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ETECTRAItr
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HIGH FIDELITY
RADIO.PHONOGR,APH
MODEL
44O
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AVERY
FISHER
F ounder
aail President,
F ither R
adio C or
por
otion
The
Mcrn Behind
the Produet
/-\vER
20
vEARS AGo, Avery
Fisher
introduced
America's
first high
fidelity radio-
L/
phonograph.
That
instrument
attained
instant recognition
as heralding
a new
era
in the
enjoyment
of
reproduced
music. A
number of the features
of that early
high
fidelity
radio-phonograph
were so
basic that they
are used to
this day
in
all
high
fidelity
equipment.
The engineering
achievements
of Avery Fisher
and
the world-wide
reputation
of
his
products
have
been
the srrbject
of articles
in Fortune,
Tinte, Pugeant,
The New
York
Times, coronet,
Lile, High
Fidelity,
Esquire,
and other
publications.
Benefit
concerts
for
the
National
Symphony
Orchestra
in
Washington
and the
Phila-
delphia
Orchestra,
demonstrating
the
great
advances
in
reproducing
equipment'
used
FISHER
instruments
to
play back the
recordings
that
had
just
been
made in
the
presence of the
audience.
"Fascinating
evening, acoustically
and
musically,"
was the
Philadelphia
Inquirer's
comment,
"the
reproduction
had remarkable
fldelity."
Ttue
magazine
stated,
"Listeners
could
hardly
teil the
difference
between
real and
electronic."
The
FISHER
instrument
you
have
just
purchased has
been designed
to
give you
many
years
of
pride
and
enjoyment.
It is the
product
of a
company
dedicated
to
bringing
reproduced
music in
its finest
form,
to
the homes
of America.
If at any
time
you
should
desire
information
or assistance
regarding
the
performance of
your
FISHER
instru-
ment,
please
do
not
hesitate
to
write direc1ly
to Avery
Fisher,
President,
Fisher
Radio
Corporation,
Long
Island
City
1,
New
Ycrk.
Your
communications
will be
welcome'
FISHER
'FIRSTS'
-
Milestones
In Audio
History
'
' '
1937
Eirst
high
tidelity
sound
systems
featuring
a
beam-oower
amplifier,
inverse
feedbacl('
acous'
tic
ip'eaker
compartments
(infinite
baffle
and
bass'rellex)
and
maSnetic
cartridges.
f93t
First exclusivelv
high
fidelity
TRF tuner,
featuring
broad-tunins
20,000
cvcle
fidelity.
1937 First
twcunit
high
tidelity
system
with
soparate
speaher enclosure.
193! First
coaxial
spealer
system.
1930
First
high fidelity
tuner
with amplified
Avc.
1939
First
Dynamic Range
Expander.
1939 First
SWay
Spealer
in a
high fidelity
system.
1939
First
Center-of-Channel
Tuning
Indicator.
t9it5
First
Preamplifier'
Equalizer
with selective
pho'
nograPh
equalization.
1948 First
Dynamic
Range
Erpander
with
feedback.
1949
first
FM-AM
Tuner
with
variable AFc.
1952
First so-Watt,
all-triode
amplifier.
1952 First
self-powered
Mastet Audio
Control.
1953
First
self-powered,
electronic
sharp-cut'off
fil'
ter system
lor
hiSh
{idelity use'
195t
First
Universal
Horn'Type
Speaker
Enclosure
for
anv
toom
location
and
any speaxer.
1953 first FM-AM
Receiver
with a Cascode
Front
End.
1954
First low-cost
electronic
Mixel'Fader.
1954
First moderately-priced,
prolessional
FM
Tuner
with Two
meters.
1955 First
Peak
Power Indicator
in high
tidelity.
t955
Flrst
Master Audio
Control
Chassis
with tive-
position
mtxlng
lacilities.
1955
First
correctly
equatized,
direct
tape'head.m"s'
ter
audio
confrols
and seif4owered
preamplifier.
1956
First
to lqcorporate
Power
Monitor
in
a home
amplif
ier.
1956
first
All-Transistorized
Preamplifier-Equalizer.
1956 first
dual
dynarnic
limiters
in an FM luner
for
home use.
1956 First
Performance
Monitor
In a
hiSh
quality
amPlifier
for
home us€-
1956 First
FM-AM tuner
with
TWo
meters.
1955
First complete
graphic
response
curve
indicator
for bass
and treble.
1957
First Gold
Cascode
FM
Tuner'
1957
First
MicroRay
Tuning
Indicator.
1958
First
Stereophonic
Radio-Phonograph
with
Mag'
neiic
SteIeo
Cartridge
1959
First
high-quality
Stereophonic
Remote
Control
SYstem.
1959
Firii complete
Stereophonic
FM'AM
Receiver
(FM-
AM
tuner,
audio
control,
4o'watt
amplifier).
THE FISHER Gusfom
Electro
lll
Model 44O Srereo
Rqdio-Phonogroph
INTRODUCTION
The Custom
Electra
I'II
Moilel
440 is a
complete
radio-phono'graph
system
designed to
play
all stereophonic
and
monophonic
records
and to
receive
FM,
AM and FM-AM
stereo broadcasts.
The unit consists
of a
610
receiver
chassis,
a 30-A
power amplifier chassis,
a
four-speed
record changer,
and two
matched
speaker
system - all
housed in an attractive
console
cabinet.
Input
connections
are
provided to play a tape recorder
or other
high-level sound source
through
the Custom
Electra
system.
No additional
amplifiers
or speakers
are
required
for
stereophonic
or
monophonic
sound
reproduction.
THE
FISHER Custom
Electra III system
is capable o[
providing more lhan
ample
volume for all
your
needs
without
di.stortion, and
the easy-to-use
Stereo
Control
Center
permits
the
sound
torbe adjusted
to
your
personel tastes. THE
FISHER FM-AM receiver
is renowned
for its extreme
sensitivity, assuring
you
of
high-fidelity
reception even
in extreme
fringe ar.eas.
Your
phonograph
records,
stereophonic
and
monophonic,
are safely
and
properly reproduced
on
the world-
famous
Garrard
four-speed
automatic
record
player.
To
the Garrard,
IISHER
has added a stereophonic
cartridge
equipped
with a
d,iamorud,
LP
stylus
for long
record life and
minimum
record wear,
with a
flip-over
stylus
for
playing
78 rpm
discs. This cartridge
is
of the
compatible
type,
which
means that
it will
play
either stereo
or
monophonic
recordings.
The ease
with
which
you
can
utilize the
many wonderful
features of THE
FISHER
wil'l be readily
apparent
when
you have
read the concise,
yet complete,
instructions on
the
pages that
follow.
STEREOPHONIC
SOUND
In
monophonic
high
fiilelity systems,
the
reproduced sound
has all
the char-
acteristics of
the
original
performance -
with two
exceptions. These
are direction
and.
d,istance.
With
the advent
of
stereophonic
high
fidelity
systems?
all the
characteristics
of
live sound
are now capable
of
being reproduced
in the home
or
auditorium.
THE FISHER
Model
440
constitutes
a
complete stereophonic
system.
1
Reproduction of
the live
sound characteristics of direction
and distance are
made
possible
by the use of
troo
sound
sources
and two sound channels. for
example, two
microphones are placed before an
orchestra
so that they
"hear"
the music as we would, with both ears. W'hat
is picked up by
each microphone
is then recorded separately
and independently on record
or
tape?
or
broadcast
as a
stereo
radio
program.
The
stereo
program
is
then reproduced through
two
separate sound
channels. The
sound
originally
picked up by the microphone
on
the right is used
to drive a speaker
system
on
your
right,
while
the sound picked
up by the
microphone
on
the left simultaneously drives a speaker system on
your
left.
The effectiveness of
stereophonic sound in achieving
realism
is much greater
than might be
imagined
on the
basis
of the simple
explanation
just
given.
The
stereo
system actually spreads
out the
orchestral
sound
in the
same manner as
it
would
emanate
from the
stage.
In
other word, instruments
located at center stage
are heard at a
point midway between the
speakers.
The
other
orchestral instru-
ments
can
be located
accordingly
from left to right. This
results in a realism
and clarity
never before
possible in high fidelity
systems.
Stereophonic
sound
programs are now available on phonograph
records and
magnetic tapes
and may also be heard on three types of stereo broadcasts: FM-
AM, FM-FM
and FM multiplex.
The
Custom
Electra
has been designed
to permit
you
to
listen to all of
these
stereo
sources as well as
to
standard
monophonic
prograrns.
INSTATTATION
THE FISHER
operates on
AC
only. The AC Power
Cord at the back of
the
instrument must be connected
to a line receptacle
supplying
I05
to
120
volts at
60 cycles. A step-up
transformer can be used
where
the line
voltage is lower,
a
step-down
transformer
where it is higher. THE FISHER
can be modified for
S0-cycle operation
by means of
an adaptor for the record
changer, which is
available from
your
Fisher
dealer.
Total power
consumption is 245
watts.
A
2-ampere Slo-Blo fuse
is used to
safeguard the
610
chassis
and a
l-ampere
Slo-
Blo fuse
protects
the
A-30 chassis. Neuer insert
a
twse
ot' rating
,lfigher
than
specified,,
or
seoere
d,amage may
resuh.
record chqnger...
Be
sure
that
the
shipping
screws
designated
by red and white tags
have been removed'
This is
normally done when the instrument
is delivered
and
set
up.
Be
sure
that the
pro-
tective cover on
the underside of
the
phono-
graph
cartridge
has been removed, exposing the
stylus. If it has not, hold
the
pick-up
arm
firmly
and remove the cover
guard
with a
fingernail.
lilx'!,+@
AUX AC
RECEPTACTES
lr
d
For
30.A Chossis
l...-l
l0
rl
For
Record
Chonger
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PHONO TUNER
AUX
I
;NpUTS-J OUTpUT
POWER
TRANSFORMER
Reor
ponel
The Record Changer should
ride
on
its
shock
mounts. This can be verified by
depressing
each
side of
the Record
Changer. Consult
your
FISHER Dealer if the changer does not move
downward under hand
pressure.
dnfenncr
instollction
. . .
The Custom Electra Model 44O is equipped
with built-in antennas for
both
FM and
AM
reception. The FM antenna is a
300-ohm
folded
of 610 chqssis.
dipole; the AM antenna
is
a special
{erlite
loopstick. Both antennas should
provide
ex-
cellent
reception in
virtually
all listening areas.
In extreme Iringe signal areas,
however,
an
external FM or AM antenna may
sometimes
be
necessary. To install an FM
roo{ antenna, dis-
connect the FI\{ dipole from terminals I
and
2 of
the
antenna terminal
strip
(see
Figure 1)
and connect the
lead-in of
the
external antenna
to
the same terminals. A roof antenna
for AM
use is connected to
terminal 3 of the antenna
strip.
The
Ierrite loopstick
need not be
re-
moved.
Note!
The
FM section
oI
your
receiver may
also
be fed
from
your
TV
antenna
by means of
a
two-set
coupler. See
your
Fisher dealer
or
service
man {or making
this installation.
inputconneclions...
The Fisher Custom
Electra
Model 440 is
shipped
from
the factory with
all components
properly
connected
to
permit
you
to listen
to
monophonic
and stereophonic
records as well
as to
FM and AM radio
broadcasts.
In addition,
connections
are
provided
on the 610
chassis at
the rear o{
the cabinet as shown
in Figure 1.
These are for
plugging
in
an
external tuner
for stereo
broadcasts, as well as a
tape recorder
or
some
other
high-level
program
source.
Auxil-
iary
sound sources
are
connected as described
below.
PHONO
INPUTS:
The Phono6A
and B Inputs
are for connecting
the record changer to the
610 chassis.
These connections are made at the
factory
so
that
the
Channel A stereo
component
is
heard in
the speakers on
the
left and
the
Channel B
portion
in the
speakers
at the right.
If
the leads {rom the
record
changer should
be
disconnected
for any
reason,
make sure
they are
replaced
as they were
originally
connected
so
that the
channels are
not reversed.
TUNER INPUTS:
The
Tuner
B
input is used
to
connect an external
tuner to
the
Custom
Electra
system
to
provide
the B
channel o{ a stereo
broadcast.
For FM-AM
programs,
connect an
AM
(or
FM-AM) tuner
to the Tuner
B
Input.
For FM-FM broadcasls, an
FM
(or
FM-AM)
tuner
is
plugged
in.
The external tuner operates
in conjunction
with
the FM tuner
section
in
the 600 receiver
to
provide
& stereo
broadcast.
The
portion
of
the
program
supplied
by the 610 receiver is
heard in the speakers
on the
left;
the
portion
supplied
by the
external tuner is heard in the
right-hand speakers.
The Tuner
B Input may
also be
used for making connections
for
an
trM
multiplex
adaptor, as
described below.
AUX INPUTS:
The
auxiliary
inputs are used
for connecting a
tape
recorder, a shortwave
tuner,
or other high-level
program
source to
the
Electra
sound system, A stereo
tape recorder
must be connected to both the AUX A and
AUX B inputs. A monophonic or other
single-
HUM ADJUSTMENTS
12
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FtG. 2:
Top view of
6lO chqssis
showing
hum
odiustments
ond
multiplex
connection
brqcket.
4
channel sound source
is connected
to the AUX
A input
only.
The auxiliary sound
source,
whether stereo
or monophonic,
will be
heard in
both speakers.
Note:
The sound
portion
oI a
TV broadcast
may
also
be connected
to
the
Channel
A Aux
Input.
Cautionl This connection
should
be
made only by a
qualified
technician.
multiplex Gonnections
. .
.
A
multiplex
jack
bracket
is located
on the
610 chassis,
as
shown
in Figure
2. The
three
jacks
on this bracket
are lor
making connec'
tions
to a
multipiex adaptor, such
as the
Fisher
MPX-10, which
permits you
to receive
the new
Crosby
multiplex stereo
broadcasts.
The
MPX OUTPUT
jack
at
the left is con-
nected
to the
Multiplex
Input
on
your
adaptor.
A
low-capacitance
cable must
be used for
mak'
ine this
connection.
The CIIANNEL
A
MPX INPUT
jack
at
the
right is used to connect
the
Channel
A
output
oI the
rnultiplex adaptor.
The Channel
B output
is connected to
the TUNER
B INPUT
on the
rear
panel
oI
the 610
chassis.
Remove
the
jumper
between the
MPX INPUT and
the
FM
OUTPUT
jacks.
If
your
muitiplex adaptor
is equipped
with
auxiliary
inputs
for making feed
through
con'
nections,
a cable should
be connected
between
the
FM
OUTPUT
on the
multiplex
jack
bracket
and the Channel
A Auxiliary
Input
on
your
adaptor, The Channel
B Auxiliary
Input is
con-
nected
to the.output
of an external
tuner.
This
provides
permanent
stereo
connections
to the
Custom
Electra,
permitting
you
to feceive
either
FNI
multiplex or Fl\{-AM stereophonic
broad-
casts
without changing
tlre,connections.
For additional
information on
connecting and
operating
the FM multiplex
adaptor, see the
operating
instructions
{urnished with
the adap-
tor or consult
your
Fisher dealer.
f
OPERATING
THE CUSTOM
ETECTRA
All controls
required
for
operating
the Custom
Electra Model
440 are located
on
the
control
pu.r"l,
*hi.h
is accessible
by
lifting
the lid of the
console-cabinet.
The
functions
of
the
five control
knobs
are marked
on
the panel, but to.enable
you
to
understand
the
operation
of
these controls,
a
brief description
bf each
is
provided
below.
qG
Power
on'ofr.
. .
This
switch
is
part
of the
Volume Control'
The
orr
position is at the
extreme
counterclock-
wise
point of rotation
of the
knob.
Turning
the
knob
clockwise
from
this
position
results
in a
click
Irom
the
control
and
the lighting
of
the
dial
glass
lamps,
signifying
that
AC
power has
been turned
on. It also
indicates
that AC
power
is
being supplied
to
any auxiliary
equipment
which
may
be connected
to the
Electra'
If
you
have been
using
the Record
Changer,
be sure
the
arm
is at
rest before
turning
ofi THE
FISHER.
stqtion
selector...
This control
is
used
for tuning
to either
FM
or AM
stations.
Turning
the knob
moves the
pointer
across the scale.
Tune
to FM
stations
on the
BB-108
Megacycle band, and
tune to AM
stations
on
the
550-1600
Kilocycle band.
Use
the
0-100
Logging Scale
for
convenient two'
digit location
of
stations.
Ghqnne! seiector.
.
.
The
six-position
Channel Selector is
used to
select
the type of operation, stereo
or mono-
phonic,
and the
program
source.
AM-MONAURAI:
Use
this
position
for ]istening
to standard
AM
radio
programs
as
received by
the AM
tuner in
the receiver chassis.
FM-tvloNAURAL:
This
position
is used
to listen
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MONAURAT
FlG. 3:
Control
Ponel
of Custom
Electro
llodel
440.
to standard
monaural
FM
broadcasts'
as
re'
ceived
by
the
FM tuner
in the
receiver
chassis'
RADIO-STEREO:
Turn
to this
position for
stereo
broadcasts.
What
you
will
hear
is the
FM
tuner
of
the
Electra
in
the left
or A speakers,
and
the tuner
source
you
have
connected
to
the
Channel
B
Tuner
Input
Jack
in
the B speakers.
PHONO-MONAURAL:
For
playing
monophonic
disc
recordings,
switch
to this selector
position'
In this
position
a standard
monophonic
disc
is
heard
in
both speaker
sYstems.
PHONO-STEREO:
This
is
the
position
to
use
for
playing
stereo
disc
recordings'
No
adjustment
oI
the
record
changer
is
needed.
AUX-STEREO:
Use
this
position {or
listening
to
tbe stereo
program
Eource
you
have
con'
nected
to the Aux
Input
Jacks
on the
rear
panel,
such
as stereo
tape
recorder
playback. This
position can also
be
used
lor
a
monophonic
high-level
source
by
connecting
a
jurnper
be'
tween
the
two
AUX
inPuts.
volumecontrol
...
The
Volume Control
is a dual-knob
control
which
permits
you
to regulate
the volume
in
each
channel
separately
to balance
the
stereo
outputs.
The smaller
knob,
marked
with
a dot,
controls
the level
in Channel
A.
The larger
knob,
designated
by
a
triangle,
regulates
the
volume
oI Channel
B. Turning
either
knob
in
a clockwise
direction
increases
the volume
o{
the channel
it controls.
The
knobs
are
friction loaded,
so
that if
one
is
turned
the other
turns with
it.
This
enables
you
to regulate
the volume
oI both
speaker
systems
at the
same
time.
If
you
wish
to vary
the volume
of
the
Channel
A speaker
only,
hold the
large Channel
B knob
with
one
hand
and rotate
the small
Channel
A
knob
with
the
other until
the desired
level
is
attained.
Re-
verse
the
procedure to regulate
the volume
of
the Channel
B
speakers
without
afiecting
the
A
speakers.
BA55 IoNE:
When
the
gold
marker
on this
knob
points
straight
up' the
bass
tones
are
reproduced
just
as
they
come from
the
program
source.
This
is the
flat, or
uniform
response,
setting.
Bass tone
intensity
can be
reduced
by
6
turning
the control toryard the
narx
position
on
the le{t, while
turning it toward the u.Lx
posi
tion on the right increases it. At high volume,
it is best not to use extreme clockwise
settings
o{ this
control, since distortion of sound
may
occur.
TREBIE
TONE:
When
the
gold
marker on
this
is
pointing
straight
up, the treble
tones are un-
afiected.
For a more intimate
tonal
quality,
turn
the
control to the left
(toward
nrN) to the
desired degree.
For a more brilliant
tone, turn
the
knob toward the
rrex
position
on
the
right.
SERVICE
INFORMATION
There are four chassis adjustments
which have been set
at thb factory to
provide
the best listening
results for
your
Custom
Electra. These
include two
Hum Adjustments on the
receiver chassis
(see
Fig. 2)
and a
Channel A
Level
Set on
the
rear
panel
(see
I'ig.1).
The Channel
B
Level
Set
is located
on
the
small
amplifier chassis.
The
Hum Adjustments
are used to suppress
hum in
the
speakers, and the
Level Sets
provide a means of balancing the speaker outputs
for stereophonic
listening.
These
adjustments
should be made only after
extensive
tube changes
or
other servicing
work
have been made on the Custom
Electra.
HUr\l
ADJUST l:
With
no
program
being
played,
turn the Volume Control
to
minimum. Turn
the Channel
A Level Set
on the
rear
panel
to
maximum
(clockwise).
Turn the Channel
B
Level
Set on the amplifier
chassis to maximurn
(fully
clockise). Using a small,
slot-head
screw-
driver, rotate
Hum Adjust 1
for minimum
hum
from the speakers.
HUM
ADJUST
2: A{ter setting
Hum Adjust
1,
turn
the Volume Control
to maximum. Using
a
small
slot-head screwdriver,
set
Hum Adjust
2
for
minimum
hum from the speakers.
IEVEL SETS:
Turn
the Channel A
and Channel
B Level Sets
to maximum
position
(Iully
clock'
wise).
Set the
Volume
Control
on the front
panel
so
that
both knobs are
at mid-position.
Play a stereo
record
through the
Electra and
note the relative
level
of the two
speaker
sys.
tems.
I{ the
speakers
to
your
left sound
notice'
ably louder,
turn the Channel
A Level Set
down
until the two
volumes are
equal. Make a similar
adjustment
of the Channel
B Level
set
if the
right
speaker
system
is appreciably louder
than
the le{t.
Part
No. N770.101
Note!
The
Channel
A Level Set. which
con-
trols the
output of the
speakers
on the left
as
you
face the Electra, is located on the
receiver
chassis mounted
on
the
right side
o{ the cabinet.
The right
speaker system
is controlled by the
Level
Set on the amplifier ohassis
on the left
side
of the console.
ql
your
service . .
.
It
is
the constant desire
oI Fisher Radio
Corporation to have
your
FISHER
give you
its
best
possible performance.
Toward
that
objec-
tive,
we solicit
your
correspondence on any
special
problems
that may arise.
After
you
have
had
an opportunity
to
{amiliarize
yoursell
with
THE FISHER, we would appreciate
your
letting
us know how
it
is meeting
your
requirements,
your
fisher deqler...
Be sure to
consult
your
FISHER Dealer
promptly
iI any
situation
arises that indicates
a
possible
defect. Your FISHER Dealer
stands
ready to assist
you
at any time,
t
l
4
23IRF24C-79
t
.'
o
finol
wotd .
. .
Have
this
booklet
handy
while
you
get
acquainted
with
your
new
FISHER,
then
keep it
in a
safe
place
as a valuable
reference
to
which
you
can
turn.
If anv
question
arises
to
which
you
cannot
find
the
answer,-pllase
do not
hesitate
to
write us.
We'll be
glad
to hear
fiom
you,
and
a
prompt
reply
will follow.
'*.
.-t
,
Avenv
FrsHER,
PRESIDENT
I
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