Magnavox Micromatic turntable Lamp

Hello all!
This is the first time I had to resort to posting on this forum, but I ran out of luck.
I just bought and restored a 1968 Magnavox console, 1P3826.
It has the two speed Micromatic turntable (Collaro?) with the chrome load and tonearms (cobra shaped).
It has the lamp in the speed control that lights up the changer when the lid is slid open.
The bulb did not survive the trip home and for the life of me, I cannot find a suitable replacement.
It measures .325" dia and .650 lond with wire leads. About a T2 1/2 size.
The supply voltage is 7VAC at the bulb's leads. The bulb size is critical as it snaps into a metal holder under the clear lens. The manual told how to change it but gave no info where or how to get it, part number, etc.
Digikey, newark, MCM, & Mouser offered nothing close.
Any suggestions??

Many thanks in advance!
Rob

Oh boy,

I just did a 1972 Micro-Matic in an Asto-Sonic console...same lamp in the on/off speed control post. I can tell you that those things are a B**** to get to and replace. Mine was fully operable so I was lucky. However, as far as a replacement lamp, I would say to start with the following places:

Turntable Factory (while Joel Thorner is passed, his aprentice is keeping the shop up and running)
Garage-a-Records
Edward Saunders (Ed Saunders)

One of these sources should be able to advise on the correct Lamp size and where to get it. I know they are available it's just a matter of finding one. Garage-a-records would be my first place. Just give them the make of your Turntable (1968 Magnavox Micro-Matic) and I'll bet CJ and the girls can help. If not, try Turntable Factory next. Record Changers are their specialty!

Note that you do not want to call it a COLLARO as Magnavox bought COLLARO and the tables are cataloged as Magnavox Micro-Matics, not COLLARO any longer. That could cause confussion in your search. I'll bet once you identify that bulb, if GAR does not have it, you could get it at any lamp shop...in fact, you may want to try a lamp shop just for the heck of it. Take the bulb with you.

Let us know what you find

Joey

Well, so far the search turned up zilch for a replacement light bulb...
G-A-R was the only one kind enough to try to find one, but failed. They suggested a local TV shop, but here in Dallas, I know of none. Here it is a trash and replace (using plastic) area...
I have not seen a TV REPAIR shop for years. I may try to find some farther out in the country if I pass by. I saw one in Oregon last year...
The other two places online Joey mentioned will not even respond; I guess it is two small a thing for them to look into.

One interesting note is that in the owners manual, it says to make sure it is a Magnavox part only, and I have a feeling it was manufactured exclusively for them. The GE catalog also showed no possibilites. I work at TI and have access to many huge electronics suppliers and I cannot find a thing that is close.

At this point I have two choices to fix it - find someone parting out a unit with a good bulb (a risky choice, as mine failed in just transporting the unit) or using a smaller bulb and possibly installing a higher voltage transformer if i cannot find a 6-8V bulb.
I may try removing the metal clip and see if a common T3 1/4 bulb will fit.
I thought about a small LED setup, but I do not like the light color (I want the traditional incandecent look.)

Some pictures of the bulb, as well as the console itself, can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelonerider2005.
If anyone else has any suggestions, I am open to them!

In the mean time I put the lens back on and am using the console regularly. She works great, though the turntable needs to warm up a minute before it sounds stable. (Probably the motor needs to be de-gunked and oiled.) I lubed what I could from on top and resurfaced and cleaned the idler.
Can you even remove the turntable without removing the back panel??? If not I will wait until the problem get bad enough to justify the work.

Surprisingly, this big Astrosonic console does not have quite as good a sound as my newer, smaller console; a B6474 (?). It is from 1978 or so with only 10" woofers (in the diving bell enclosures) and separate mids and tweets. It has less power though (20W advertised).

-Rob

Sorry it has been so long since I replied...

Ya know, the issue with changing the light bulb socket is that they (Magnavox) chose that bulb for many reasons...one being HEAT. Most common bulbs will get to hot and cause the plastic lense to melt. Have you by chance contacted Magnavox yet? I have found that they have an amazing back-log inventory AND can advise on where to get parts. Turntable Factory is VERY back-logged right now but they will respond to you ASAP (which could mean 3 - 4 months ). Record Changer repair is a business that keeps you bussy. I know that ever since I did that '72 Asto-Sonic, I have had more requests to perform restoration and repairs than I could ever keep up with.

On to sound quality, YES, your '78 Maggie will sound better as technology got better AND, your older unit may need a THROUGH servicing meaning that the AMP must come out and be carfully cleaned. The rebuild I did on the '72 model made all the difference in the world. In fact, the owner now has a CD Jukebox connected to it running 50 CD's at a time PLUS the record changer as well. I have to say that I liked the BLUE display of the mid-70's maggie units with the slightly better Micro-Matic turntable as well.

Anyway, best of luck to ya...

joey1127

Well, I never found a close replacement lamp for this beast, but I used a smaller alternate, a CML CM328 from digikey. http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... e=CM328-ND

It does light up the records well and gives off little heat - see the nightime picture in here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelonerid ... 569011135/

Joey, I never thought to call Magnavox and it would be a good idea if I ever get the time or motivation.
After hours on the phone with Dell and being xferred to 3 different countries just to try to get a $2 cable they did not send me, I have little desire to call big companies any more (sad to say...) Worst yet I have to send back two irrelevant parts they did send me in the process...

I do know a Magnavox nut who sells on flea bay so HE might have some suggestions.
Maybe I can find time to track him down.

If anyone out there figures out where or how to get a correct lamp, please post here.
Thanks!
-Rob

Note that Magnavox is not Magnavox anymore. Funai makes most of their stuff..

I think it was once Phillips many years ago, as my latest TV had the two names combined.
Now Funai??? Did not know that. Sad...
I doubt there is any chance on getting anything from them then.
Are there ANY American brands of electronics still made here? (I doubt that, too.)
Thanks...

-Rob

Good question.

I know Funai makes all of the VCRs and DVDs for Magnavox, Sylvania, and several other brands.

But there is another problem that dilutes some brand names. The 75 year trademarks on the following names have expired: Victor, Columbia, Philco, Magnavox, RCA, Motorola, Dual, GE, Emerson, Admiral, Westinghouse, JVC, Mitsubishi, and many more. This means that impostors can make equipment under those names without recourse by the original company.

Try going to donsbulbs.com and do a search by voltage and size and such... it is a wonderful site to find obscure bulbs at..

RobYoung wrote:Well, I never found a close replacement lamp for this beast, but I used a smaller alternate, a CML CM328 from digikey. http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... e=CM328-ND

It does light up the records well and gives off little heat - see the nightime picture in here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/thelonerid ... 569011135/

Joey, I never thought to call Magnavox and it would be a good idea if I ever get the time or motivation.
After hours on the phone with Dell and being xferred to 3 different countries just to try to get a $2 cable they did not send me, I have little desire to call big companies any more (sad to say...) Worst yet I have to send back two irrelevant parts they did send me in the process...

I do know a Magnavox nut who sells on flea bay so HE might have some suggestions.
Maybe I can find time to track him down.

If anyone out there figures out where or how to get a correct lamp, please post here.
Thanks!
-Rob

Hey Rob,

Being that you went with a smaller bulb, call it good! I think you are good to go. Heat is always the primary concern so as long as the lower wattage bulbe works, run with it!!! Also, your unit is IDENTICAL to the one that I restored, that Micro-Matic table is a GREAT machine but I know that mine would run ok and than when you would restart it after playing a stack of records, it would flutter really bad...That was the motor needing to be cleaned!

Any way,

NICE MAGGIE!!!

Joey

Hi Rob,

I see from your post that you restored a Magnavox Astro Sonic Console Stereo and it is implied that you have a manual. I have a 1P3811 model. One of the two channels has quit and I am prepared to trouble shoot it. The trouble is, I can't figure out how to get the Tuner/Preamp/Amp chassis out of the console. There are no screws that I can see. I ran a putty knife around under the face plate looking for latches, but found none. Can you help me?

Ed

Don,

Sorry for the LATE response! I am not here often...
Pull the knobs off and you will see captive nuts that must be removed with needlenose pliers. At least that is how this one console of mine is assembled.

Since I am not a regular on this board, anyone is free to contact me at ry_ry75081 AT yahoo dot com regarding repair questions. I am no expert, but I will at least try!

Thanks,
Rob

Sorry - not Don, but Ed!! Too many beers...