my research!
> Like Richard I was a regular at Lafayette, but at the Route 17 Paramus
> NJ store.  I'd fill out a blank for parts I needed and turn it in to the
> counter and they NEVER had all of what I needed and I had to do a mail
> order anyway!  My first ten reels of tape are Lafayette brand, bought in
> the Paramus store in Jan 1960 and STILL in fine playable condition.
> 1-1/2 mil acetate 1200 feet in a blue box.  I have one Lafayette orange
> box 1 mil mylar 1800 feet and it also is in great playable condition.
> Lots of Jack Paar shows including his final Tonight Show.
>
>
> Mike Biel  [log in to unmask]
>
>
>  -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Need helping identifying a reel to reel deck
> From: "Richard L. Hess" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wed, July 03, 2013 2:21 pm
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Hi, Peter,
>
> I remember going with my father to Lafayette Radio -- and later my mom
> took me -- when they were still in Jamaica, NY. They had a multi-story
> old factory-type building there--I remember an old wood water tower on
> it, but I could be mis-remembering. Later they moved to Syosset and
> expanded into a multi-store chain and then collapsed.
>
> For the Washington's Birthday Sale in 1968, they were selling the
> machine for $99.88 "Save Over $30".
>
> http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%2010/Yonkers%20NY%20Herald%20Statesman/Yonkers%20NY%20Herald%20Statesman%201968%20%20Grayscale/Yonkers%20NY%20Herald%20Statesman%201968%20%20Grayscale%20-%201619.pdf
>
> Later, on May 1, 1968 they were advertising their Gala 47th Anniversary
>
> with this machine at $99.95 "Save $30".
>
> http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%2010/Yonkers%20NY%20Herald%20Statesman/Yonkers%20NY%20Herald%20Statesman%201968%20%20Grayscale/Yonkers%20NY%20Herald%20Statesman%201968%20%20Grayscale%20-%201619.pdf
>
> It was a three-speed machine 1.88, 3.75, 7.5.
>
> The Sams Photofact is now available. I'm glad to see Sams has gotten
> with the program and is selling these as downloads...they would have
> had
> many fewer pirated versions out there if they had done this on day one!
> https://www.samswebsite.com/en/photofact/details/index/id/92447
>
> COMMENTARY: I do not know who made this stuff for Lafayette, but the
> quality of most of their store-brand products was on the low end
> IMnsHO.
>
> The original "falling apart" is not a surprise. I doubt (m)any survive
> that will also not "fall apart" today.
>
> Sorry for the red herring of it being European--it felt that way, but
> yes, the 1/4-inch jacks mounted that way did feel wrong.
>
> So, what do the buttons do below? I think that triggered my thoughts as
>
> I don't think the Lafayette is an electrically remotable deck.
>
> If you are rebuilding the display, can you leave the broken machine
> visually (and maybe even get the reels to turn and do the actual audio
> in a solid state recorder behind the scenes?
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard
>
> On 2013-07-03 1:30 PM, Peter Oleksik wrote:
> > Hi Richard,
> > Good sleuthing! It is from the Juan Downey piece. The original deck
> > fell apart and I am trying to track down a replacement or something
> > comparable. Thanks to Shai's Lafayette tip, I've been able to confirm
> that
> > it's a Lafayette RK815. Also, thanks to everyone who chimed in!
> > If anyone knows how I may be able to track down another RK815, please
> > let me know. It can be in any condition.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Peter
> >
> >
> -- 
> Richard L. Hess email: [log in to unmask]
> Aurora, Ontario, Canada 647 479 2800
> http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm
> Quality tape transfers -- even from hard-to-play tapes.
>
>