Magnavox Stereo Entertainment Console - $100 (Parker, CO)
- Thread starter ovrphil
- Start date
Nice Maggie Hi-Fi with a TV in its belly-too bad it isn't closer.Need close range game for me.Wonder if it all works.
Would like to see a console Hi-Fi "money" shot here-back panel removed-pictures of the equipment inside.
classiccaprice
Well-known member
1962, if I'm not mistaken...
I have that console in Danish and I believe that's the date inside. It's burried in my storage area at the moment, but I'll take a few shots of it this summer. Mine is slightly more worn, and needs to be recapped. Anyone know anybody who recapps (preferably cheaply) in the eastern half of Virginia?
I have that console in Danish and I believe that's the date inside. It's burried in my storage area at the moment, but I'll take a few shots of it this summer. Mine is slightly more worn, and needs to be recapped. Anyone know anybody who recapps (preferably cheaply) in the eastern half of Virginia?
whirlaway
New member
50s Style pic Tube
It even has an automatic brightness control for the pic, adjusts for room lighting.It appears to be a 24 inch model and the last before color.Around here Magnavox was very popular I used to see quite a few color combos,mostly round 21 inch models.I often wonder if they wont be showing up soon at thrift shops and estate sales.Monster sets and heavy.Stay away from there first solid state model the sound was crappy! Not nearly as good as the tube ones.If you see a Magnavox Grand around the mid fifties Grab It! They have terrific sound.
It even has an automatic brightness control for the pic, adjusts for room lighting.It appears to be a 24 inch model and the last before color.Around here Magnavox was very popular I used to see quite a few color combos,mostly round 21 inch models.I often wonder if they wont be showing up soon at thrift shops and estate sales.Monster sets and heavy.Stay away from there first solid state model the sound was crappy! Not nearly as good as the tube ones.If you see a Magnavox Grand around the mid fifties Grab It! They have terrific sound.
I can agree-early SS equipment sounded pretty bad.Even through the early 70's.When better transistors and circuits were used-the sound improved.Still-there is something about tubes-they just still sound better.And for SS amps-you will need to "recap" them often-they had more electrolytic caps in them than tube amps.When you recap a peice of equipment-the improvement is amazing-like or even better than new!
ovrphil
Well-known member
classiccaprice - Those are similar to "tombstone" doors; the lower trim is scalloped ...Danish style is more restrained and linear, generally. So, if it's Danish anything, would that be the finish? I would call it early American. When you dig yours out, would enjoy seeing it inside and out. Thanks.
I wish I could find whoever it is that has a large console on aw.org -might be color, not sure - but the doors closed, hiding the tube.
A Magnavox Grand is hard to come by and $$ - same for Fisher Philharmonic or Ambassador which were over a thousand $ back in 1964-65. Did they incorporate a TV into these stereos(thinking not).
I wish I could find whoever it is that has a large console on aw.org -might be color, not sure - but the doors closed, hiding the tube.
A Magnavox Grand is hard to come by and $$ - same for Fisher Philharmonic or Ambassador which were over a thousand $ back in 1964-65. Did they incorporate a TV into these stereos(thinking not).
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Phil:
That style was known as "French Provincial," one of the three major choices for home furnishing in the early '60s. The other two were Early American and Danish Modern, of course.
Sears sold a lot of French Provincial bedroom furniture; the line was called "Bonnet," pronounced bone-NAY. Both white-and-gold and "fruitwood" finishes were offered. When I was a kid, some of my friends on the street had a mom who was hell-bent on reproducing the glories of the Grand Trianon through the resources of the Sears catalog. Those boys, Alan and Jerry, actually had white-and-gold Bonnet French Provincial bunk beds with red damask bedspreads.
Interestingly enough, they turned out straight.
That style was known as "French Provincial," one of the three major choices for home furnishing in the early '60s. The other two were Early American and Danish Modern, of course.
Sears sold a lot of French Provincial bedroom furniture; the line was called "Bonnet," pronounced bone-NAY. Both white-and-gold and "fruitwood" finishes were offered. When I was a kid, some of my friends on the street had a mom who was hell-bent on reproducing the glories of the Grand Trianon through the resources of the Sears catalog. Those boys, Alan and Jerry, actually had white-and-gold Bonnet French Provincial bunk beds with red damask bedspreads.
Interestingly enough, they turned out straight.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Right you are, Sandy. I remember well those white and gold furniture pieces. Those would not be my choice, but FP sure had their fans...and fyi, I have flashbacks of the tv-stereo dept when I pass Sears electronics dept today. Imagine the cost we'd pay for all that cabinetry today, even without the electronics.
Alan and Jerry? (check it: are they using those white and gold french provincial towel sets, and French milled soaps, today? )
Alan and Jerry? (check it: are they using those white and gold french provincial towel sets, and French milled soaps, today? )
classiccaprice: If you post on antiqueradios.com you may find someone who would be interested in repairing your tv, in your area.
Here is a picture of my 1959 Magnavox console b/w tv.
Here is a picture of my 1959 Magnavox console b/w tv.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
Justin:
Thanks very much for sharing that screen shot of your Maggie. It's very rare nowadays to see 1950s TV programs as they were seen in their day. Today's high-res TVs and DVD/Blu-Ray players make these old shows look very different than they did when first seen - we see much better contrast, more graduated greyscale and much more detail than '50s viewers saw.
In fact, sometimes new equipment shows too much. I Love Lucy on DVD shows you exactly what the show's crew thought they'd successfully hidden back in the day - the fact that Lucy was forty when the show began, and pushing fifty when it ended. Their makeup, lighting and camera efforts were keyed to the contrast and resolution available in 1951-57; they never dreamed that TVs capable of reproducing every last bit of information on the camera negative would someday be commonplace.
It would be great to watch an evening of '50s TV on your set!
Thanks very much for sharing that screen shot of your Maggie. It's very rare nowadays to see 1950s TV programs as they were seen in their day. Today's high-res TVs and DVD/Blu-Ray players make these old shows look very different than they did when first seen - we see much better contrast, more graduated greyscale and much more detail than '50s viewers saw.
In fact, sometimes new equipment shows too much. I Love Lucy on DVD shows you exactly what the show's crew thought they'd successfully hidden back in the day - the fact that Lucy was forty when the show began, and pushing fifty when it ended. Their makeup, lighting and camera efforts were keyed to the contrast and resolution available in 1951-57; they never dreamed that TVs capable of reproducing every last bit of information on the camera negative would someday be commonplace.
It would be great to watch an evening of '50s TV on your set!
I also like to watch newer shows on it as well. Here is a photo of an 80's tv show. Can you guess what show it is?
ovrphil
Well-known member
I like that set (and your avatar with that unique Philco(?) These consoles are a dwindling breed - I just saw one I liked on CL, but they ripped out the tube and are promoting it for a fish tank or bar. (ugh!)
There's a good many b&w tv shows being broadcasted here, but quality is ok to poor. Keep it running, Justin.
There's a good many b&w tv shows being broadcasted here, but quality is ok to poor. Keep it running, Justin.
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Thanks fellas!
I'm sure I can find someone to fix the set when it is "free", however it probably will cost me a little $$$ to do. This summer, after I unbury and can get pictures of my collection, I'll make a posting on them in the Super forum.
<span style="font-size: 14px;">ovrphil- my cabinet is not exactly like that. Mine is the Danish Modern cabinet of that set. You can see it here in the top right corner...</span>
[this post was last edited: 6/3/2013-21:24]
I'm sure I can find someone to fix the set when it is "free", however it probably will cost me a little $$$ to do. This summer, after I unbury and can get pictures of my collection, I'll make a posting on them in the Super forum.
<span style="font-size: 14px;">ovrphil- my cabinet is not exactly like that. Mine is the Danish Modern cabinet of that set. You can see it here in the top right corner...</span>
[this post was last edited: 6/3/2013-21:24]
classiccaprice
Well-known member
other 1962 Magnavoxes? Magnavi?
Side note: I imagine the doors in the console for sale are fixed. There is no visible track for them to slide on and I have not seen any in my research for this era Magnavox that had operable doors. However, I could be wrong.
See below for source link for pictures
http://www.tvhistory.tv/1960s-Advertising.htm
Side note: I imagine the doors in the console for sale are fixed. There is no visible track for them to slide on and I have not seen any in my research for this era Magnavox that had operable doors. However, I could be wrong.
See below for source link for pictures
http://www.tvhistory.tv/1960s-Advertising.htm
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Inflation calculator...
That Danish set cost $550 in 1962... that's $4,234.84 in today's money...
That Danish set cost $550 in 1962... that's $4,234.84 in today's money...
That is Hills Street Blues on the tv. Even it looks good in B/W.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Like ghosts
Will (Classiccaprice) -GREAT ADS - These old consoles are works of art; now mostly ghosts. Unlike washers and dryers, there aren't many interested in saving these, it seems. FYI - your Danish modern is one of the best out of the bunch, too. I hope you find someone to recap and tune your set. There might be someone who can help if you check out audiokarma.org? With 147,000 members, you should be able to get some suggestions for help in your area of the state, even though they concentrate on stereo/sound. Or another site would be
Or you could do a search for vintage tv and stereos and see if you can contact a collector - this guy restores them, so you could ask if he knew of any resources in Virginia or in the EAST. I'm sure you can track down someone...maybe a local radio club, too.
I wish there was a site that was strictly for both stereo and tv-stereo consoles.
FYI - You're right, that Magnavox (now gone)TV console appears to have faux closing doors - doubt if they pulled out and into the cabinet, too.
Thanks for posting those fun ads with prices- very cool.
http://boxcarcabin.com/vintagetvs.htm
Will (Classiccaprice) -GREAT ADS - These old consoles are works of art; now mostly ghosts. Unlike washers and dryers, there aren't many interested in saving these, it seems. FYI - your Danish modern is one of the best out of the bunch, too. I hope you find someone to recap and tune your set. There might be someone who can help if you check out audiokarma.org? With 147,000 members, you should be able to get some suggestions for help in your area of the state, even though they concentrate on stereo/sound. Or another site would be
Or you could do a search for vintage tv and stereos and see if you can contact a collector - this guy restores them, so you could ask if he knew of any resources in Virginia or in the EAST. I'm sure you can track down someone...maybe a local radio club, too.
I wish there was a site that was strictly for both stereo and tv-stereo consoles.
FYI - You're right, that Magnavox (now gone)TV console appears to have faux closing doors - doubt if they pulled out and into the cabinet, too.
Thanks for posting those fun ads with prices- very cool.
http://boxcarcabin.com/vintagetvs.htm
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Thanks Phil
I got it at a local "variety" thrift shop nearby. There is no way to be certain, but I believe I saw this set in it's natural habitat. Back in high school I used to deliver meals on wheels. There was one older lady that had an identical console in her living room and I loved it. I was kind of shy and complemented her on it. She said that she and her husband bought it new and had kept it ever since, at the time she still listened to records on it. Flash forward 10 years, this showed up on my radar and the man said that his sister had picked it up in the section of town the lady lived in. I wonder if it found me?
I've got this 1962 Magnavox tv/stereo console, a 1962 Philco stereo console, a 1964 or 65 Zenith stereo console, a 1969 Zenith space command tv console, a 1963 Zenith round tube color tv console, a 1959 Zenith B/W tv Console, a smaller 1975 Zenith Chromacolor 2 (futuristic console), two non-working Philco Predictas, a 1981 Zenith tv that was my childhood set and a 1950s/1960s JVC console stereo set (which is before they were imported in this country [I believe it was brought back by a serviceman from somewhere overseas]...
I also have a 1969 and 1980 Panasonic stereo and 1971 Zenith futuristic stereo, but they aren't consoles.
I have a 1963 Telefunken stereo console and 1963 Space Tone Senator stereo console out on permanent loan and have owned a 1951 Zenith TV console, 1953 Zenith tv/radio console, a 1954 RCA tv console, and 1964 RCA b/w tv console.
There are really only a few sets I'd buy now... I'd like the smaller version of my 1964/5 Zenith Cabinet stereo, the larger 1975-ish Zenith Futuristic console... perhaps with a bigger house I'd look into a early 50's porthole tv or late 50's Grundig console stereo.
I'm not a member of audiokarma because I don't have a paid email address, but I do peruse every once in awhile. Please excuse the length of the post, typically if it has a plug on it and it's 40-70 years old, I like it (appliances, electronics, lamps, clocks, gadgets, gizmos and do-dads)
I got it at a local "variety" thrift shop nearby. There is no way to be certain, but I believe I saw this set in it's natural habitat. Back in high school I used to deliver meals on wheels. There was one older lady that had an identical console in her living room and I loved it. I was kind of shy and complemented her on it. She said that she and her husband bought it new and had kept it ever since, at the time she still listened to records on it. Flash forward 10 years, this showed up on my radar and the man said that his sister had picked it up in the section of town the lady lived in. I wonder if it found me?
I've got this 1962 Magnavox tv/stereo console, a 1962 Philco stereo console, a 1964 or 65 Zenith stereo console, a 1969 Zenith space command tv console, a 1963 Zenith round tube color tv console, a 1959 Zenith B/W tv Console, a smaller 1975 Zenith Chromacolor 2 (futuristic console), two non-working Philco Predictas, a 1981 Zenith tv that was my childhood set and a 1950s/1960s JVC console stereo set (which is before they were imported in this country [I believe it was brought back by a serviceman from somewhere overseas]...
I also have a 1969 and 1980 Panasonic stereo and 1971 Zenith futuristic stereo, but they aren't consoles.
I have a 1963 Telefunken stereo console and 1963 Space Tone Senator stereo console out on permanent loan and have owned a 1951 Zenith TV console, 1953 Zenith tv/radio console, a 1954 RCA tv console, and 1964 RCA b/w tv console.
There are really only a few sets I'd buy now... I'd like the smaller version of my 1964/5 Zenith Cabinet stereo, the larger 1975-ish Zenith Futuristic console... perhaps with a bigger house I'd look into a early 50's porthole tv or late 50's Grundig console stereo.
I'm not a member of audiokarma because I don't have a paid email address, but I do peruse every once in awhile. Please excuse the length of the post, typically if it has a plug on it and it's 40-70 years old, I like it (appliances, electronics, lamps, clocks, gadgets, gizmos and do-dads)
I can answer the door question
The doors on that model of Magnavox were definitely NOT fixed. My uncle had one from new until he died in 2000. I remember it very well...the doors slid shut to cover the picture tube.
I used to enjoy putting my hand over the electric eye and watching the picture get dark...lol.
The record changer was fun, too. "Micromatic Magnavox," I think it said. The tone arm would "feel" the edge of the reord before the needle dropped, to determine if it was a 7, 10, or 12 inch record. Uncle John was proud of the exponential horns and used to let me play his Phil Harris 78s loudly.
The remote control was a space age looking thing that went "toing" when you pressed the button. Of course, there were only 3 channels back then, but the tuner would clunk up and down the dial, and you could raise and lower the volume.
Nice to see it again. Seems like yesterday!
The doors on that model of Magnavox were definitely NOT fixed. My uncle had one from new until he died in 2000. I remember it very well...the doors slid shut to cover the picture tube.
I used to enjoy putting my hand over the electric eye and watching the picture get dark...lol.
The record changer was fun, too. "Micromatic Magnavox," I think it said. The tone arm would "feel" the edge of the reord before the needle dropped, to determine if it was a 7, 10, or 12 inch record. Uncle John was proud of the exponential horns and used to let me play his Phil Harris 78s loudly.
The remote control was a space age looking thing that went "toing" when you pressed the button. Of course, there were only 3 channels back then, but the tuner would clunk up and down the dial, and you could raise and lower the volume.
Nice to see it again. Seems like yesterday!
ovrphil
Well-known member
Will : I don't mind the thread length. I think you have an impressive collection - do you happen to have these all in an album to view online(Flickr or something? ) - would enjoy seeing them all. Lots of Zenith's in your collection....not accidental, I presume?
Supersuds(John) - thanks for clarifying and adding so much detail about that model, which appeals to me because it appears to be a Maggie stereo console that often had the front speakers and (correct me if I'm wrong) side horns(?)...lot of sound and amps compared to many tv-stereo consoles that allocated front firing speakers only. Your uncle picked 'em right. If it was still working in 2000, did it go to some family or friend?
Supersuds(John) - thanks for clarifying and adding so much detail about that model, which appeals to me because it appears to be a Maggie stereo console that often had the front speakers and (correct me if I'm wrong) side horns(?)...lot of sound and amps compared to many tv-stereo consoles that allocated front firing speakers only. Your uncle picked 'em right. If it was still working in 2000, did it go to some family or friend?
classiccaprice
Well-known member
phil
No pictures in a set file, but perhaps I can find a few over the next few days. Either way I thought I'd take some pictures when I clean out my storage are this summer. Keep an eye out in the super forum for it. My family always bought Zeniths, so I have some ingrained brand loyalty. The quality went in before the name went on until they were sold and American production stopped in the early 1990s.
No pictures in a set file, but perhaps I can find a few over the next few days. Either way I thought I'd take some pictures when I clean out my storage are this summer. Keep an eye out in the super forum for it. My family always bought Zeniths, so I have some ingrained brand loyalty. The quality went in before the name went on until they were sold and American production stopped in the early 1990s.
classiccaprice
Well-known member
$500 in Brooklyn... expensive, but cool
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vin...ordStereo-Player-and-Television-/161040376820
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Vin...ordStereo-Player-and-Television-/161040376820
ovrphil
Well-known member
Wow, elegant (and now $400) - no mentions of functionality -dead/alive/limping on one leg or anything, just selling it as furniture?
More info for ovrphil
I'm pretty sure it had the horns on the sides. Its been so long i wouldn't want to swear to it! It seemed an odd arrangement but worked well enough.
I don't know what happened to it ultimately. My uncle moved to Florida and I wasn't in on the disposition of his estate, though I was supposed to get his record collection -- but that's another story.
Unfortunately, my uncle decided at some point to remove the TV and used the center section for record storage. I was horrified, but in his new house it wasn't even hooked up to cable and couldn't get any reception out in the country, and the seating arrangements were such that nobody could have conveniently watched the TV, anyway. There were no radio stations he and my aunt wanted to listen to, either, so it became a big record player. It was impossible to argue with his logic, but it made me sad.
Another thing (since I'm reminiscing here). When you turned off the set, the picture would shrink to a little white dot in the center of the tube, before going out. I think it had something to do with static electricity, but it just delighted me as a kid.
The thing that's so remarkable in retrospect that it was such a well-made piece of furniture. The doors over the front, as well as on the top, were as smooth as silk to move. The finish was impeccable. It's hard to find any furniture of that quality these days, but we took it for granted back then.
I'm pretty sure it had the horns on the sides. Its been so long i wouldn't want to swear to it! It seemed an odd arrangement but worked well enough.
I don't know what happened to it ultimately. My uncle moved to Florida and I wasn't in on the disposition of his estate, though I was supposed to get his record collection -- but that's another story.
Unfortunately, my uncle decided at some point to remove the TV and used the center section for record storage. I was horrified, but in his new house it wasn't even hooked up to cable and couldn't get any reception out in the country, and the seating arrangements were such that nobody could have conveniently watched the TV, anyway. There were no radio stations he and my aunt wanted to listen to, either, so it became a big record player. It was impossible to argue with his logic, but it made me sad.
Another thing (since I'm reminiscing here). When you turned off the set, the picture would shrink to a little white dot in the center of the tube, before going out. I think it had something to do with static electricity, but it just delighted me as a kid.
The thing that's so remarkable in retrospect that it was such a well-made piece of furniture. The doors over the front, as well as on the top, were as smooth as silk to move. The finish was impeccable. It's hard to find any furniture of that quality these days, but we took it for granted back then.
ovrphil
Well-known member
Like tanks
Everything in the 50's and 60's pretty much were built solid - maybe overbuilt in today's engineering perceptions. I love wood and woodworking and I agree with you John - we took them for granted back then.
All the old tv's, as I can remember, that were tubes(not solid state)would turn off and shrink to a small dot - forgot about that one...good memory, John!
I wonder if you know what that circle is the the lower left of the left speaker? Seems a weird spot for a remote control receptorl or is it just Zenith's logo?
Everything in the 50's and 60's pretty much were built solid - maybe overbuilt in today's engineering perceptions. I love wood and woodworking and I agree with you John - we took them for granted back then.
All the old tv's, as I can remember, that were tubes(not solid state)would turn off and shrink to a small dot - forgot about that one...good memory, John!
I wonder if you know what that circle is the the lower left of the left speaker? Seems a weird spot for a remote control receptorl or is it just Zenith's logo?
That circle is the electric eye for the TV screen -- as someone mentioned upthread, the contrast for the TV would adjust automatically depending on how bright the room lighting was.
classiccaprice
Well-known member
Correction: the circle on the bottom of the screen is the electric eye
The red circle on the speaker is a light that shines when the set is on.
The red circle on the speaker is a light that shines when the set is on.
whirlaway
New member
The Horns!
I have a 1958 console magnavox and the horns are in the front and bass speakers on the side.Also tweeters in the front.Its an odd set no radio,Just a stereo phonograph with a full modern cabinet with the nice black and gold changer and butterscoth color knobs.Excuse my spelling Im tired waiting for the storm. Bobby
I have a 1958 console magnavox and the horns are in the front and bass speakers on the side.Also tweeters in the front.Its an odd set no radio,Just a stereo phonograph with a full modern cabinet with the nice black and gold changer and butterscoth color knobs.Excuse my spelling Im tired waiting for the storm. Bobby
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