1961 Magnavox French Provincial Imperial

Hello all my name is Michael. I have used this site before but have been inactive on it for a couple of years.
I have had about 9 or 10 Magnavox Console Stereos in the last several years. Unfortunately I never found the
one I was looking for. What I am looking for is the 1961 Magnavox French Provincial Imperial Stereo. I have
been wanting this stereo for over 10 years, ever since I saw it in my neighbors house. She has the Ivory Stereo
with Gold Trim. She will not get rid of it, and I've been begging her for it since I was out of high school and
I'm out of high school 8 years. My biggest regret is that I saw this exact same stereo at a flea market in
Maghogany wood for only $35.00. Not sure if it worked, but it didn't have a mark on it. The reason I didn't
purchase it was because I had purchased another stereo just a few weeks before at that same flea market

The stereo that I am talking about the top lifts up, and a door slides over in the middle to reveal the tuner.
I think this stereo is bi-amped, but I am not sure.I know this set was top of the line in 1961 and that it was
just one step below the Magnavox Concert Grand. I would want the Magnavox Concert Grand, but I like the
beautiful French Provincial styling.

I am determined to find this stereo, and I will do whatever I have to do to get it. I am in Pennsylvania so
I would like to find one in either PA, NY, NJ, MD, DE, or VA. I don't really want to go any further than a
days drive. Magnavox Stereo's have never done me wrong, and I know for certain this is the stereo I really
want. More than the RCA Victor SCH-4 which my 88 yr old great aunt has. I am going to post 2 pictures of
this stereo, so you know exactly what I am looking for. I am not interested in any other styling except for
the French Provincial. I know Magnavox made the French Provincial stereos all the way into the 1970s. But
I am looking for this exact model only. Thanks.... Michael

Michael, did you ever find this. I'm looking for this model as well.

no I never found one. I think its probably hopeless now
But one nevet knows I guess lol

Hi Michael,

I have been looking for the same set (and even better a Concert Grand!). Just bought an early Astro Sonic (my first Maggie) and like the sound a lot but I must hear one of these Imperials to know what I might prefer. I have been offered one and am going to see it today. What would you offer for one which has an excellent cabinet, plays, but needs a cartridge? Knowing that when I go to see it would help since if I don't want it then I could hopefully still secure it for you. I never realized how much fun it would be to get these big ole consoles! When I played mine in the house yesterday it blew me away with its beauty of tone and the power. The FM was actually thunderous!

Not meaning to rain on anybody's parade but...

If you purchased a used car that was 40/50 years old, but started when you turned the ignition key - would you immediately take it out on the highway for a road trip?
And the seller of it exclaimed that it was taken care of... but clueless about the facts of parts aging.

The same applies to these consoles, or any vintage electronic product.
It doesn't matter if it was "hardly used" since new..... aging parts still age because of changing chemical compositions within them. - a known fact.
Just like steel - over time it will rust, just sitting there.

Think -Ticking Time Bomb - could fail catastophically at any time.

From years of experience as a service tech I know that components in these things "change" or deteriorate.
Resistors have a tendency to wander UP in value over time - causing changes in operating voltages and causing parameters of tubes/transistors/transformers, to reach their limits or beyond...
Capacitors dry out due to age, or become leaky - also causing stress to tubes, transformers and other parts.
These age-related changes are silent, but nevertheless they are there...
You won't notice a red-plating tube inside the set until it finally craps out, and causes a repair bill much higher than a pre-failure restoration.
You won't notice a power transformer overheating either.. due to faulty filter caps.
Yeah, in 1960 that power transformer might have cost $6.95 for a replacement - today? - expect the cost to be around $125 or more.
Or an obsolete/impossible-to-find output transformer cooking, due to output tubes running without proper bias as a result of leaky grid capacitors...

Most people I see are so concerned with the original purchase price - trying to get the best bargain - yet ignore the facts I mentioned above.

Purchase with the intent of having a knowledgeable service professional trained in such things to go over it carefully - this will insure its long-term reliability and safe operation.

Guy's
As Matt said, and is worth repeating--this happens in ALL "electronic" ( and for that matter, "mechanical") "things" !
Couple of good rules to live by--
1. If you don't know how long it's been since an object was powered up--do not plug it in.
2. If you do not know how long it's been since an object was powered up--do so, using at LEAST, an incandescent lamp, as a "safety"---
3. If you don't know how to do #2. above, and can't find a friend who understands, follow only #1 above, and refer to a "pro" --both for your own safety/pocketbook, and safety of the equipment.
Ron Rich

Certainly no one is raining on my parade. I do sincerely hope that other people looking for this set find it. It is truly an amazing set which is one reason my neighbor does not want to part with it.
I am becoming more and more aware everyday how RARE this set it. I've even went on allofcraigs adhuntr now a few times and typed in "Magnavox Console, Magnavox Record Player, Magnavox Stereo, and Magnavox Cabinet" hoping to find it. I have not ever found it.

I've taken the risk previous times with Stereo Consoles I have owned. The last one I had, I had it for four year and never got it restored. I didn't know its history when I bought it in 2008. For all I know maybe it hadn't been powered up last since 1975. But it was always fine.

I know my neighbors history with her Magnavox. I know she still uses it every once in a while. She said that sometimes on a Sunday she will read the paper and put a few records on, or let it play while she is cleaning her house. I know she doesn't use it frequently, but I know it hasn't been sitting idle.

If I were to get it, Surely i would have it professionaly restored by a professional. I would have all the tubes and transformers looked it, the tuner and the amplifier as well. I already know that
the radio portion on it doesn't work. She told me that years ago. I would also want to have the record changer looked at and definately have a new stylus and cartridge installed.

It still has the original Imperial Micromatic record changer in it, and the both the needle and cartridge are original. Both of which I would have replaced. It is good that she still uses it every once in a while just to keep it going.

My Great-Aunt does that with her 1959 RCA Victor. She never plays it. The only time it is used is maybe every other month, when I bring some of my records down. She likes to hear the old music but I don't think she likes to play the stereo much, because it was one of my great uncles favorite things and I think it reminds her too much of him. It was his most prised possesion, and someday it will be mine as well. But I wont be happy until I get my hands on the Magnavox 1961 FP IMPERIAL