First Time poster owner of vintage magnavox console, help?

Hey, found the site after a number of searches. Im looking for some information and some advice on a magnovox console I picked up last weekend. I bought it at an estate sale, the owner was a 90yr old fellow who was going into a nursing home. Ive always been into old mechanical stuff - typewriters, old lionel trains and such, so I figured what the heck - it was $100 bucks with about 30 records included.

Everything works Ok, but from reading around, I got a few questions...

First question...
Anyone know when about it was made? I found this site http://www.antiqueradiomuseum.org/consoleradios.htm and the picture is very close, he calls it a 477p. I know that from the back (see pics) the information says:

Model 250M
Watts 130
Style G180-23
Volts 117
Serial 520249

And the stamp on the back of the chassis says 323 CB 3 16 4

But nowhere do I find a model 250m on the internet, nor do I find a 477 on the console itself.

Second question...
Everyone on the forum has the opinion that you need to get it "overhauled" or your risking blowing a capacitor, resister, or other fire related malady. I can understand that this thing is about 60 years old, and its suprising that the radio and phonograph work, but where are you actually going to get it serviced? (Im in oakland, CA). Not to mention the thing ways 200lbs, not very easy to move locally.

The reason I ask this question, I love the sound, and want to make it sound better, and last a long time.

Will the overhaul make it sound better? I assume it would...
Anyone know someone in the bay area, CA who can do it?
Is it possible to remove the vacuum tube assembly as one piece, and then get that overhauled, so Im not carrying 200 lbs off to some radio repair guy 200 miles away?
Is it possible to overhaul it oneself? I assume the cleaning of the record player is mechanical enough, that if you were careful and methodical I could do it. Unsure about replacing capacitors, unless it was plug and play.


Final question - my pipe dream is to configure it to also play music from iphone/ipod. I had an old console record player a few years ago, and simply connected the phono jack that came from the record player to a mini jack for the ipod. Worked fine. But in this case, I want to keep the record player connected. I see that there is an option in the dial for a TV, which I find was an option to include a 16in TV in the actual case. So it might be possible to splice a connection from the ipod mini jack into that TV jack, assuming that was for the audio for the TV... just wondering...

Anyway, hope you fellows can help me, and Ill cross post this to Magnovox friends once I get approved.

You'll have to look or ask around for someone who can restore the amplifier and tuner in your area. If those caps and/or other components are way out of spec they will go and will take other components with them: tubes $$ or a transformer $$$$$$$$. You should have some electronic backround to do this correctly. These aren't simple little one-tube-wonders, and they can bite. You will be amazed at the quality of sound. I do think you could send the amp and tunner units out without the cabinet if the service tech has the means to bench test them.

Indeed, pick & choose a service tech carefully.
There are a lot of "wanabe" tinkerers out there that will offer their "services"... beware.
The internet is LOADED with them.
I've seen the "messes" some of these so-called techs have left in their wake.
Dangerous, sloppy soldering, incomplete lazy work, etc.
There may be only a handful of decent skilled hobby-type guys out there that can do the job properly.
Find a tech that owns a shop, has a good reputation, and is recommended by their previous clients.

Matt and all,
GREAT advise -- in ANY field !!
Ron Rich

These are the main things that go wrong with age:

1. The power cord rubber rots away and the cord becomes dangerous to touch or blows fuses.

2. The power supply filter capacitors (in the large silver can) break down and spark or explode.

3. The filter capacitors and other electrolytic capacitors dry out and open up, producing loud hum or loss of signal.

4. Tubes age and burn out or get noisy.

5. Volume controls, switches, and other contacts get noisy.

6. Carbon resistors increase in value, changing tube bias or sound quality.

7. Dust inside the unit can catch fire.

8. Pickup cartridges and speakers get brittle with age.