Maples Bluebird - information needed
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 4 August 2013
Member #: 1390
Postcount: 5
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Hi there. I have a Maples Bluebird Stereophonic and I would like some information about it. Specifically looking for some background on the manufacturer, year of build and anything around possible value. The unit has been built for the Australian market (the radio has all the states beautifully printed on the radio panel) Its in great condition and I don't think the record player has ever been used.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. The only reference I have been able to find so far is a comparison of vinyl of Queen (I think) played on the Bluebird vs the same record on a CD player!
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 28 January 2011
Member #: 823
Postcount: 6678
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I am not familiar with the brand "Maples".
Googling around I find radios mentioned as stocked by a chain of stores in Victoria called Maples in the 1940s.
So, I'm guessing you may have a "house brand" unit.
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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If you e-mail me a photo of the receiver I'll be happy to include it in your post. My e-mail address is on my profile page.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Wangaratta, VIC
Member since 21 February 2009
Member #: 438
Postcount: 5239
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Maples stores had their own brands over a long period. Circuits can be hard to find as they were assembled by a variety of manufacturers.
Badge engineering is not a new phenomena.
Marc
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 4 August 2013
Member #: 1390
Postcount: 5
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Thank you everyone for that information. I am intrigued and will have to dig out the ol' vinyl to check out the claims of quality sound.
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 28 January 2011
Member #: 823
Postcount: 6678
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Now that you have us intrigued, how about some photos?
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Administrator
Location: Naremburn, NSW
Member since 15 November 2005
Member #: 1
Postcount: 7290
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Photo uploaded.
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A valve a day keeps the transistor away...
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Location: Sydney, NSW
Member since 28 January 2011
Member #: 823
Postcount: 6678
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If you can let us know the valve line-up, we may be able to determine who manufactured the chassis used in that unit.
If you're lucky, there may be a sticker or a card stapled to the interior of the cabinet giving that information.
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Location: Canberra, ACT
Member since 23 August 2012
Member #: 1208
Postcount: 584
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Maples were originally a furniture store - I think their biggest place was in Prahran but they were all over Melbourne and in many larger Victorian country towns in the '50s. They had their own brands for most furniture items and probably had the radiogram cabinets built in their own factories.
That cabinet looks good - are the sides and top solid timber or veneer?
Maven
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Location: Melbourne, VIC
Member since 20 September 2011
Member #: 1009
Postcount: 1179
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I'm guessing this Bluebird dates from around 1963. The record changer is a Garrard - possibly a "Autoslim". It looks like the Garrards platter mat has seen better days. It is most unlikely the cabinet is solid timber. By the 1960's most wooden radio cabinets would've been veneered.
There was also a Bluebird sewing machine that Maples sold in the '60's. I remember Maples as a kid in the '70's. It's logo was a maple leaf like the one on the Canadian flag. I'm not sure if Maples was a nation-wide chain or just in Victoria.
As for who made the Bluebird radiogram, or at least the chassis - I'm thinking possibly Kingsley Radio or Aegis of Melbourne. Some research needs to be done on Australian manufacturers of generic radio chassis', particulary from the 1950's & '60's. Some examples of generic radios from the 1960's is Aristone (Myer) and HG Palmer.
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