Phonoland

Hello,

I have a beautiful Vintage 1950s Magnavox model 240B console radio/phonograph that I am trying to find a current market value for. I am not looking to sell the radio, as I greatly enjoy it, but am rather trying to find an accurate market value in order to insure it properly. This radio is in mint condition and funtions perfectly, the phonograph is a 1950s mint condition Garrard model RC 80 and functions perfectly, and the speaker is original as well and functions perfectly. The leather inserts on the shelves that are housed in the front left side of the radio are in perfect condition and shown on the attached photographs. If anyone knows what the value of this unit would be currently, I would be extremely happy to know. Thank you in advance!

Yours Truly,
Connie

Mint condition huh?

Has it ever been overhauled recently?
If so, and the restoration was done properly, it's worth some bucks, more as a family treasure though.
They do sound nice, and always impress the guests at dinner parties.


If not, its old aged capacitors, along with those vintage old resistors are secretly conspiring inside the chassis to POP one day.
You'll get a nice whiff of "mint" smoke to scent the room too.
All hell will break loose if the power transformer overheats and the smelly tar oozes out with a fog of nasty smelly smoke.
I've been there.... t'aint pretty.

The record changer - same deal - running on 50 year old lubrication, dried-up and slowly wearing out motor bearings, binding up mechanisms.
Dryrotting rubber idler tires...that tell-tale bump, bump, bump...
Not a pretty thing when ole Connie Francis suddenly sounds like Frank Sinatra or worse, Lurch from the Addams Family..

As an additional comment - you can shine that console up nice and pretty, but...... if the innards arn't maintained, it's worthless, but pretty.

A 1957 Chevy can looks great on the outside - but if the oil hasn't been changed since 1957 - oh well, it won't drive too far.

I agree totally with Matt. Unless this has been serviced regularly throughout the years, or was recently checked and overhauled, you're really taking a chance by plugging it in, let alone turning it on and playing it.

As for insurance value, I'd recommend that you check with your insurance carrier to see if they require that appraisals be done only by professional appraisers. (Some do; some don't.) If this is a requirement, ask your insurance agent if he or she can provide you with a list of authorized appraisers in your area.

If a professional's valuation is not required, find out exactly what is. For instance, you may be allowed to submit printouts of recent eBay auctions of similar condition items; or, they may require a written statement from someone specifically involved with vintage audio equipment, such as a dealer, repair facility, etc. (In other words, what do you need to prove to them what it's worth.) If they seem at all evasive about this, you might want to shop around for another insurance company.

Joe

Connie,
Regardless of condition, overhauled, perfect playing, great looking cabinet, it's not worth insuring. What's going to happen to it? Even if your agent would insure it the policy would cost too much. Home owners insurance against contents...you can have pictures, recordings, appraisals, you think an insurance company is going to take your word about value? So you get someone (official type) to give you a value on this Magnavox, are they acceptable to YOUR insurance? I'll let up on insurance companies, but curious what does your agent tell you they would do?
Bill