[drh4683]

I didn't find a TV today but I always keep an eye open for nice portable stereo phonographs as I have a nice little collection of those going too. The sale was at 4515 Florence Ave, in Downers Grove, IL. I found a 1968 Magnavox portable. Its a solid state unit, but Magnavox is a rare find around here, especially in a portable stereo phono. This thing is very high end and built solid. When I saw it, a guy was trying it out looking serious like he was going to buy it as he moved it over by an outlet to plug it in etc. Initially, I was bummed out as I though for sure he was going to buy it and I didn't have a Magnavox portable phono in my collection on top of it. So I continued to watch him fiddle with it......He didn't realize that you need to have the stabilzer arm lifted UP in order for the tone arm to automatically drop down on the record. instead, each time he turned it on, he moved the knob to "rej" and the tone arm just cycled lifting up, then dropped back down on the support and then shut off each time. I could tell he was getting frustrated as he really wanted it to "work" but then again, I could tell there was nothing wrong in the first place. It was operator error. He finally gave up and I asked if he was going to buy it. He goes: "ah.... the darn mechanisem is screwed up, otherwise I would buy it" so he closes it up and puts it back where he found it and moved on. That little voice inside my head says "YES!!!!!" with excitement and as soon as he walked away I grabbed it! What a lucky break.

And of course, it works just fine. You just need to know how to use a phono changer and if you don't stack records, the tone arm doesn't set by itself on the record unless you keep the stabilizer arm in the "up" position like I mentioned.
I walked out the door with it for $15. The thing is like brand new and still has the 45 adapter on the clip. Once I got it home, I tried a record out on it, the sound is outstanding, nice deep bass with crisp high tones. Magnavox had a top notch product with this little phono. It'll see lots of use playing my 50's/60's instrumental records like Ray Conniff, Nelson Riddle, Bert Kaempfert etc.