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Hello, budding collector with a question

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:27 am
by Generic
Hi all, I'm a newly registered member of the forum, had a question about a friend's vintage Magnavox that he bought at a garage sale. It currently is non-operational, so we're looking to repair it. Problem is, we actually have no idea about the year or model, other than it is an old portable suitcase style, it is a Magnavox, and it is really cool, hahaha.

Here it is:
Image

And another:

Image

If anyone could point us in the right direction, I would be eternally grateful! Thanks in advance, everyone.

-Generic

Re: Hello, budding collector with a question

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 4:01 pm
by Bobby Basham
As far as non-operational, you need to explain that in more detail. Check the entire outside casing, including any labels that may be in the lid for some type of model number. If not, remove those screws around the outer edges and lift out the turntable. There may be a label in there somewhere with model, serial#, volts/watts.
AudioTronics 300-E Classroom Recordplayer.jpg
AudioTronics 300-E Classroom Recordplayer.jpg (29.76 KiB) Viewed 842 times

Non-operational could mean alot of things....loud hum, sluggish/irregular speed, bad needle, dead cartridge, burned out tubes, bad capacitors and resistors. Simple models like that may have a single 12AX7 tube or something similar.

"You're looking to repair it." Do you plan on doing this yourself? If you have no experience at all with electronic repairs, no one here can say "take two aspirin and call me in the morning." Get it to someone who knows what they're doing.

Let us folks know about the non-operational issues. There is a wealth of knowledge here, and there are fixes for just about anything you can imagine and the resources are out there.

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!! --BB

Bobby Basham
Tucson, Arizona

Re: Hello, budding collector with a question

Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 12:06 am
by Generic
Thank you for the warm welcome! My apologies for being so vague about my Magnavox. The tubes in it, amazingly, still function and we actually got it spinning the other night. Unfortunately the motor is so loud you can't even discern what was playing on the test record; a throw-away Michael Jackson single :lol: . I'll have some more pictures of it popped open and a video of it in the next day or so. I tend to work long, odd hours so when I get time I'll be back on and asking the pros here what they think. I promise not to be a one-and-done kind of poster here!

Cheers

*EDIT*

Also, I'll flick a picture of the product model number and if anyone has some hints about finding a pdf version of a manual for it or some such thing I would be eternally grateful. Apparently when my friend found the sticker the date on the box (not necessarily the components) was 1956, so to me its looking in pretty good shape for how uncared-for it was.

Re: Hello, budding collector with a question

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 3:24 am
by shedradios
You have a three speed record player from about 1956/7. This same style also came with an AM radio. Besides the additional tubes for radio reception the tunning knob and dial was just above the two knobs. You may have a two or three-tube amp. Don't know for sure, how many do you have? These got smashed, kinda material like chipboard or thin wood. Other manufacturer's made very similiar ones too. Elvis, rock and roll 45's and the rest is history.
Bill