brianmcdonell
New member
Hello all!
I am new to this site and this is my first post as well. I found this site from doing a ton of Google searching while I am trying to research restoration ideas for a new piece I just picked up. I am a woodworker by trade and am always on the lookout for unique furniture pieces to work on. My wife is also a very classy chick and just LOVES vinyl records so this 1966 (I think) Magnavox Astro-Sonic was an awesome find from an estate sale a few weeks ago.
I want to do a complete restore on the stereo cabinet back to as close to original as possible. I have seen some people take these and gut them to make cabinets or dressers out of them, seriously depressing. I aim for this to be a focal conversation piece in our home with complete functionality.
It DOES work to a degree. Only one speaker works at the moment, but it does pick up radio stations and play audio. The turntable does spin but I'm sure needs a complete overhaul before throwing a good record on it. I haven't opened up the back yet because I am getting ready to move back up to Tennessee around the Nashville area so I don't want to get to involved before shipping it. As you can see in the pics, some of the knobs are broken so I will need to find replacements. I have toyed with the idea of making new knobs out of wood on my lathe and then making a new wooden faceplate for the tuner.... Structurally it looks to be in pretty good shape. It has only had one owner up until I bought it recently and has only gone through one move from the New Jersey area down to Texas several years ago.
I am looking for advice and maybe where to start and some good resources on where to find parts and possibly service. Also, if there any experts that can tell me for sure what year this is or how to find out that would be great. I bought it from the daughter of the gentleman that owned it and she doesn't know exactly what year it is.
I hope to get cracking on this piece really soon. Please feel free to follow along on my Facebook page for my woodworking business, Projects820. I have the URL linked below. I truly welcome any and all feedback!!










I am new to this site and this is my first post as well. I found this site from doing a ton of Google searching while I am trying to research restoration ideas for a new piece I just picked up. I am a woodworker by trade and am always on the lookout for unique furniture pieces to work on. My wife is also a very classy chick and just LOVES vinyl records so this 1966 (I think) Magnavox Astro-Sonic was an awesome find from an estate sale a few weeks ago.
I want to do a complete restore on the stereo cabinet back to as close to original as possible. I have seen some people take these and gut them to make cabinets or dressers out of them, seriously depressing. I aim for this to be a focal conversation piece in our home with complete functionality.
It DOES work to a degree. Only one speaker works at the moment, but it does pick up radio stations and play audio. The turntable does spin but I'm sure needs a complete overhaul before throwing a good record on it. I haven't opened up the back yet because I am getting ready to move back up to Tennessee around the Nashville area so I don't want to get to involved before shipping it. As you can see in the pics, some of the knobs are broken so I will need to find replacements. I have toyed with the idea of making new knobs out of wood on my lathe and then making a new wooden faceplate for the tuner.... Structurally it looks to be in pretty good shape. It has only had one owner up until I bought it recently and has only gone through one move from the New Jersey area down to Texas several years ago.
I am looking for advice and maybe where to start and some good resources on where to find parts and possibly service. Also, if there any experts that can tell me for sure what year this is or how to find out that would be great. I bought it from the daughter of the gentleman that owned it and she doesn't know exactly what year it is.
I hope to get cracking on this piece really soon. Please feel free to follow along on my Facebook page for my woodworking business, Projects820. I have the URL linked below. I truly welcome any and all feedback!!









