Just acquired an SHC-6 in (I think) the maple color. It's actually a few shades right now from sun exposure, etc. but looks to be maple. However, it did not have the backboard attached nor did the person from whom I bought have it. Other than trying to find another cabinet for parts, has anyone made new backers for these consoles and if so, what material would I use, etc? Assuming I could have someone with the same model send dimensions, etc. cutouts? And also guessing I would have to find some replacement grill cloth that's not original. Any ideas? Thanks!
Ryan

Is it missing grill cloth (in front of speakers); or the back board? I've yet to see a back board on an RCA console. Some may have had them, but they got removed and discarded over the years if they did. It is not necessary to have a back on one of these consoles.

Hey Larry, yes, I should have been more clear. It's missing the backboard. Grill cloth is intact on the front. I was just thinking of replacing the backboard and covering with a replacement cloth. My SHF-6 doesn't have a back, either. But my SHC-3 has what they called the room divider back on it and by looking at this SHC-6, it at one time had one (has the same brackets and pins as my SHC-3 where its back fits in). As you say, it's not necessary to have a backer on it, as it will be put against the wall but thought I'd check and see. The cabinet on this one is worse shape than my other two so after I brought it home yesterday I took everything out of it. Going to start refinishing the cabinet today, hopefully find a stain that closely matches the original -- if I don't stop buying these things, I'm gonna have one in every room of the house!

Hey Ryan, I have a nice SHC-6 here on hand with the room divider intact. There is special spring loaded clips for mounting hardware that would be close to impossible to fabricate or at least it would be very costly. Most folks have no idea about the room divider it was only installed on a couple of the SHC models from what I know of. I have found them on an SHC-3 and 6. Not sure of ythe SHC-2 or 4 had them as well maybe somebody with a 2 and 4 can chime in on that. If you want information, pics etc shoot me an IM and I will get you my email and phone number.




This is one of my fav models and the one I have spent the most money on getting. I bought it in Texas and had it delivered all the way to me in Ohio in the back seat of a `61 Buick Convertible! LOL

Do you have just the one SHC-6 or multiples of this model? Sounds like you have a few. Would love to see pics of yours as well.

T

I've had an SHC-2 and an SHC-4 (traditional, not the modern cabinet) and although both of them had the backboard intact, neither of them was a room divider with the rear grill cloth. Todd, you say that you saw it on an SHC-3? Was it a modern style one?

It was a blonde SHC-3 which is the one with the set up kinda like a 6HF2. The the one you bought it Ohio is a SHC-3 I recall and this one I found was identical to that one. It has legs but they are wood. I don't think they made classic and modern during that period did they? Anyhow it was blonde, had wood legs and had the divider similar to my SHC-6. I found it at a swap meet in Cleveland for $20 and tried to pass it along here. No one on here went after it and I hear it sold locally.

I also recall some of those RCA advertisements from SHC period mentioning the room divider on the SHC-6 and others as well. I should go check into that.

My SHC-3 is also a Blonde one with the room divider back. I found an ad in Life magazine, September 22, 1958 (Google Books) and it shows several models, including the SHC-6 and mentions the room divider. They also show the SHC-3 but don't specifically mention the back.

I have started refinishing the SHC-6 today. I debated back and forth and have come tot he conclusion that the original color is Walnut (at least, when I removed the front faceplate and saw the color under there, it looks walnut). The rest of the cabinet is much lighter in color, in several shades throughout, assuming this is years of sun damage, etc. The original ad mentioned above says the SHC-6 comes in Mahogany, Oak and Walnut veneer. The original color under the face plate seems too dark for oak and it's definitely not mahogany.

A wood expert can tell what that veneer is right away if you take a piece of it into them. From what you describe though it sure sounds like Walnut to me as well.

There is evidence on my 59 SHC2 that it had a back on it at some time. No back cover is present now. The external speaker has the typical perf board cover on the rear.

Yes I guess alot of the back boards have gone missing External speaker is my next quest -- don't presently have any. I'm using my SHF-6 as an external for my SHC-3 and I'd like to acquire an external for SHC-6 that I acquired last week -- been searching craiglist like crazy!

I just found an RCA Victor SHC-6 with external speaker and "room divider" back sheet attached here in Michigan.
Came with the original bill of sale and instructions. The Stereo unit is a darker color then the external speaker. I think the speaker is what you call "blonde" color. I believe it was all purchased at once though on 5-21-59 sold then for $841.64
May be willing to part with it.

Could you use peg board for the back of the unit. If it needs covering that would be no problem also peg board is light weight.

I might be interested, email sent.

T

Hello everyone,

I just recently picked up this RCA Stereo system on ebay.Only had to drive 78 miles to pick it up.let me know what you think.
Click on the attachment.

regards

double post