Technical Details
Brand: Crown
Model:1000
Category:Super High Fidelity
Application:Semi-Pro
Electronics:Tube
Equalization:NAB
Country of Manufacture:USA
Original Price: $1795
Tracks:1/4 Rec/PB
Speeds: 3 3/4, 7 1/2, 15
Max Reel Size("): 10.5"
Number of heads: 3
Head Composition: Permalloy
Head Configuration: Stereo
# Motors: 3
Auto Reverse?:No
Voltage(s): 110-120v
Outputs: RCA
Sound quality rating:9 / 10
Long-term reliability rating: 9/ 10
Additional Details
Description
The crown 1000 is essentially the same as the 800 tube machine with different appearance and function controls. These controls were considered state-of-the-art in the day and the reason why they didn’t sell too many machines (estimated seven) is that $1795 could buy you a pretty decent car in 1961, so the additional $500 for a more modern appearance and fancy controls didn’t appeal to too many people.
Only one of these is known to exist so far. I bought it from an employee at Crown in Elkhart Indiana when they were finally closing the facility. It was found in a technicians closet where it had been idle for many years after being sent in for service in 1971. Where did the other six that were made end up?
Additional Info
The crown 1000 is the same as an 800 but with different power, reel size, cue & function Switches.
These controls would have been state-of-the-art in the day but these days are not superior to the 800 as they are prone to failure.
I have upgraded the capacitors in the preamplifier sections using Mundorfs where possible and higher grade polypropylene for the other values that weren’t available. New higher grade potentiometers were also used in the upgrade.