speaker compartments in consoles

[Firedome]

Here's a Maggie with the same R231 receiver that I got from a late uncle (just the receiver, with no faceplate or knobs). I dislike this style intensely, and it's clear that as well as ugly the cabinet quality has suffered significantly by the early 1970s, but wondering if these had enclosed/sealed speaker compartments by 1972? and if so when did Maggie start doing so? and was that feature found only in higher-end models? Unfortunately the back is shown w/o the rear panel being removed. Also does anyone know of, or have, a digital or physical copy of the 1972 brochure that would show this model?

[TC Chris]

Wow, that one is from the worst style offender of that era. Look at the plastic and pressed out "Mediterranean" nightmares with garish grill cloth, oozing cheapness. My boss has one from about that time. I'm waiting to find a parts unit for the receiver so I can fix it. It has sealed speakers.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Is this the one you need knobs for, Roger? If so, do you still need the set I have? And Chris, I sent you a PM two months ago about the parts you may need. If you will get back with me, we may be able to get the stereo you need parts for working again.

[William]

I think this is about the right period for enclosed speakers. And the one in your post, Roger, looks to be a high end, Maggie. In my neck of the woods Magnavox was not plentiful. We had RCA, Zenith, Philco, Admiral, and Coronado. I have seen a few mid-level Maggies with enclosed speakers. the all had 8 tracks and plastic trim and chipboard with contact paper for cabinets. Despite the cheap cabinet they actually sounded good.

Bill

[TC Chris]

Is this the one you need knobs for, Roger? If so, do you still need the set I have? And Chris, I sent you a PM two months ago about the parts you may need. If you will get back with me, we may be able to get the stereo you need parts for working again.

I missed the PM. Will look for it.

CC

[Motorola minion]

The receiver chassis Firedome has needs an escutcheon. I have those knobs but not that faceplate.

For $20, I got a similar one from neighbor who was moving back to Long Island because wife can make more as a nurse there. This was 7 years ago.

The style was of a lighter dungeon style, no hardware but equally offensive otherwise. I cleaned and tested, then drove it right over and donated it to Habitat Restore. Why I bought it initially, have no idea.

[Firedome]

"dungeon style" ... I love it! So true.
The one above is for sale in Syracuse for $112 (!). I'm almost tempted if the price went down as I need to find a escutceon/faceplate, and the receiver I'd certainly keep as well, if I got it, but then I'd still have 1 receiver w/o a faceplate and have to get rid of that hideous cabinet. The speakers and x-overs could be kept, and perhaps the sealed compartment re-used for them somehow? However it all seems too much to deal with just to get a faceplate, I already have some efficient University speakers, and there's no space for all this anyhow (anyone who says there's always room for 1 more hasn't seen my house!). BTW the measurements must be off, I'd think there's no way it's 8 ft 8" long!! Nor could it be 5 ft 4" wide! Say what??

Just finding a faceplate alone seems darn near impossible however When my uncle had his (pic below) standing up on his basement workbench and hooked up to speakers hanging from the floor joists it actually sounded really good, I was so impressed that I searched for it after he died, knowing it'd probably be tossed. It had really nice FM reception, and I think Mag got SS really right by this time (1972). I have no Maggie or SS stereos and I'd like to put it back into service somehow.

[electra225]

I hate to have to admit this, but even the cheaper solid state Magnavox stereos will kick the you-know-what of the tube model Magnavoxes, almost any tube model. They certainly got their scald right when they introduced Astro-Sonic. Unfortunately, the cabinet styling and integrity went downhill, as they let the competition catch up with them. I have never heard a top-line Astro-Sonic stereo, but I can only imagine how one sounds. The cabinet you posted is hardwood on the top, sides and the bottom. One could, with a little engineering and imagination, come up with an all-wood replacement for the plastic trim that is bolted to the front of the cabinet. One could then have an acceptably modern "Franken-Sonic" that might not be so offensive. Also notice the ventilation on the cabinet back. My Concert Grand, with almost 350 watts of heaters in it, has a third of that much ventilation holes in the back. Magnavox finally fixed their anemic bass and poor cabinet ventilation.....

In fact, if I owned that stereo, Ron the Refinisher would be summoned to perform his magic. I can see a semi-Concert Grand effect being utilized to enhance the front. Make a couple sliding doors for the front. There wouldn't be a tuner behind them, but you could use grill cloth ovwer record storage to advantage. Finish the cabinet in ebony. Whadda 'ya think?

[Firedome]

Yes I certainly think with effort and re-imagining it could be a decent looking unit... remove all the "dungeon" detailing lol, simplify it, eliminate the weird arches, the pleated grill cloth, make it more of a simple MCM design. My problem is something else would have to go and there's nothing I can, or would be allowed to, get rid of! This one is almost 10 yrs after the first Astro-Sonic so I'd imagine some refinement also took place over that time from the early models.

[hermitcrab]

Imperial Astrosonics had enclosed speakers with a bass reflex cabinet that runs across the front and joins both sides in 1967 , at least mine does , that is why it weighs a ton , thankfully the only plastic on mine is the grilles ...$995.00 in 1967 dollars

[TC Chris]

You guys are too hard on that design. I got fumble-fingered in my reply above; I meant to say that it was "FAR from the worst style offender of that era." What a difference a word makes. The really ugly ones were the dark brown, heavy plastic, garish-red-grille ones. This one is restrained for its time. And yeah, with a bit of woodworking you could transform it.

Chris Campbell