one for the Magnavox console fans...

[firedome]

They go waaaay back! Our magazine did an article on Maganvox back in Spring 1997.

Here's the Grandaddy of all Magnavox consoles: the Magnavox 3 stage amplifier using "tennis ball" vacuum tubes, circa 1920, price $75. (They also had a 1 and 2 stage).

The Magnavox ("Great Voice") Co. was started in California by Danish immigrant Peter Jensen, and in 1915 he developed the 1st electrodynamic speaker system ever, which he called the "Magnavox Radio Telemegafone", first used in San Francisco for the Mayor's Christmas Eve speech. In 1919, the first electronically amplified speech by a US Presidient, using the Jensen-developed amplifier employing the Lee de Forrest triode tube, was delivered by Woodrow Wilson. Later Jensen sold Magnavox, but he went on to further develop speaker technology, and Jensen speakers are of course still made and well known today. Maganvox went to to become a large and influential radio and TV manufacturer, and was eventually acquired by Phillips. Magnavox can legitimately be considered THE legacy company of any in the audio industry.
Thus endeth the history lesson for today ;-)

 

[frigilux]

Wow, it looks like something from science fiction! As is so often the case, I have questions.

1. Was this amp strictly for microphones, as in a P.A. system?

2. What do all the knobs and three levers in the center do?

Thanks for sharing Magnavox's history. I grew up with a circa '57 or '58 Magnavox's console stereo that fostered my interest in music, so the brand will always have a special place in my heart.

 

[cuffs054]

Yep, that's pretty cool!

 

[twintubdexter]

Like the Maytag decal on the front of wringer washers, the Lion's Head Magnavox decal is still available. It would be a fun thing to "tastefully" add to a newer Magnavox item. 

 

[firedome]

early 1, 2, 3 stage Magnavox amplifiers...

were originally used mostly for PA, and telephony - booster line amps &c, as the magnetic-electric pickup wasn't invented until around the mid-20s. That was replaced by the piezoelectric ceramic type, in the later '40s by the variable reluctance magnetic types and moving magnet, moving coil &c &c. So at the time there was no record player input that could be used, and the wire recorder and tape recorder came available later also.

 

[firedome]

controls...

not sure as to exact function, I'd need to see the inside, the levers are probably rheostats to control output levels, the knobs on each side probably terminals for various microphone input and output to the moving coil loudspeaker, is my best guess.