Magnavox combo info needed
 

I have a Magnavox roundie stereo combo that I need model info. It's from 1962 or 63. CTC-15 TV chassis. I need the info on the amplifier and receiver parts. The unit model number is 2MV5454K. That's all I have and I cannot find it anywhere. I need to do a FM alignment and figure out the MPX issue(if it has one).

For some reason that doesnt look like it has a MPX decoder. It could be one of those where the turn table is stereo and the tuner has room for an external MPX decoder. Magnavox is a bitch to find sams for. Is there any other chassis numbers or anything like that?

There a chassis # stamped on the amp chassis, as well as the tuner chassis. The tuner has a metal plate where the optional MPX decoder board would go. It's a neat little SE amplifier, that is very popular.

No, just the one I gave. There is a FM stereo selection. No MPX output/input jacks. There is a cardboard cover in there. I removed it, there is a terminal strip attached to it with a bunch of wires. Maybe that's where it goes otherwise if it had the jacks, I would use one of my Fisher units. Maybe one of the Maggie console guys will shed some light on it. There is a board attached that looks like a MPX decoder. two tubes, 2 cans and 1 pot. It could be something else.

A Note,

Magnavox was a little bit more difficult to deal with unless a service center or dealer. Magnavox didn't sell parts to independent service technicians directly. They had to buy them from a Magnavox Dealer or Service Center. And service literature could be only bought from Magnavox.

I have the same tuner chassis. The pc board you see is the AM-FM IF strip. Mine was used with the larger push pull amp.

This is obviously a lower end console. No horn speakers. 12" woofers, 4x6 tv speakers used as midrange and 2 tweeters. Sounds OK. At least the TV audio is run through the amp. The MPX decoder must attach where that cardboard cover is.

OK, I pulled the tuner chassis out. That cardboard cover is where the MPX decoder lives. I'm going to try one of my fisher units.

Wired in 3 RCA cables. L&R inputs and MPX output. Plugged it into my Fisher MPX-100. Wala, I have >STEREO<. Now to get the tuner correct. Seems to be a PIA!

The Magnavox roundie chassis numbers are series 37, series 41 and 45.
I had a 45 and it was 1965, so yours may be a 37.
I have the schematic in a factory service book. PM me and I can mail you a copy.

This console is also from the early years of stereo FM. Many areas, except large cities, did not have even mono FM stations in those days, and if your area (if you were some distance from the nearest city) had even one stereo station you were lucky. Stereo FM was also more difficult to receive in the early '60s, again if your area had at least one such station, due to the lower ERP power output of 1960s FMs; one of the requirements for good stereo FM reception in the those days was usually an outdoor antenna -- not unlike early b&w and color TV before cable, not to mention today's digital TV.

Magnavox must have offered the multiplex decoder as an add-on accessory for their early-'60s combo TV consoles; if there is a cover on the main chassis over the area where the decoder would be mounted, this is probably the case. Magnavox may have marketed this console in at least two versions: with and without stereo FM, with the latter being convertible to stereo if and/or when one or more stereo station(s) arrived in the user's area; the former was for areas, again usually large cities and their near suburbs, that already had or could receive stereo FM stations. I doubt the real usefulness of stereo FM reception (or even stereo sound for the phonograph) in these consoles because they are nowhere near wide enough to provide decent stereo separation.

Repair issues
 

The first thing you'll need to do is change out all the electrolytics in the amp and as for the receiver, check the stereo indicator bulb, most of those really didn't need alignment but they did need the tuning capacitor cleaned.

By the way I have the same model

No stereo indicator on this set. At least I would not know where it was. This was mono fm only until I added a stand alone MPX decoder. The AM band has a standard tuning capacitor, The FM one is odd and controlled by a length of string running through a hole into the FM tuner box. There is not much for alignment. I can line up some of the stations correctly but throws everything else off. Just installed a new cartridge on the Collaro turntable. I need info on adjusting the tonearm weight. Greased all the moving parts underneath. Idler wheel is in good condition. Next is the TV section. Need to install a good CRT. This one went to air :(.

I bleeve this may be a series 43 TV chassis covered in sams 708, which includes all hifi info as well. I do not have that sams. I will see if the hifi in the series 45, I have this in sams 746, is a tube set but I think its the first Astrosonic -1965:scratch2:

FYI: The AstroSonic units were introduced at the end of 1962.

It's not an astrosonic, but I understand what you are saying. 1963 Model CTC-15 clone, The TV is up and running now. All new (NOS) Sprague can electrolytics. Mostly all NOS tubes. Excellent CRT(just replaced the original CRT, dead to air). Did all the usual adjustments. Thanks to DavGoodlin for finding out what the Sams folders were. I have a local source for those. All that is left is an FM alignment. I'll save that for another day.

Wow! What a great picture on that set. I have a Magnavox combo from 1964(it is in some other posts on here) and since it was set up, it too has a great picture. I also have a 1967 Zenith roundie that plays well too, but the color on the Magnavox seems to be more natural.

This one is going into my living room right below my LCD after I hang it on the wall. I like the way the maggie color logo lights up in the corner of the CRT bezel. The TV audio through the amp sounds great. I always seem to find that the color on RCA and their clones is just a tad better than most. Just my preference but I would not turn down any brand. :)

That's a very pretty Maggie you have there! Nice picture! (^_^)

Very good picture on your Maggie console. Just goes to show how good these older TVs were and still can be, if restored properly as yours was.

Is that a modern LCD flat screen on top of the set? :scratch2: If so, it's huge -- I'd say perhaps 30-40 inches if not more. Are you planning to put the Maggie in the same room with the LCD set, or is the latter to be installed in another room? If you did that (put both sets in your living room), it would be a good way to get two channels at the same time -- one program on the Maggie and the other on the giant flat screen.

It's a 52" Sony. I just mounted it on the wall tonight. It wasn't sitting on the maggie, it was on a stand behind the set. It would crush the sliders. The Sony is about 150 pounds. I like the Maggie below the lcd that way I can use the dish or netflix. I like to listen to records occasionally. Thanks for the compliment on the Maggie's picture.