can you guys provide any further info on this?
Found Magnavox AstroSonic
Electrically amplified phonographs or radio/phonographs and related components (approx. 1928-1990).
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zfan4life
Topic author - Junior Member
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 10:51 am
- Location: Vista, California, United States
Well i was coming home and outside in the grass by the community mailboxes was what appeared to be a dresser... upon further investigation... it was an old radio/cassette player/ phono... took it home.. plugged it in and the RADIO WORKED!!! turntable rotates but VERY slowly and not consistantly (would love to fix this) the cassette player appears to function but i havent owned a cassette since 1995. after a few minutes, with everything in the off position still plugged in, it began to make a squeaking sound. so i unplugged it.
can you guys provide any further info on this?
can you guys provide any further info on this?
It needs a total restoration for it to work as well as it did when new. You can do this yourself if you are proficient with things mechanical and electronic or you can take it to someone who is. If done right it will give many years of musical enjoyment. Repairing something here and there just to get it working is somewhat self defeating and will result in much frustration.
Vinyl is disease which attacks that area of the brain desiring digital recordings. Once you catch it, you are cured.
Thom, the squeaking was probably the turntable (or resident mouse). When the mode switch is in the phono/off position the T_T controls the electronics. If the table has not been able to finish it's cycle and shut off the receiver will remain on and if the dial lamps are blown you won't be able to tell.
The basics of restoring one of these old sets are not that daunting.
The T-T will need to be removed, cleaned thoroughly and lubricated -only- in the correct places. these include all bearings and gears but not the sliding linkage that trips the changer at the end of a record. That must be clean and dry. You can find a manual that is probably "close enough" here:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/magn ... atic.shtml But really, common sense applies in these situations.
As for the electronics, this set is at least 40 years old. Most of the capacitors should be replaced and possibly a few other small components.
The first order of business is to find a model # . You may be able to get an idea of when the set was built by looking up the model here: http://www.theschematicman.com/photofact-m.htm
Or D-L the master index from: https://www.samswebsite.com/
Some preliminary things to check:
With the unit on but no signal, wait a few minutes, turn the volume control through it's range. Ideally, there should be no "static" as you turn it. Same applies to tone and balance controls. Static in this test generally indicates the capacitors that pass audio but block DC from the controls have become leaky.
Set volume at midpoint and turn the function/input switch. It too should be quiet although a little noise is OK.
Static on the controls when audio is being passed just indicates dirty controls.
With balance control set at center do the channels balance in terms of volume and tone in ALL modes?
Again with machine on but no signal carefully feel the heatsinks on the output transistors (the large black fins) after a period of around 10-15 minutes. Slight warmth is normal -but not hot. the two heatsinks represent the outputs of each channel. One should not be much warmer than the other.
If the set passes all above it is probably OK to continue using it, but best performance will likely require a rebuild at some point.
Rob/NYC
The basics of restoring one of these old sets are not that daunting.
The T-T will need to be removed, cleaned thoroughly and lubricated -only- in the correct places. these include all bearings and gears but not the sliding linkage that trips the changer at the end of a record. That must be clean and dry. You can find a manual that is probably "close enough" here:
http://www.vinylengine.com/library/magn ... atic.shtml But really, common sense applies in these situations.
As for the electronics, this set is at least 40 years old. Most of the capacitors should be replaced and possibly a few other small components.
The first order of business is to find a model # . You may be able to get an idea of when the set was built by looking up the model here: http://www.theschematicman.com/photofact-m.htm
Or D-L the master index from: https://www.samswebsite.com/
Some preliminary things to check:
With the unit on but no signal, wait a few minutes, turn the volume control through it's range. Ideally, there should be no "static" as you turn it. Same applies to tone and balance controls. Static in this test generally indicates the capacitors that pass audio but block DC from the controls have become leaky.
Set volume at midpoint and turn the function/input switch. It too should be quiet although a little noise is OK.
Static on the controls when audio is being passed just indicates dirty controls.
With balance control set at center do the channels balance in terms of volume and tone in ALL modes?
Again with machine on but no signal carefully feel the heatsinks on the output transistors (the large black fins) after a period of around 10-15 minutes. Slight warmth is normal -but not hot. the two heatsinks represent the outputs of each channel. One should not be much warmer than the other.
If the set passes all above it is probably OK to continue using it, but best performance will likely require a rebuild at some point.
Rob/NYC
"If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities" -- Voltaire
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Bobby Basham
- Senior Member
- Posts: 498
- Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:50 pm
- Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA
I'm thinking late 60's to early 70's unit. I have one "shorty" 1968 Astro-Sonic with that same receiver, and also a pair of octagon end units from the early 70's sporting the same. That turntable appears to be a newer W801/802/812 series with the flat 45 adapter and I believe those newer turntables did not have the dual drive wheels for speed and change cycles. A quick glance would make you think that it was a newly-styled W620 until you look closer at those sharp corner edges/styling and remove the platter to see what's going on underneath. A bit confusing, but the early 70's units were also using the black W714-W716 turntables (which I hate because they all run slow), some models with a cueing lever.
To find something along side of the road in the grass with the instructions still on the turntable is a remarkable find. The cabinet may be abit beat up, but get the electronics restored and you'll surely have something to enjoy for another 40+ years. --BB
Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
To find something along side of the road in the grass with the instructions still on the turntable is a remarkable find. The cabinet may be abit beat up, but get the electronics restored and you'll surely have something to enjoy for another 40+ years. --BB
Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
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