my PIONEER PL-512 turntable (and the basic SONY stack)

Pics 1 & 2 represent a minor milestone on the to-do task list accomplished earlier this evening. My PIONEER PL-512 turntable officially played (part of) its first LP again, after (possibly as much as 8) years of disuse. <cheers><applause> I'm certain its never played a record in this house anyway (and that's around 6yrs now) because I have continually procrastinated buying a new stylus for its SHURE M91ED cartridge -- but a new one finally *did* arrive with today's mail. :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

This is the first *good* turntable I ever owned, purchased brand new in the late 1970's. (I still have its original box and paperwork too, somewhere) From the gray/silvertone faced component stereo period, I chose it from the available selection specifically because it was a simple but quality model with a manually (vs. automatic) operated S tonearm using very light weight on the stylus - the original cartridge was a Pioneer wanting just a few grams, the current Shure is happiest with ~1g weight on it and was a reasonably early (and only) 'upgrade' its ever had. It has remained at top center of every stereo system setup I've owned since whether being plugged up and used or not, in all these recent years I've not allowed myself to hook it up and use it *until* I replaced its stylus, because the majority of LP's joining my collection during the same time are now good and/or rare enough that I didn't want to risk damaging them.

But NOW, I can actually go digging in all those boxes and find (or re-find) all the treasures lurking within?!!!! <WOO-HOO!!>

The second two pics are the (dusty!) basic SONY components (and CROWN DC-300A power amp) that make up the core of my current living room stereo shelves. Top is a ST-JX411 tuner, below that a TA-E77ESD control amplifier. The control amp has rosewood paneled ends and I still have its original remote control (not shown) which is a uniquely capable version of a 'universal remote' by itself, featuring not only all the standard 'universal function buttons' but rows of extras for the specific functions of various other typical a/v components usually left off of any universal control. Both these two are newer than the turntable, likely late 80's or 90's with their blackface styling that got popular after the silver-face style. The amp is closer to them in age too probably, I've already shown it here by itself.

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/273064-my-house-rattler

The LP I chose for the occasion: ANGEL RECORDS 35369, CESAR FRANCK ORGAN WORKS, Piece Heroique (side 1, track 1), performed by Edouard Commette on the Cathedral Organ of Saint Jean De Lyon, France. (ca. 1950's probably) Angel Records was a publisher of fine quality classical music recordings in the 1950's (at least) and this disc was already in my personal collection -- one of the things I know is lurking in the other LP boxes somewhere is somebody else's entire collection of Angel recordings I have yet to discover for myself?!!
:-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Records