1983 Magnasonic MBT 200 B&W TV (pics)

[Robb]

Picked up this vintage 1983 Magnasonic model MBT 200 B&W TV at an estate sale today for a measily $2. Works and looks like new. Not even 1 scratch on cabinet !
Doesnt seem like it was used much. It is a very clean set.
Made in Korea. It has a 12" screen.
The cabinet has a yellow tinge to it with marbleized swirls in it.
Is that bakelite ?
I cant find any info on it.

[radiotvnut]

Nice set that looks to be a rebadged Samsung.

[Eric H]

It's a 12" set, pretty much the standard size for B&W by that time.

The cabinet is Plastic, Bakelite was long gone by 83, at least in TV's.
It has discolored from age and the fire retardants used in making it, it was probably plain white originally, many colored sets such as white, purple and pink, suffer from discoloration as they get older.

There are ways to restore the color, see here: http://videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=259066

[Robb]

The yellowing is caused by heat and UV sunlight, so I read.

[mstaton]

They quit making Bakelite in the 50's. That yellowed plastic can be cleaned. There is some info on it on this site and the net.

[Robb]

hmm, that retrobite method seems like too much work for a $2 set...lol

[Robb]

http://www.bluetronicsgroup.com/ Now owns Magnasonic as well as Electrohome, Citizen etc etc

[Sandy G]

Still looks like a STEAL for 2 bux...

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Robb

http://www.bluetronicsgroup.com/ Now owns Magnasonic as well as Electrohome, Citizen etc etc

All Canadian brands I reckon, Electrohome definitely is. I rarely see Magnasonic TVs mentioned anywhere. I used to have an '89 long ago. Couldn't find the brand on any universal remote list, worked with an RCA code though. I recall seeing Citizen-branded items. Used to have a VCR made under that name. Got it new in '93.

[Robb]

So I have a rare vintage Maggie set ! Must be worth alot then.... lol
Im sure the copper in it is in high demand ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI6ydpVrku4

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Robb

So I have a rare vintage Maggie set ! Must be worth alot then.... lol
Im sure the copper in it is in high demand ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI6ydpVrku4

I'm pretty sure that Maggie is short for Magnavox. Just like most other vintage sets, it's worth "whatever someone will pay for it".

I hope you're joking about the copper thing...

[Robb]

Originally Posted by KV-1926R

I hope you're joking about the copper thing...

haha! ya im joking. This set is not going to be recycled !

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Robb

haha! ya im joking. This set is not going to be recycled !

Very good. Too bad about the plastic yellowing, happens so easily to sets with fire retardant materials in the plastic. Smoke can do it too. I've never seen a yellowed Apple II or Apple II Plus, from 1977 and 1979 respectively, but I've seen plenty of yellowed Apple IIe/IIc/IIgs computers, the first of those coming out in '83, so the fire retardants probably went into large-scale use around that time. Lots of yellowed early 70s Avantis I know, but Zenith products seemed to be in the forefront technology-wise for a long time.

[Robb]

Well, the set still exists and works and doesnt have any scratches. The yellowing I can put up with I guess...
I mean the set is 30 years old. Most have been tossed in the trash 20 years ago !

[Sandy G]

The name "Magnasonic" likely was sort of a ruse to get half-asleep consumers to think they were really buying a Magnavox or a Panasonic..