Major Magnavox and Motorola score today - Videokarma.org TV - Video

H2s04 · #1 07-25-2004, 01:41 AM

I aquired 3 "new" sets free today. One immaculate Magnavox 21" console, one Magnavox 21" table set (should have legs) and one 17" Motorola table set.

I'm REALLY proud of the Magnavox console, what do you guys think? I havent plugged it in, cleaned it, or done anything else to it. I can tell this set was used constantly, as all of the tubes, inluding the picture tube. The picture tube was replaced in January of 1970 with a dumont tube *woo hoo, its new!* I'm getting a variac very soon, and wondered what the process is for "bringing up" a set after its been retired for about 20 years? I also wondered what the steps are to check the set if its ready to even be turned on for a diagnosis

Here are some pics of the three sets...
Tell me what you guys think!

(ps, that white sopt on the front of the magnavox set doesnt exist, i dont know why the camera chose to slip up

)

H2s04 · #2 07-25-2004, 01:43 AM

heres a shot of the top

H2s04 · #3 07-25-2004, 01:45 AM

shot of the chassis

H2s04 · #4 07-25-2004, 01:47 AM

heres a shot of the moto, the front is somewhat scratchy

H2s04 · #5 07-25-2004, 01:49 AM

chassis shot

H2s04 · #6 07-25-2004, 01:53 AM

And heres the other magnavox, which i may just use as a parts set; its pretty scratched up, not too attractive (its missing its legs), and seems like a rather cheap set. If anyone wants to pic it up, they're welcome to; it'd give me a nice feeling if i knew it were going to a loving home

A note about the moto: it has aal the original tubes including the picture tube

H2s04 · #7 07-25-2004, 01:54 AM

the chassis, however, is on very good condition

Sandy G · #8 07-25-2004, 07:04 AM

I'm SO jealous of you guys in New England, & the northeast..we didn't have TV down here til 1954-55, & as such its hard to find earlier than then sets, if you find any at all. Great score!! Wanna see pics when you get 'em running !! -Sandy G.

H2s04 · #9 07-25-2004, 12:27 PM

Believe me, its pretty hard to find sets around here too. The last score before this was the Admiral in early march, and then then my color Zenith roundie in July of last summer. Take it from me, its slow!

Chad Hauris · #10 07-26-2004, 06:06 AM

I've got one of those Magnavoxes with the lifting lid over the controls...it has an automatic power switch that turns on when the lid is lifted and off when the lid is lowered.

Charlie · #11 07-26-2004, 11:45 AM

Great sets!

There is a Magnavox here near me in Beaumont that is very similar to the one you have pictured. only major differences is that the controls are below the crt, and the cabinet has doors. i have been considering going to get it, but right now do not have the room for it.

***Eric H*** · #12 07-26-2004, 06:53 PM

I kind of like the Maggie with the lift up lid!
If the CRT is good it might be worth fixing. Some suitable legs can probably be found at Home Depot or similar.

Eric

Chad Hauris · #13 07-27-2004, 06:12 AM

I think that the lifting lid Mag. may be made to set on a cabinet rather than legs. There are no fittings for legs on the bottom on my set, and at the estate sale where I bought mine I saw a cabinet with doors of similar wood style and size to the TV...so that when you put the TV on top of the cabinet it would be the typical height of a 50's console TV. It was $35 extra from the TV so I didn't get it.

H2s04 · #14 07-28-2004, 01:47 PM

Hey all! Thanks for the responces!

I was most interested in the magnavox with the vertical controls. Ive never seen a cabinet in such great condition, and the chassis is great as well. If you noticed, the warranty card for the DuMont CRT is still inside; never filled out. I'd like to know more about this set, like what year, if anyone has any ads, and what a tv in this condition might get in the market.

The irony is, I was least interested in the magnavox with the under-the-lid controls, as it has many scratches on it, and just seemed somewhat cheap looking, although the chassis is in pretty nice condition.

Chad: My set also has that little switch; at first iwasnt too sure what it was for, and assumed it was some sort of protective spring to keep the lid from slamming down.

I havent powered any of the sets up yet (although Im biting my nails like crazy wanting to) because I dont have a variac *yet*. Its arriving on friday (purchased it online sunday night). I know that theres some sort of order you need to follow when you power up a set for the first time in about 20 years, and I'm wondering what that is.

I love that little Motorola set, mostly because of its size and the fact that im 90% sure it has all of its original tubes, including the CRT. I dont really know how to tell if they really are all original, except from the fact that every tube says motorola on it in the exact same red font.

One confusing thing I noticed about that set is that i cant find a flyback transformer, nor can I find an HV rect. There isnt any sign of canibalisim, because nothing appears to be missing from the chassis (there isnt even any space in there for one anyway). I did find the HV wire coming out of the CRT bell, and if you look closely at the chassis picture, you'll notice its going down inside the chassis. Why is this? I'd also like to know if anyone knows the year of this set, along with any ads they might have (I'd love to see them).

I havent been able to do any looking around inside the sets, as I damaged my wrist in the process of lifting all three sets (putting them in car, taking them out, bringing them inside, ect). So when my wrist is all better, I'll bring down the moto and flip top, and get a good look inside.

Any other questions?

Charlie · #15 07-28-2004, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by H2s04

One confusing thing I noticed about that set is that i cant find a flyback transformer, nor can I find an HV rect. There isnt any sign of canibalisim, because nothing appears to be missing from the chassis (there isnt even any space in there for one anyway). I did find the HV wire coming out of the CRT bell, and if you look closely at the chassis picture, you'll notice its going down inside the chassis. Why is this? I'd also like to know if anyone knows the year of this set, along with any ads they might have (I'd love to see them).

I just looked your Motorola's chassis number printed there in your photo... TS-418... and found it in Sam's 269-9. The date is March 1955, so I would guess that the set is from 1954.

Sams' photos show FOUR tubes mounted under the chassis... the 1B3 HV rectifier you were in search of, the OSC and RF tubes for the VHF tuner, and also the RF tube for the UHF tuner... and your set doesn't have UHF. Your flyback is shown being mounted under there as well.

It seems they were making good use of all the empty space under that chassis. Even with the tuners and HV components being under the chassis, it looks like there is still plenty of room for you to get your fingers in there!