Help identifying Magnavox console stereo

[raleav]

Does anyone have a photo from a brochure, or advertisment of this 1961 or 1962 Magnavox Micromatic coffee table model? I'd like to know if it had an actual name.

[raleav]

Also, can I get a new cartridge or needle somewhere?

[William]

Hi releav, and welcome to the forum. Please take the time to checkout all of the posts and features, I think you will find a lot of good information and a nice bunch of guys that are willing to help if you have questions.

To answer your question, check out our downloads section which is located in the upper LH corner. Click on downloads, scroll down until you find the "Literature Archive section" and click on that. Next go to page two and you will find Magnavox sales catalog, 1963 and click on that. When that opens up you will find a large green "downloads" thing to click on and that will send to the upper RH corner the actual link to click on. Once you click on that, start scrolling down until you find the Magnavox in your photo.

One thing to note, there is a rule, or at least there was and I am not remembering if that rule was dropped or not, that a new member to the forum has to post 3 times before they have access to certain things, the downloads being one of those things. Greg, the administrator, will have the answer and will set me straight on this.

Again, welcome to our forum and I hope you check in often and share your projects with us. As you will see as you read through the forum we have a diverse bunch of guys with multiple interests so please share.

Bill

[William]

To answer your second question, yes you can and here is the link that will help you with that:

https://www.thevoiceofmusic.com/

Bill

[raleav]

Thanks for both replies Bill!~ I was off by a year on the date. For some reason , I thought they stopped making tube amps in 1962, same with the Civil Defense markings on the dials.. I have the original paperwork for this somewhere, but I can't find it at the moment. It was in a house my uncle purchased in NY in 1970. I always thought this sounded great when I was younger.

[William]

You are welcome, and I take it you were able to locate it in the documents file. A few Magnavox models remained tube in 1963, but most of the models had switched to Astro-sonic which of course was their new transistor line. I take it you are new this hobby, or are you only interested in getting this unit up and playing? Either way, we can help as there is much more to getting a vintage tube unit playing both correctly and being safe to use other than a new needle or cartridge. If you are handy, we can walk you through the restoration steps when you are ready. Maybe when you get the chance you could take a few more photos. The control area and the amp/speaker area would help us help you.

Thanks for posting.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

I always called them window seat models ... I cant tell the dimensions from the picture , but it looks taller than a coffee table , some Mfg did make coffee table sized sets , they were roughly about 18" tall... welcome to the forum!

[electra225]

Welcome aboard, raleav! I hope you will find this a place that you will feel comfortable visiting often! Bill has it right on the "3 post" rule. Enjoy the forum!

[raleav]

I just wanted to get it up and running again, as it hasn't been used in about 20 years. It does turn on and run, ( haven't tested the record player yet ) but the volume knob has a lot of static. Are you saying I should be doing something with the tubes before I just start listening to it?

[raleav]

From the 1963 catalogue. Coffee table height for sure

[electra225]

You don't need to do anything with the tubes, per se, but you should do what I refer to as a basic tune-up before you run your stereo for a long time. The volume control is in the tuner. If you get a scratching sound when you move the volume control, it is exhibiting a condition we refer to as "dirty". The internal parts of the volume control collect contamination that causes that scratching noise when you move the control. You can spray contact cleaner into the control to clean it, but that requires removing the tuner from the cabinet. I don't know what series amp your stereo has, but it is separate from the tuner. It has a number of paper capacitors that should be changed for long-term reliability and safety. Then you might also consider installing a fuse in the primary of the power transformer to provide a margin of added safety. You can test the tubes to be sure they are okay. Then, if you want to get into it a bit deeper, you can run bias tests on the output then match the output tubes, and so forth. We will be happy to talk you thru repair procedures as they progress if you would like. You should also service the changer, and we have guys on here who are well-versed in the servicing of the Collaro changer in your stereo. Good luck!

[raleav]

Thanks.. I may take it to someone to do the required work.. I don't like taking electronics apart haha..

[William]

As I have told several others that have joined the form over the years. If I can do it, so can you. It can be kind of scary to start, but with the help of the guys on the forum and lots of photos I am sure you can perform the work that is needed. Please keep us posted on your progress no matter what avenue you decide for restoration.

Bill

[TC Chris]

I'll follow up on what the others have said. With old electronics, some really cheap parts can fail and cause damage to really expensive parts. You've already had yours on, because you said the volume control is scratchy. It didn't self-destruct, so the cheap, failure-prone parts in yours have not given up. Yet.... The problem is that for longer-term durability you're better off replacing the items that can fail. True confession: I've collected old radios etc. since I was a kid many years ago. My practice was to pug them in and see if they worked. I never had a major disaster. Now I now better, but sometimes I still plug 'em in while observing very carefully. Do as I say and not as I do.

The items that can fail are mostly capacitors, devices that do not age well. They are readily available and quite cheap. The parts they can damage if they fail are tubes (if yours is tubed) or the power transformer, a crucial and pricey part. For a device that you'd like to use regularly, it would be wise to replace the original capacitors. Replacing them often makes the device sound better because even if they do not fail spectacularly, they can degrade and lead to sub-original performance.

The other common issue is the mechanical function of the record changer--its ability to move the tone arm and drop records properly. These usually don't break unless they are abused, but the lubricants that reduce friction in the mechanism eventually oxidize and turn into glue or cement. They often require cleaning with solvents and re-lubrication with grease and oil. That requires disassembly in varying degrees. If yours is working well, that's one problem you can put off until it doesn't.

None of this is rocket science but advice is always good to get. You need to get parts with the right specs. You need to know how to solder properly. You need to know that some capacitors are polarized and must be replaced with correct polarity. It's helpful to be able to read a schematic diagram, the graphic using symbols for electronic parts that shows how they are all connected and related. I can do it, and I was a history major who flunked his calculus final exam.

Chris Campbell

[raleav]

Thanks Chris.. All that being said, is anyone here from the Boston area that works on these things?? haha

[electra225]

There is your problem, finding somebody to work on it. Those folks are few and far between. That is also why this forum exists. Nearly all the members on here do the work. We share our projects and fill in the blanks when we get stuck. Like Bill said, we all started out in the same place you are. Your stereo is in working condition, so all you need is a good tune up. Good luck....

[chazglenn3]

Welcome! I'm like you. While it is something that I probably can do, I'm not interested in doing it. I'm on the other side of the country in the Seattle area and we have a couple of places that work on these. What I did for my consoles was removed the amplifier and tuner and shipped them to Steve at Mid Century Sound in Henderson Nevada. He does great work. My turntables have all worked surprisingly. Have a look at his website:

www.mid-centurysound.com

Tell him Charles Walsh sent you!

[electra225]

We have a member in New Jersey who might be willing to help if he sees your post.

[raleav]

Thanks for all the info.. So are the tubes in this magnavox something I can test with this tester? I was just about to list this on Ebay.. Works perfectly.

[TC Chris]

Yes, that would identify clearly-bad tubes. But usually, the problems in there older devices are not the tubes. They are aged capacitors and resistors.

Chris Campbell