Magnovox Micromatic Console Record Player-Model-Age?

Electrically amplified phonographs or radio/phonographs and related components (approx. 1928-1990).



Topic author
sperls
Junior Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:21 pm

Magnovox Micromatic Console Record Player-Model-Age?

by sperls » Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:34 pm

Hello,
I Just Bought This At A Thrift Shop..What A Great Sound!!..What Is The Model & Age & Where Can I Find Any Serial Numbers??

Thanks,
Sperls
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Bobby Basham
Senior Member
Posts: 498
Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:50 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Magnovox Micromatic Console Record Player-Model-Age?

by Bobby Basham » Sun Aug 08, 2010 2:03 am

Here we go again...

First of all, you scored good on that purchase! That thing is really clean and looks to be in great shape, and I'm glad you're enjoying the sound. Vinyl can be so addicting. I like old music on old record players. Of course, it's nice to have auxilliary jacks to run a tape deck or CD player through a unit.

If you remove the back, you should be able to find some little date stickers on the radio chassis. They are small, less than an inch square, and may say something like

Chassis
A575-01-00
09/65 (September, 1965)

The turntable will have a sticker on its underside, like W602-xx-xxx. The W602 throught W608 are basically the same, except some models have the larger turntable platter and/or shorter spindle and/or tall speed selection switch. The turntable platters are interchangeable. See the pic below.

The model/finish would be on a separate sticker, probably mounted on the floor of the cabinet close to the antenna and speaker connections. Something like, Magnavox-Fort Wayne, Indiana... "Model 1-CP606, Run number 3, Finish: Natural Walnut, 120-Volts AC/40-Watts."

When it comes to repairs, the model number will do you no good. Each component (turntable, radio, tape deck, separate amp, if applicable) are treated as separate entities and each has it's own service manual. It's like having two identical looking cars side-by-side...except one has a V8 Turbo, 5-Speed, sport package, and Bose sound system. The mechanical parts of the vehicle may be repaired at the dealershp, but that sound system may need to be shipped out to an authorized Bose repair place.

You may have a Maggie console, but your speakers could be Jensens, your tape deck could be made by someone else (with a Maggie emblem on it). They did the same thing with "Stencil" pianos back in the day. Boston pianos made by Kawaii, Hamilton pianos (remember the old school uprights?) made by Baldwin.

Sorry for the rambling, but I have two identical consoles that have different components in each. I think one is 1966 and the other is 1968.

As far as I can tell from your photos, you have the "Pemberton" model 1-CP606 that was featured in a 1966 Maggie brochure. The legs are removable so you can use it on tables, shelves, or mount it in a large bookcase. It has two 8" woofers and two 5" tweeters and produces 20-watts of undistorted music power.

From reading what I have, your unit listed for $149.50. With Stereo FM/AM radio, it would be $198.50.

Enjoy your new acquisition and welcome to the Board! Be careful, this can be very addicting. There are many kind and generous folks here that are invaluable to our hobby. Speaking for myself, I truly appreciate what they all have to offer, and if you hang around long enough, you'll reap the benefits, too. --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
Maggie W602-W608.jpg
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Topic author
sperls
Junior Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 4:21 pm

Re: Magnovox Micromatic Console Record Player-Model-Age?

by sperls » Sun Aug 08, 2010 1:57 pm

Hi Bobby,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!! For All Of That Valuable Information!!
I`m Not Going To Tak It Apart,For Now..I Will Listen & Enjoy!!
Mine Has The Turntable Only..No Radio..I Wonder Why The Top,Left
Side,Does Not Slide Over,For Record Storage..It Is A Pretty Cool Piece Of Work!!

Thanks Again For Your Help!
Steve (Sperls)


Bobby Basham
Senior Member
Posts: 498
Joined: Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:50 pm
Location: Tucson, Arizona, USA

Re: Magnovox Micromatic Console Record Player-Model-Age?

by Bobby Basham » Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:41 am

I'm just speculating...

Maybe Magnavox wanted to keep these units affordable and space-saving to reach more people (more sales)...and still have some decent sound. The higher end units were quite pricey back in the day...I know my parents couldn't afford one back in the 60's. $650 for an Astro-Sonic 100? It wasn't happening for us.

I have two small units with only one sliding top...one is a tube model, phono only. I keep the other one in my office at works. It's so loud, I have to play it at a whisper even though the bass still resonates down the hall. I don't know how they do it, but their damping factor is really great getting bass at such a low volume. That unit has Stereo FM/AM and external connections for my CD player and external speakers. People love walking past my office hearing the music. Sometimes on payday Fridays I'll crank it up and throw on some oldies to get them in the mood for the weekend.

It's just a shorty version of the one pictured below with only two front panels and one sliding top, and no record storage Though small, it still has 12" woofers and horns and kicks butt for a unit so small. --BB


Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona
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