rbkj64
New member
Good afternoon! Attached are photos of my in-laws Magnavox stereo radio/turntable consle that’s in need of repair. It’s located in Baltimore Maryland. Does anyone have or know of an individual or company that can assist?
Magnavox Stereo/ AM FM Radio Turntable
- Thread starter rbkj64
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An idea
Probably your only hope is to look up the “Antique Radio Club of… “ for your geographic area.
Visit one of their radio meets and ask around. You need to find an old-timer to fix the unit properly. You’ll probably find someone who does side-jobs.
Most radio and TV shops are gone and forget “big-box” services. They want nothing to do with old units.
I grew up in TV shops and am aware of good and bad methods of repairing these older stereos. Lots of people suggest cavalierly to just “watch You-Tube and replace the capacitors”. Ignore those suggestions and find someone who knows that vintage Magnavox. You want it fixed, not chopped-up by some schmuck.
Probably your only hope is to look up the “Antique Radio Club of… “ for your geographic area.
Visit one of their radio meets and ask around. You need to find an old-timer to fix the unit properly. You’ll probably find someone who does side-jobs.
Most radio and TV shops are gone and forget “big-box” services. They want nothing to do with old units.
I grew up in TV shops and am aware of good and bad methods of repairing these older stereos. Lots of people suggest cavalierly to just “watch You-Tube and replace the capacitors”. Ignore those suggestions and find someone who knows that vintage Magnavox. You want it fixed, not chopped-up by some schmuck.
Ditto what Paul said.
I discovered the Antique Radios forum after I decided to pursue the revival of my 1950 Admiral Consolette television set. I found a local guy there and he quickly brought it back to life with a crisp picture (for its time, at least) by replacing all of the capacitors.
Here's a link to the forum:
www.antiqueradios.com
I discovered the Antique Radios forum after I decided to pursue the revival of my 1950 Admiral Consolette television set. I found a local guy there and he quickly brought it back to life with a crisp picture (for its time, at least) by replacing all of the capacitors.
Here's a link to the forum:
Antique Television Discussions
Share collecting tips/ideas, discuss antique televisions and related items. Ads are not permitted.
www.antiqueradios.com
justjunque
Well-known member
Richard,
That's a nice looking unit. I hope you're able to find someone to give it some love.
I have a 1960s console stereo that belonged to my parents.
Some time in probably the mid to late 1970s, they had the outer cabinet customized to match their colonial style furniture.
After some abuse and neglect by one of my siblings, including leaving it sitting outside for a brief time, it's in very rough shape. But, being a hoarder, who attaches sentimental value to things like this, I just can't bring myself to scrap it.
We have a museum of vintage radios not too far from where I live. At one point, I had offered to give it to them, in case they wanted to restore it. But, they weren't interested.
They did give me the name of a guy in the next state who repairs vintage TVs, radios, and electronics.
Some day, if I have the financial means, I'll see if he's interested in taking on the project.
I grew up listening to my parents playing records on it, and I still love the deep, rich sound that I remember it having.
Regards,
Barry
That's a nice looking unit. I hope you're able to find someone to give it some love.
I have a 1960s console stereo that belonged to my parents.
Some time in probably the mid to late 1970s, they had the outer cabinet customized to match their colonial style furniture.
After some abuse and neglect by one of my siblings, including leaving it sitting outside for a brief time, it's in very rough shape. But, being a hoarder, who attaches sentimental value to things like this, I just can't bring myself to scrap it.
We have a museum of vintage radios not too far from where I live. At one point, I had offered to give it to them, in case they wanted to restore it. But, they weren't interested.
They did give me the name of a guy in the next state who repairs vintage TVs, radios, and electronics.
Some day, if I have the financial means, I'll see if he's interested in taking on the project.
I grew up listening to my parents playing records on it, and I still love the deep, rich sound that I remember it having.
Regards,
Barry
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Helpful
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Try these three groups on Facebook. They can be very helpful. </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Magnavox Stereo Consoles & Other Magnificent Magnavox Products </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">("Magnificent" on a Magnavox console means it is a tube model . Your model is solid state and should say "Astrosonic")</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Vintage Stereo Consoles and Their Predecessors </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Vintage Electric Phonographs & Record Players Collectors / Restorers </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I have a collection of Magnavox console stereos. This is my favorite from the early 1970s...</span>
[this post was last edited: 5/26/2022-15:53]
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Try these three groups on Facebook. They can be very helpful. </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Magnavox Stereo Consoles & Other Magnificent Magnavox Products </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">("Magnificent" on a Magnavox console means it is a tube model . Your model is solid state and should say "Astrosonic")</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Vintage Stereo Consoles and Their Predecessors </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Vintage Electric Phonographs & Record Players Collectors / Restorers </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">I have a collection of Magnavox console stereos. This is my favorite from the early 1970s...</span>
[this post was last edited: 5/26/2022-15:53]
I’ll show you mine…
Hey Mr. Twintubdexter! Haven’t heard from you in a while - or maybe I was just not watching posts.
Anyway, here is my only Magnavox console. Sorry for the crappy pix but I am rearranging the basement.
Works and sounds great. Your opinion or info on this piece is welcome.
BTW - I love your Maggie console. Still elegant to this day.
Hey Mr. Twintubdexter! Haven’t heard from you in a while - or maybe I was just not watching posts.
Anyway, here is my only Magnavox console. Sorry for the crappy pix but I am rearranging the basement.
Works and sounds great. Your opinion or info on this piece is welcome.
BTW - I love your Maggie console. Still elegant to this day.
twintubdexter
Well-known member
Hello Paulg
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">Magnavox made some very unique pieces both big and small and yours is one of them. I always wanted one of those. If your little unit does not have an AUX input you might be able to disconnect (or tap into with an inexpensive A/B button) the eight track player and add a CD or streaming device. That is what I did with that tall Imperial console in my post with the reel to reel recorder to add the CD changer.</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">Here is another one of my Magnavox consoles which I keep in my dining room. It was originally advertised for $100 and I went to take a look at it. I wasn't crazy about the cabinet so I told the woman that I would think about it. She called me back and told me I could have it for $50. After a few days she called again and said I could have it for free or it was going out on the curb for trash pickup. She said she felt bad because it had belonged to her grandmother and in edition she and her kids had lost their home to foreclosure. I gave her the $50 and have grown to really like the cabinet. The flash makes those gold rectangular panels look much more shiny than they are.</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">I think yours is part of the "Stereorama" collection in the second pic. </span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">Magnavox made some very unique pieces both big and small and yours is one of them. I always wanted one of those. If your little unit does not have an AUX input you might be able to disconnect (or tap into with an inexpensive A/B button) the eight track player and add a CD or streaming device. That is what I did with that tall Imperial console in my post with the reel to reel recorder to add the CD changer.</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">Here is another one of my Magnavox consoles which I keep in my dining room. It was originally advertised for $100 and I went to take a look at it. I wasn't crazy about the cabinet so I told the woman that I would think about it. She called me back and told me I could have it for $50. After a few days she called again and said I could have it for free or it was going out on the curb for trash pickup. She said she felt bad because it had belonged to her grandmother and in edition she and her kids had lost their home to foreclosure. I gave her the $50 and have grown to really like the cabinet. The flash makes those gold rectangular panels look much more shiny than they are.</span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #339966;">I think yours is part of the "Stereorama" collection in the second pic. </span>
Thanks for the info
“Stereorama Collection” ? How cool! I didn’t know my unit was part of a “collection”.
I found mine at the Salvation Army. Basic maintenance and a touch-up of the base paint is all it needed.
Thanks for the tip about adding a streaming device. I want to get the unit back into use and streaming audio is a great way of getting audio throughout the house.
This columnar piece seems to need a piece of art to place on the slate top. Not lucky in that endeavor as yet…
Your pieces are elegant and pristine. Thank goodness they found a good home.
And thanks for pulling the brochure for our viewing pleasure. It puts into context the time of these fun Magnavox cabinet styles.
“Stereorama Collection” ? How cool! I didn’t know my unit was part of a “collection”.
I found mine at the Salvation Army. Basic maintenance and a touch-up of the base paint is all it needed.
Thanks for the tip about adding a streaming device. I want to get the unit back into use and streaming audio is a great way of getting audio throughout the house.
This columnar piece seems to need a piece of art to place on the slate top. Not lucky in that endeavor as yet…
Your pieces are elegant and pristine. Thank goodness they found a good home.
And thanks for pulling the brochure for our viewing pleasure. It puts into context the time of these fun Magnavox cabinet styles.
I have an older Magnavox stereo console. The radio portion works fine, but the turntable has attenuated sound. Would a capacitor fix resolve that?
sudsmaster
I have an old Philco record player that I replaced all the capacitors and it has attenuated volume as you say, and I think it's the cartridge that is old and weak. That could be your problem too as you say that the radio sounds fine.
I have an old Philco record player that I replaced all the capacitors and it has attenuated volume as you say, and I think it's the cartridge that is old and weak. That could be your problem too as you say that the radio sounds fine.
Joe,
Well, that could be. I cannot remember at present if I ever replaced the needle. Or is it the cartridge? Been years that I've had it. It basically functions as a sideboard now, in the living room. But it is nice in a mid-century sort of way.
Well, that could be. I cannot remember at present if I ever replaced the needle. Or is it the cartridge? Been years that I've had it. It basically functions as a sideboard now, in the living room. But it is nice in a mid-century sort of way.
Ceramic cartridges go bad from moisture invasion over the years.You will need to replace the cartridge.The the TT and record play function of that Hi-fi should be fine.But the TT may need attention-does it basically work?
Crystal cartridges fail from moisture invasion over the years, not ceramic cartridges.
What usually causes a ceramic cartridge to fail is the rubber stylus saddle either hardens or softens due to age.
thevoiceofmusic.com has kits to replace the cartridges in Magnavox sets with very skinny tonearms.
What usually causes a ceramic cartridge to fail is the rubber stylus saddle either hardens or softens due to age.
thevoiceofmusic.com has kits to replace the cartridges in Magnavox sets with very skinny tonearms.
Thanks, guys. I'll look into it.
The turntable seems to work just fine.[this post was last edited: 5/30/2022-18:14]
The turntable seems to work just fine.[this post was last edited: 5/30/2022-18:14]
