It's not a washer but it spins

[spankomatic]

This is my 1964 Magnavox I got about 1 year ago for $9.00. The am radio works fine. The fm radio only works for about 30 seconds the quits. The record player works only on 78 speed. Before I dive in looking for some helpful hints.

#1 fm radio only works 30 seconds...is this a tube thing?
#2 record player only works on speed 78.... Is this a elecrical problem or mechanical problem?
#3 It hummmmms.... How do you get rid of that?

Any knowledge would be great! I could not resist putting on the Filter Flo...

Jim

 

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[rolls_rapide]

It's a lovely radiogram.

 

[selectomatic]

Capacitors.

It wouldn't hurt to get the tubes checked (make sure you let them warm up for a while to test for the FM-cutting-out problem), but the humming (and possibly the FM problem) means that you need new electrolytic capacitors.

They dry out and go bad with age.

-kevin

 

[paulg]

The PHANTOM remote control

I see you have a PHANTOM "whistle" remote hand unit. I think that went with a MAGNAVOX TV, but not the stereo.
The electrolytic filter caps in the power supply are certainly dried up and causing the hum. Don't dig into the FM circuitry just yet. When unfiltered DC goes into the FM radio, it wreaks havoc and can just leave you with hums and tunable whistles. And yes, open filter caps can cause strange intermittents like your 30 second delay to failure.
I bet if you recap the power supply, the radio will pop back into place. Don't forget the bypass caps as well. If you don't know what I'm talking about-get a radioman involved.
You Collaro changer probably has grease that turned to glue so your idler is gummed into one speed. A clean and lube job is due. Collaro changers aren't the easiest to repair but the rewards are great. Great piece! It'll sound fantastic in no time.

 

[frigilux]

I love vintage Magnavox stereos. The record-changing process is fun to watch and very unique. We had a '59 console. It was a ton of fun to play with when I was a little kid.

Jason L. has some experience with Magnavox machines. Hopefully he'll check out this thread.

Calling Jason....or other Magnavox specialists...

 

[63getelevision]

Hey Spankomatic I Collect Magnavox

I'm no expert, but I'm actively seeking Magnavox collectors, I own two tube consoles from the '50s, three transistor consoles from the '60s, a bunch of radios, and component sets, transistor radios, etc. Your set is an Astro-Sonic, that means it has transistors. There is a set identical to yours in one of our thrift stores, "the Mustard Seed". They want $50.00 for theirs. It weighs a ton. I own a Magnavox Sorrento, from 1965, has your changer in it, it needs capacitors in it. Also, Magnavox did make stereo consoles that were remote controlled, The Kronborg, a large Danish cabinet Magnavox had that remote. Also of course, the television stereo theatres had those remotes. You could reject records, and change stations with it. I have been picking these things up for about 30 years, so I know enough about the product, but not much about repairs. Also, never change speed on your set with the turntable running or even just spinning, I know you said yours only plays 78 right now though. Email me if you just want to swap stories and such, I'm in Florida, I'll try to get some pics posted. Also, try Vintage_Stereo_Console on Yahoo groups. I posted a comment in a thread here after Jason did, about my tabletop Magnavox, and got no response. I hope we both do.

 

[tolivac]

Magnavox Hi-Fi consoles-My Mom had one-loved it-and worked on it-was the "Concert Grand" series-had tube amps and the classic Collaro Imperial micromatic TT.Had to replace the motor in it once-and when it got sluggish-cleaned and regreased the mechanism-cleaned the idler wheel tire.Worked great after that-Sadly she got rid of it(now she misses it)when she got her new hi-Fi system.I also worked on the amplifiers and tuner in her unit-the power amps were Bi-amped-Truely a "Hi-end" unit.I wished I had it to this day-and the super quality sealed speaker cabinets-and the cast frame 15"woofers and the tweeter horn.I am on the hunt for one-would love to find one like hers-enjoyed it whilke growing up-would bring my records to her house during the summer to listen to them.

 

[63getelevision]

Concert Grand

Tolivac! If you ever want another Concert Grand or similar Magnavox, look real hard, and grab it, because the new thing is to take these sets apart and sell the parts on eBay "because you can make more money off them that way", I am fighting that mentality every day, nobody knows or cares that they are destroying nice working sets for greed. I don't want to start anything ugly, but it would be just like these grubbers to disembowel every nice old washer, dryer, fridge, or stove, and making it even harder for you folks to find nice complete sets, because they want more money. Most people don't seem to believe or care that WE want these things. Regardless, they are all worth something.

 

[spankomatic]

I'm learning

I now have a good idea where to begin. Paulg good catch on the remote control. It does not go with this stereo. It goes to a Magnovox console television/stereo/phonograph combo. So I'm gonna ...

#1 clean and regrease the turn table components.
#2 recap power supply and the bypass cap.
#3 may need new electrolytic capacitors
#4 test tubes

Thanks so much for your input. It is a HUGE help!

Jim

 

[panthera]

Jim,

I usually leave this to the Magnavox fans but one or two minor points:
1)The cleaning and degreasing of a Micromatic is not as easy as a Voice-of-Music, not by any means. You can do it, but be sure you pay careful attention to what you do and do not take apart in that mechanism. The stuck on 78 problem can simply be because a locking screw has come loose on a pulley. Don't forget that there could well be a capacitor or two in this turntable, too. Under the platter, you will find two idler wheels. One is for the automatic mechanism. Don't get them mixed up. The mechanism in all the Micromatics I have seen of that era were set to use a specific speed for the mechanism to pull the idler wheel completely out of the way when not cycling. Since you already have an idler wheel problem, just thought I'd mention that...otherwise you could spend some time trying to figure out which goes where. Radio Shack online has the "needles" and cartridges for this beautiful turntable, Radio Shack sales in-duh-vi-duh-als will tell just role their eyes at you so don't even bother with them. WD-40 is not, by the way a lubricant I care to use here here except as a solvent. Sewing machine oil, judiciously applied together with a very light weight non-silicone based grease are much better choices.
2)Recaping is not necessary for the mica caps, just the electrolyte (foil) caps. As long as you are at it, do them all. Obviously, some are still working, but tolerances today are much better than what was being used in the early 1960s for solid state. They may look like little tin cans or waxy cardboard. I don't know the crossover circuitry for that unit, but pay extra careful attention to the cap. values there. Most places you can cheat a bit, but there you will want to be pretty well matched. Not just the power supply (and remember, after it is unplugged there may still be enough power left in a working capacitor to damage the equipment or zap you).
3)I would really, really be surprised to find tubes in an Astrosonic amplifier. Unless this is a hybrid I never heard of (and I don't know all the Magnavoxes) there should only be solid-state in there.

Some folks may be shocked at this, but in all honesty: In those days, Magnavox built really good tube amps and only fair solid state amps. (Sort of like today, when you think about it.) I would not feel you had violated originality to return this console to a tube based system...if this shocks anyone, just invest your distress in helping Jim keep that wonderfully linear Astro-Sonic audio output in line and leave me alone...there's a reason they had piezo tweeters and it wasn't space age thinking.

 

[tolivac]

The idiots that take down the vintage "Maggie" Hi-Fis for the components should be SHOT!!Such machines are getting harder to find.Again at how good they are bet some owners are hanging on to them.I also prefer the Maganavox tube electronics over the early solid state.For rebuilders its actually easier to rebuild or restore the tube units.The early Germaniun and silicone transistors and other semiconduictors are NLA.The tubes are still made.Early SS amps of the 60's were pretty bad.Take a tube model over them any day.In restoring amplifiers that have push-pull tube outputs-you should replace the coupling caps from the driver stage plates to the power amp tube grids-these get leaky over the years and will throw off the bias voltages for the output tubes causing them to overheat-IE plates glowing.I have done this while rebuilding tube amps.The output stage couplers are the most critical.

 

[63getelevision]

The results are in. I will not argue with anyone that the tube amps are superior in quality to the transistorized units. There are way to many technitions and serious collectors that have attested to that fact. I own a 1959 Magnavox stereo phono console that was mint until the cat dislocated a woofer, and the cabinet got wet on top in its "temporary" storage. It is a basic unit with no tuner. I have a 1957 Mag strictly mono hi-fi console also with no tuner. I will see them go to landfill before I'd allow them to be broken up. As far as my 1965 Astro-Sonic console goes, it had the most perfect tone and beautiful sound I had ever heard, until lack of use and natural deterioration of electronic components rendered it into a barely functioning over sized pile. In my case, it has to be returned to its former state, transistor or not. I have a 20 watt Astro-Sonic low end model with 12 inch woofers, horn tweeters, and a sticking changer wheel that keeps sticking after every change. Tracks and plays very well except for that. I know 20 watts is laughable, and whereas I can still tell the difference between super sound and so-so, my hearing is limited due to a couple of unfortunate incidents, and ultra-tweaked systems are of no real use to me. As long as my Magnavoxes are functioning as intended, I'm happy. Email me, if you like.
Alan

 

[tolivac]

In SS Hi-Fi amps-wether they are Magnavox or other brands-the coupler caps are the critical ones as well as power supply filters.In SS amps the stages are a lower impedance than tube amps-so the couplers in SS amps are high value-this means electrolytics as couplers between stages-Replacing them should clean up the sound of your 1965 Magnavox Hi-Fi.I have done this-mostly to old CBS labs "Volumaxes" used in radio stations-Volumaxes were an early multifunction audio processor amp used as a limiter feeding the transmitter. the solid state stages in these were loaded with small and medium value electrolytic caps.They do deteriate with age-thus causing bad sound.Replacing them pepped that old Volumax right up.Also the phono cartridges age too-the rubber or elastic suspensions for the stylus cantelever get hard-causing poor sound.much like dried out speaker cones and suspensions.Replacing the cartridge in an older Hi-Fi should help a lot too.

 

[63getelevision]

Thanks, Tolivac, that's the best feedback I've gotten on that poor set yet. I'm going to beat the bushes here for a guy or gal willing and able to fix it without a lot of bull. When things settle down here and I'm not driven into the poorhouse, it's a done deal. I've seen complete tube Maggie consoles on eBay just yesterday, lot of people threaten to part them out if they can't sell the whole units. Then there are the ones that part out without trying to save them. That mentality has been around for way too long. I would also believe there are a lot of complete tube Maggies still around in North Carolina, so don't give up!