I was watching some episodes of a game show from the early 1970's, and saw them present a stereo console as one of the prizes. As the model lifted the lid on the top of the unit, a mirror attached underneath the lid showed us the record player inside.

I'm fairly certain the answer is "yes," but I'm curious: Was that mirror placed there by the production company so the home viewer could see what was inside the unit? In other words, am I correct in assuming that these consoles were not usually available for purchase with mirrors under their lids?

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Scott Robinson

I can't talk for everybody else who had a stereo console, but I happened to have one in my bedroom as a teenager (late 70s-early 80s) and I do recall that a mirror was on the lid. I got it when my parents got another stereo system for our living room, so I do not know if they had to purchase it separately or if it came with the console at no additional cost.

I noticed that too a long time ago. The mirrors were obviously there for the benefit of the contestants and home viewers, not to mention the cameraman who would otherwise have had to dolly in and try to get an inside view, which would have been difficult if not impossible to do with those huge, bulky cameras. No store-bought unit had a mirror; it would have been pointless. A person at home opening up the stereo sees the record changer and other features just by looking down at them.

What's a stereo console? What are records?

HEY! Don't make me come out there.

-- Geno (51)

And for that matter, what's a mirror?

It's a shiny glass thing that... oh nevermind.


Greg

"...but that's not important right now."