Classic Hifi Care

I have a small console from I believe is a 1962 it is described as a Imperial Normandy ... does that make this a imperial? here is a picture from the 61 catalogue...

I believe it may be an Imp and Normandy just being the name for the French Provincial model?

Elton, I would say Roger is correct. It is an Imperial, in the Normandy cabinet. I also believe, it's what Greg refers to as a Little Imperial. We will wait and see what Greg has to say.

After a quick search, I found the 1961 brochure that Elton refers to. It shows the Imperial Normandy as model 1-ST662. The 1962 brochure I found is just calling it an Imperial, model 2-ST662, and priced at $525.00.

Bill

I mean it is not high powered by any standard... just single ended 6BQ5 outputs ... my Zenith from 63 blows it away in sound and volume , but it also has a additional preamp stage after the 12AX7's where as the maggie don't

If it is a single ended 6BQ5 amp, it's not a Little Imperial. Those had the 9300 series amp. PP 6BQ5's. Do you have the actual model number off the back tag? I'm thinking it's not a Imperial Normandy. Magnavox had a lot of repeat styles in their cabinets. They were either just a little smaller and maybe different types of wood.

Bill

That is a real, genuine "little" Imperial, one of the models on my bucket list. IT has the 93 series amp, two 15" side firing woofers and two horns. You are a lucky man to have such a fine device. I'm jealous.....

My bad ... it does have the PP 6BQ5's in it... I was thinking of the motorola .... the model is 1st6620 s but my zenith still has more power with it's single ended outputs...because of the additional preamp driver stage .... this is the one where I had to rebuild the volume control because the carbon just disintegrated in the pot ...

Your disintegrated volume pot in your Zenith was just like my disintegrated volume pot in my Maggie Big Imperial. What a pain that was, and now the changer power switch has failed. Fortunately, I think I have a replacement for that. I just need to find the time to replace it.

Bill

I have a 1ST659 "Normandy Provincial", dated 8/30/62 and its amp is a 9300 series, with 12" LF speakers and horns. The changer is a Micromatic that also is labeled "Imperial", plus I have a 1ST223 that is equipped with same amp, speakers and 100 series tuner (no meter) but its Micromatic changer does not say Imperial.

A 1967 Magnavox at my barn (loud testing) shop has the same volume control thing going on, that's why its at the shop. I cant turn it down past 1/3 mark, sound like a PITA to replace. Guess Ill wait

Bill mentioned I should post a picture of it.. here it is, originally paid 30 bucks for it as it did not work and the guy wanted it gone ... only thing that needs to be done is the caps in the multiplex unit ... sounds garbled when FM is in stereo ...

Thanks Elton! It look to be in nice condition, even the changer mat looks good. Ok, Greg, woofers and horns, or eight speakers in a "Little Imperial"?

Bill

That is a fantastic deal you got! The tuner is a series 200, one last holdover from earlier TOTL models.

Both of mine have the series 100 tuner and 3-tube mpx decoder, these lack a meter and have five knobs.

Both my '62s have 12" woofs and horns. My 1960 1ST208 has 8 speakers, 15" woofs and three round mid-high speakers on each side.

A little Imperial would have horns. The only ones that had the eight speaker setup was the Symphony series and its version of the Stereo Theater. I don't know what Symphony did in 1962. The little Imperial is not supposed to exist in 1962, neither is the big Imperial. We all know how that turned out......

Isn't my Symphony a 1962? If so, 12" woofer and horns. 9300 amp, 2 tube MPX, and a 100 series tuner.

Bill

I didn't communicate very well. What I meant was the the only series of Magnavox stereos that had eight speakers was the Symphony series. For the 1962 and 1963 tube models, lots of specifications changed. Your '62 Symphony having horns and 12" woofers would be an example of that. My 400 series Stereo Theater having 12" woofers would be another example. About every year of Symphony was a little different. The 1960 models had the 175 amp and a Conquest changer. The 1961 models had the 93 series amp and the 600 changer. Your 1962 is different yet.

Different is good, and I'm happy to have mine.

Bill