Early '60's Magnavox tube console stereo

[radiotvnut]

This is an example as to why patience and staying on top of the game pay off.

Years ago, I first saw this stereo at flea market "A"; but, unfortunately, it had a ludicrous price ($225, IIRC) on it. After it sat there for months, I offered $50. They passed my offer to the vendor and it was turned down.

It sat there for a year or two before it made it's way to flea market "B." By that time, it had been marked down to $175. After months at that price, it came down to $150. I again tossed a $50 offer at them. I know the owner of this flea market and he said there was no need in even calling the vendor because she is the type who won't negotiate and that she got real bitchy when they knocked $5 off of something of hers, just to get it out the door.

Eventually, it came down to $75 and I've been watching it for months. Two weeks ago, he told me that she was having a 20% off sale (OK, we're getting closer to the $50 figure). The other day, they told me that her big stuff was 20% off and her clothes were 30% off; but, if I wanted the stereo, they'd give it to me for 30% off. With tax, I paid $56 and some change for it (close enough to my $50 offer).

Once I got it home, I discovered that it's the version with a stereo PP 6V6-based amp. It has an aux. input and provisions for FM stereo; but, no FM stereo decoder was installed (seems to be the case with most of these that I find). I guess FM stereo was so uncommon back then that most owners didn't feel the need to spring for the cost of the stereo decoder.

When I fired it up, the record changer is non-operational, the FM is bad out of alignment (106.9 comes in at about 98), and AM works OK. Eventually, it will get a full restoration and, no, I will not pull the amp to sell on ebay. I like mathematical progression when it comes to money; but, this one is too nice to part out.