Phonoland

My grandmother gave me a Wards airline solid state sterophonic radio-phonograph with model #GCI 2420A. I can not find any information on this. I have looked up many, many webs sights trying to find information, can someone please help me.

You won't find information on most 70's stereo/phono sets. Tho good playing they aren't worth very much if anything at all. If you are looking for a schematic get a copy of SAMS 1133-5.

I didn't think it was worth much. I was just thinking about trying to fix it so that it would work. I pluged it in and nothing works, no lights nothing. Any good web sights with listings of peope that could help me fix it?

Sorry, I don't know. You might do a web search and try to locate a group concerned with solid state systems. Unless it's a very simple problem it's really not worth the effort.

I respectfully beg to differ:

Many posts from the past were related to 60s/70s console stereos, and there were numerous inquiries about those wonderful Magnavox Astro-sonics. I have at least 9 Astros in all dating from the early 60s and they all are solid-state. This is not a "tube only" group.

Anyhoo, I also have a Wards Airline console. Don't know the model number because a Zenith console is parked on top of it..LOL. The style looks Early American, and it has 12" side woofers and 4x10 front horns....umm, a Maggie wannabe? The radio chasis is the same casing used in many Astro-sonics and the schematics are similar.

A few years ago, I bought a huge Magnavox TV/Phono/FM-AM console for Five bucks at a thrift store. It was out in the "junk yard" and someone removed the speakers and crossover network. It sat on the back porch for at least a year before working on it (there's another one out there now with a built-in reel-to-reel..yum). I removed the TV and built a storage space in there. The thing was dead as a doornail except there was power to the phono motor.

Other than a using a spare phono cartridge, the fix was less than $5.00....replaced all the Electrolytic capacitors and the thing sprang to life!!! Several of those old caps had actually popped open at some time in their life.

As long as that stereo hasn't suffered a severe lightning strike/surge, and the power transformer is still good (most expensive replacement), there is hope. It may be cheaper than you think.

I am no professional by any means, but have managed to fix every amp/unit that has come my way. Can you imagine lugging one of those big units to today's repair shops (far a few between)? I miss those Mom and Pop shops.

BobbyB
Tucson, AZ

He asked for a web site with a listing of people to help fix his set Bobby. I didn't say or imply this was a tube only site. I have a 1965 Magnavox in use every day. I have more than one Magnavox, and I have tube type Magnavox sets too. And I've dumped more 60's 70's sets, all brands, some tube type, than I can remember. They aren't worth very much. You can't give them away. Magnavox, yes there's more interest. But the real test comes in trying to sell these types or just find a home for free, including Magnavox. And more folks with only one complain about how much space they take up. They want to get rid of them. I picked up a nice tube type 1961 Silvertone console not too long ago. Not quite as large as a Magnavox. They couldn't wait a few days on me, get it now or it was heading for the dump. What am I going to do with it? I'll keep it intact if possible but if it don't move soon the amplifier gets sold to get back my gas money. Other items salvaged, cabinet to the dump. You may have all the space you need to keep them all. More power to you. You read more into my reply than what's there.
Bill

Sorry for misinterpreting your reply, Bill. Writing is more difficult to decipher than actually speaking to someone. I apologize if I offended you and don't want to create any enemies here.

There used to be a lot of knowledgeable people here who could help him, but you don't see too many postings these days. If he would have stated the problem(s), it's possible that someone could chime in with some advice.

In actually, I don't have room for all these beasts. My spare bedroom has three Astrosonics stacked on their ends with a small tube Maggie accross the top, a newer 70's Maggie next to them, which I play frequently, and a Zenith console stacked on top of an Airline console. In addition, I have an old RCA XL100 console stacked ontop of an old 50's Motorola console phono. If that weren't enough, I got about 6 pair of vintage speakers, numerous turntables and cassette/reel-to-reel tape decks sitting ontop of two large Hammond tone cabinets. Doesn't leave much room for the desk and sofa...LOL.

There used to be a newsgroup that had a few retired techs that contributed frequently. Something like rec.antiques.radio+phono, can't remember exactly. Hopefully, he'll find some help.

BobbyB
Tucson, Arizona

I'm sure doing a search in Google would turn up something.