Classic Hifi Care

Hello This is near me, I like a lot of things about this one. Its not magnavox though... any thoughts on the Coronado Brand ? This one the CRT tube looks in good shape from the outside. what year is it? It looks newer than the 58-60 magnavox's. Is it a good servicable unit or a unicorn where I would never find a good part for it? Hydro

More photo's

I'll try this again. Coronado was the store brand for the Gamble-Skogmo company. They were based in Minnesota. They were kind of like Sears for small towns. I had a Gamble Store in my little town here in MIchigan and we had and sold everything you can imagine including Coronado TV's. The Coronado set you have pictured is an Imperial which was their TOTL model back in the day and I guess it dates about 1960-61 which was before my time working at the local Gamble Store. I started in 1965 working every aspect of the store including selling TV's. As far as quality goes, Wells-Gardner built a lot of electronics for the Gamble's so WG could have built that particular model. We had very little trouble with Coronado electronics. As far as parts goes, and this goes for all branded TV's back in the day, they were pretty much built all the same, using the same electronics. Yes, some may have extra do-dads, higher end cabinets, etc. but for the most part they functioned the same. If that set was close to me, I would probably go after it, if nothing more than nostalgia.

Bill

The sticker on the back looks an awful lot like it might be made by Wells-Gardner. A lot of Coronado equipment was. They made good stuff. If the CRT is good, the hardest part might be finding the channel selector knob. I'd say it's well worth saving. Do you have any way to test the picture tube?

Great story, I always wondered why there were so many brands only seen in the Sams Photofact sets.

Didn't W-G make Airline that Montgomery Ward sold? The store brand we saw most in PA was Silvertone, XAM sold by Korvettes, an occasional Penncrest and Bradford, sold by WT Grant in the 70s.

Dave, I have two Airline radios, Montgomery Ward house brand, made by Wells-Gardner. All the Penncrest stuff I've ever seen has not been impressive. I have had good luck with WG equipment.

Hello all, I just am wondering if I should get this? I really wanted this one first!I only have room for one TV so I wanted it to be the magnavox http://classichificare.com/viewtopic.ph ... fb310c4d7a But this guy just isn't replying. If you had a choice between the two which one would you restore?

Hydro, I have ALMOST redone a Magnavox TV. I can say, at this point, it was not all that tough. The Coronado TV is made by Wells-Gardner, a company with a proven track record of making good stuff. The Magnavox name might be a tad more well-known that Coronado, but my thinking is the TV's would be similar in quality and complication of repair. Perhaps our resident TV expert will chime in and add his two cents, but you have my two cents for what that's worth. Good luck and be sure to share your journey in bringing a TV back to life with us on the forum.

I agree with Greg, as far as either would be ok. Since I really do not need another record player or radio, there would be less stuff to restore with just getting a TV. I guess it boils down to which guy is responding and willing to deal. Good luck, Hydro.

Bill

Hello Guys based on your insights I went for the Coronado. Unfortunately it was sold. I have done a little research and it turns out the 21 " crt tube was used in a lot of tv's then enlarged to 23" in the early 60's. I have ordered a book on tv restoration. The search is on.

Check the Classifieds on the forum, Hydro. I posted there so we could stay on topic.

Hydrolastic wrote: ↑Sat Oct 22, 2022 5:47 pm Hello Guys based on your insights I went for the Coronado. Unfortunately it was sold. I have done a little research and it turns out the 21 " crt tube was used in a lot of tv's then enlarged to 23" in the early 60's. I have ordered a book on tv restoration. The search is on.

I know where there's a nice '54 B&W Zenith console, FREE!!

Chris Campbell