Early 1950s Magnavox TV AM FM Radio Combo Unit Evaluation Impressive 6L6 Tube Wonder

[@chetpomeroy1399]

On that brochure, the number 34 after Los Angeles I believe was an old postal designation, a precursor to the Zoning Improvement Plan Code (ZIP Code) that replaced it in 1963. Absolutely *beautiful* set!

[@shango066]

90034

[@GeorgeCrosley]

Right, Zone 34.

[@gustavoangelero4068]

Shango, the good news of Saturday morning.

[@NoPegs]

Shango is the only thing preventing me from sliding a projectile transverse through my brain most weeks...

[@terrykohlman7355]

Shango's on! My day is now complete and it's not even noon yet 😃

[@alphabeets]

That’s a badass unit. Definitely worth getting fully working!!

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

I love these old TV cold start videos because you have to fiddle with each individual element of what makes up a TV picture.

[@12345678989814]

I definitely look forward to you working on this TV this thing is awesome I've always loved Magnavox but man this sucker is just wow

[@JGGdesign]

Back in the early 70s my grandfather's furniture store took a Magnavox console (less the TV.) in trade, yes it had great bass and was loud! I was 10 years old, and I already liked the "old stuff", it wound up in my bedroom, at that time the unit was 20 years old! Great stuff Shango!

[@shango066]

That’s great to hear. I love to hear from people who have memories of these sets from back in the day. Those old sets were built like tanks.

[@zulumax1]

6L6GB probably around 17 watts in push pull, under 350 volt plates on these from recollected memory. The 6L6GC will run at 500 volt plates and push around 30 watts.

[@cgschow1971]

I have a Magnavox Georgian console with AM/SW and the optional FM receiver and Webster 78 player. I bought it mostly for the beautiful Mahogany cabinet, but after dim bulbing it, it works fine. The Webster is a little sticky. I'm impressed how big the speaker is and the bass tone it produces. Made in 1947 is my initial guess.

[@shango066]

Those are beautiful units, they were built like tanks. I just picked one up at a flea market, they are really nice.

[@boazrefaely1205]

Well, this is the last video for 2024, and today is my birthday. I wish you a better year than the last, and many more quality and special videos. Greetings from Israel

[@mikefinn2101]

Shango very promising restoration in Amazing condition great find nice Saturday morning

[@shango066]

It is in good shape. Thanks for the compliment. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@michaelsamra3171]

@@shango066 That's a nice field coil speaker and some audiophiles are using FC drivers in their systems.

[@johndonlon1611]

This was our first TV and it was (as I later learned) extremely expensive. The FM radio was in high-fi and it had really terrific sound. The set was connected to a rectifier mounted on a 2x4 to provide constant-steady power as our house was very old and the electric outlets were just like out of "A Christmas Story." We got about 15 years out of it.

[@waltschannel7465]

Magnavox always emphasized audio quality, but you are right. This is insane. McIntosh, eat your heart out. This is a Magnavox monoblock. Then there's the fact that it still works, as is, with 75 year old waxies in it. Regarding max power output, RCA tube manual says 55 watts max signal for 2 6L6GC tubes in class AB-1 configuration. I believe Western Electric tubes can be pushed to about 70 watts. From Wikipedia regarding the suffix number: A vacuum tube amplifier design will sometimes have an additional suffix number for the class, for example, class B1. A suffix 1 indicates that grid current does not flow during any part of the input waveform, where a suffix 2 indicates grid current flows for part of the input waveform. This distinction affects the design of the driver stages for the amplifier.

[@rogermccormick5248]

Tv met you and aged fifty years. Thanks a lot. Mr restorer.

[@yardleybottles6025]

I had an Astrosonic when I was 17 in 1973. Cream, Humble Pie, Joe Cocker. Thanks for saving this beauty.

[@shango066]

That is a great group of bands! Makes me miss the 70's! Man, I wish they still made them like that!

[@yardleybottles6025]

@shango066 Seeing you salvaging this old Maggie warmed my heart like the Yule log! Thanks for this Christmas gift!

[@bigalsmallengines]

Interesting Magnavox combo there. A true classic! Love the cabinet and it looks very well made. I bet the sound would be amazing. Very nice indeed! 🍻

[@shango066]

Thanks for the kind words! Yes, it is an amazing cabinet, and the sound is great!

[@alphabeets]

Imagine what Tchaikovsky would’ve thought if you told him his music would be playing on a television and transmitted to wireless devices all over the world through KZbin some 130 years later. Great great music.

[@MikeDeJager-ex4wm]

I was shocked to see full deflection, too. It is a keeper. I'm looking forward to you going through the tuner amp.

[@directcurrent5751]

Bright, too.

[@databits]

Wish I had room for more units like this one! Thanks for the tour of this magnificent set.

[@HankPanky]

Love the Magnavox badges.

[@metalbill]

6:43 before ZIP codes, cities were broken into areas or Zones. 34 is a particular zone in LA. Then came Zone Improvement Plan 5digit codes.

[@60gregma]

I am shocked, that he did not know this. Anyone who has messed with vintgage stuff has seen this.

[@micmac99]

The zone number I believe evolved into the last two digits of the five digit ZIP code, so 90034

[@timaitken5539]

Your my favorite channel on the tube !! I think if I keep watching I might actually be able to fix a few things just observing your method of diagnosis's and eliminating other causes of circuit failure etc. , I'm currently trying to fix the primary circuit A , in my police interceptor , replaced the coil pack which helped but the code came back A which is no.1 cylinder , so much fun ! Really looking forward to more videos on this amazing Magnavox , you're a repairman genius ! love all your videos !!!

[@jonathanhughes380]

Good morning Shango, Thank you for the great video.

[@JerryEricsson]

Back in the day, our TV served us as an audio player as well, we had old Lawrence Welk, we had Sing Along with Mitch Miller, and The Grand Ole Opery in the evenings, the old Black and White Cabinet TV that dad got for us when we moved to a farm with electric power in 1961 had a big speaker and sounded great when the music shows came on, you could feel the bonce on bass type music. Later shows we had were, of course Ed Sullivan who introduced us to the Beetles, the Animals, and of course the Doors. it was a great time to watch television even in black and white. Hope you have a great Christmas and happy new year. After the recent election, I told my doctor that I may well be able to go off my anti-depressants!

[@shango066]

Those are great memories, it is amazing how simple things made a big difference. I can't imagine how much fun that must have been, the music of the time was great, I always liked Mitch Miller.

[@KameraShy]

And Elvis. My doctor - Dr. Vinnie Boombatz - told me with my face I had reason to be depressed.

[@scooterboi8761]

I grew up with Magnavox. Still love it.

[@michaeldavidfigures9842]

The cabinet work in these old units was absolutely exquisite.

[@frankowalker4662]

I love that Magnavox. After a re-cap, I bet it'll sound even better.

[@ArthurJS123]

There is a lot more to restoration than a complete recap. For example, the speaker is bad. No recap can “fix” that.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

I dig vintage stuff. I grew up with a Silvertone console my father had.

[@bojacque6474]

I have a few silvertone sets. Pretty well made and easy to service.

[@wgeddis]

That is very cool. Definitely worth saving and restoring.

[@alanpecherer5705]

I've never seen a TV-phono combo with push pull 6L6 tubes. Wowww!! And that includes hundreds and hundreds of them I saw and worked over at the town dump, which was on my way home from school going back to the 60's and 70's. With that audio power and that speaker, that set no doubt sold itself, standing out as a real boomer among mere mortals.

[@1953childstar]

It was a Magnavox "add-on" console.. The television was intended to be added on or sold as a unit. The console was sold with just the AM radio and phonograph for areas with no television or FM reception. Later, television or FM could be added when broadcasting became available. The first production model had a 78 RPM only changer and a 17" television.

[@pikadroo]

Yule log at the end was just 😚👌 chefs kiss. Excellent.

[@JohnShinn6078]

That's why it's called Magnavox, they most always sounded better than the rest.

[@GiguereSylvain]

This is a Wow unit! deserving full restoration.. Could be a tv history museum piece. Great find. Thanks Shango for bringing us such interesting stuff, and your knowledge and experience. Shango is at the top of my "must see" list. Happy Holidays Shango!

[@RaymondLau-u7x]

I've seen those 6L6 push pull audio circuits in guitar amps as well. Lots of power. I was glad you didn't run them too long. Patiently waiting for part 2.

[@seancarroll146]

Thanks for keeping me warm at the end! Really all you need is a 2000 watt heater on each side of your TV or laptop to get the true effect.

[@teacfan1080]

Wow, just wow! Magnavox made some great stuff in this time period. This set deserves a complete restore, record player and all. It's a party in a box early 50's style.

[@edwardallan197]

Coolness.... what a great example of early combo....❤

[@bblod4896]

A great way to enjoy a Saturday. For a mass production factory, the woodworking is great. It seems that system is worth an investment in parts and time. Happy New Year to Shango and your family.

[@paulm3079]

Awesome unit. I always liked Magnavox

[@angryshoebox]

The 34 is the zone. It's what was used before zip codes came along in 1963.

[@atschirner]

And was kept as the last two digits of five digit Zip Codes after '63.

[@maddogproductions121]

Yusss! Dr. Shango does it again!! A great start or end to a good Saturday

[@williamralph5442]

My parents had a Magnavox stereo tuner/phono with big speakers on each end in a nice wooden cabinet. that unit sounded awesome.. cool find Shango.

[@christophero1969]

Great estate find. Happy Holidays!

[@pochosousa4653]

Que maravilloso equipo¡¡¡...espero ver pronto más videos de el siendo reparado . Saludos de un argentino desde España

[@alanmaier]

There were some products where Magnavox was not messing around. Those massive stereo color theater consoles from the 1960's used the massive 15" woofers and outward firing horns for the TV as well. I am thinking the non-TV version of this HiFi would have had 2 15" speakers.

[@directcurrent5751]

1 heavy 15" woofer in center, to left of controls and LPs bay. L / R were each strong 8" midrange and high-end tweeters. Real crossover circuits. The fun Vibrasonic circuit continuously passed the common signal through a big spring mounted between two electrodes; turning up Vibrasonic added this vibrating sound effect. Tuning Eye was helpful.

[@alanmaier]

@@directcurrent5751 That would have been a Motorola. They were quite good and known for their 3 channel consoles. 1 large woofer in the middle, then stereo midrange and tweeters. Those are very highly regarded.

[@FranksPlace-jk7pj]

Nice quality mahogany cabinet and well built chassis.

[@thattubesound2214]

Just a few days ago, I bought a Maggie in the same cabinet, but sans the television. Their sound was unique and I love listening to old mono jazz records on it. I'm not surprised that they ran the TV sound through the "big ass amp". That was Magnavox. People still look for Maggie audio amps to for their home build projects. I hope to see this one again. Cool set. Cheers! Michael

[@csterett]

With the CRT in that set being in the condition it's in and the craftsmanship that went into it it should be fully restored. They don't make them like they used to surely applies to this!

[@agostinodibella9939]

That’s a nice old combo TV. Looking forward to the next video for it!

[@tenoquintana165]

Good vídeo. since Panama, central america Greetings.

[@jimmyday9536]

You are right about the audio output; jukeboxes also used push pull 6L6 tubes with a 15" speaker. And they could fill an auditorium. Wonder why Magnavox used such a high-power amp in a home unit?

[@1953childstar]

This was sold as an "Add on unit".. It was sold in areas with no Television or FM reception, with only AM radio and a phonograph. It could be upgraded later with the additional television and FM radio.

[@angrydove4067]

Lookin' forward to the recap. Love the new back!

[@Srinathji_Das]

Beautiful set!

[@tedbell4416]

Thats a nice one, great cabinet

[@RickO.-vq8oh]

Beautiful set. Is the small circle (Upper left on Radio panel) the tuning eye? Your tv is on fire at the end 😀🌄

[@flukep1228]

Thank Shango for showing the yule log burning at the end of your video. This year was over at family and miss the yule log burning.

[@markowen4326]

Usagi Electric has a video about his Magnavox Concert Grand Stereo, which has a pair of 6V6s for each driver. Maybe less juice than these 6L6s, but push pull outputs for an old tweeter is crazy.

[@MrDoneboy]

It's alive! Repeat just like in the Frankenstein movie! Happy New Year, Shango!

[@1953childstar]

I grew up with this model and a 17" DuMont. The Magnavox "American" was introduced in late 1949 and modified. The cabinet was made by Dexel and available in different configurations. It came as a "bare bones" model with no television or FM radio and a 78 rpm Webster Chicago changer.. Another option was with an FM radio and the first television "addition" was a 17" screen. The reason for the options was due to the fact that FM and television were not available in all areas of the country. Another variation was 2 -15" inch speakers and the record storage was where the television was placed. This model has a Webster Chicago changer for 33 and 78 rpm records and larger television screen, probably 1950-1 production.

[@ThomRealEstate-k1y]

I had a few Magnavox TV sets and they were good sets. I had a high boy b&w and a color one also. The color one had a rectangular screen which was rather rare in the mid 1950s both sets had the factory uhf tuners.. The turntable is a Collarro from England rebadged..These are excellent units!

[@vcv6560]

These are great to see, how could it be so old and yet so functional out of the gate?! I have a 1946 Zenith radio-phono combo unit (12HO92) waiting for a restoration (starting with re-wiring the rubber insulated mess). Its later form, the 24H20 (1949) had the 16" porthole TV too. A lot of work (and value) went into those units.

[@dann2ptf]

Google Maps says that address is a Chick-fil-A now....

[@thepurdychannel8866]

Love to see it restored great video

[@stevencarlson5422]

I have a dual 6l6 guitar amp with a 15in speaker and can confirm that these tubes are awesome for pushing out power when maxed out they start to glow blue and pulse with the music

[@rkmklz7562]

Really like old style 1960s radios 😊

[@directcurrent5751]

My Dad owned a Magnovox stereo counsel, roughly 1965 model. Tubes and hand crafted chassis. Massive 15 inch woofer in the middle. Real crossover circuits to separate the frequencies. Loud! The vi vi Vibrasonic sonic sonic ic ic feature was fun. Tuning eye. Amazing, no new tubes, no repairs, but last time I saw my brother, it was still working. Things were so well built in those years.

[@1953childstar]

Was the "Vibrasonic" feature on a "Motorola", not Magnavox ???

[@N0zer0]

*stereo console

[@dmcintosh1967]

Very nice set I'm glad you saved from becoming stupid like a bar and also for its age it's working very well especially if it still has the original caps. I have an early 50s Philco console TV but until I track down a picture tube tester I'm not going to mess with it.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@0:22 - I am a "normie" and my idea of a liquor cabinet is the case the bottles came in when I bought them.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

You have a very unique channel. I live in key West Florida. You're out there in California with all that traffic. Be well.

[@atschirner]

did you notice the accessory outlet? Is that for the black panther TV light that was popular in the same timeframe?

[@justsumguy2u]

That really is an impressive unit. The lack of high end is probably due to no tweeters----back then it was common to just have one full-range driver, and you'd be lucky to get 10khz out of one. The diagnosis on the tv will be interesting

[@shango066]

It is amazing to think about how much sound quality has improved. Yeah, I'm gonna try to get that tv working next.

[@1953childstar]

If I remember correctly, there is another speaker within the 15" one that you see. My grandparents had this model in 1950.

[@justsumguy2u]

@@1953childstar Possibly, but even if there was, it would've been a midrange driver. Hifi didn't start until the mid-late 50's, that was when they started caring about high frequencies

[@defaultuserid1559]

My grandparents had basically the same thing without the TV. I wasn't allowed to turn it up very loud but it hit hard even by today's standards.

[@1953childstar]

I did come without a television due to the fact that television and FM were not available in all areas. They could be added on later.

[@defaultuserid1559]

@@1953childstar No, it was a completely different cabinet. Theirs had the record changer drawer where the TV screen is on this one. The bottom section had the speaker on the right and record storage on the left.

[@chrisnowacki5663]

The only beam power tube that I'm familiar with that is stronger than the 6L6 is 8417, those were the semi trucks in the amplifier world. I have several Bogen amps that utilize 4 in each channel, absolutely bonkers mad! You could knock rainbows out of the sky. Designed to make the deaf and deceased hear again.

[@sgath92]

KT150, PP its rated for 200 watts. Basically just an overbuilt 6L6 though.

[@ricardosalesdemello4130]

Ohhh! yeahh shango, que Maravilha, adorei ver o funcionamento da TV Magnavox Ohhh! yeah! shango, how wonderful, I loved seeing how the Magnavox TV works

[@charleslaing3426]

In the late 60's I built a stereo amplifier that had push-pull 6L6s in a Williamson circuit configuration. I had a power transformer from one of those old BW TVs and TWO 5U4 refitifiers. Getting the output transformers was the hard part, The amp was stolen while I was posted overseas.

[@foxrivers]

I can almost smell it

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

LOL i was saying the same thing old TVs had a funky smell in a good way

[@scottbrady7499]

Beautiful Faux Woodgrain. Unspoiled Goodness. Sparklepony Mastercard.

[@1953childstar]

Not a bit of "faux woodgrain".. This cabinet was made by Drexel cabinet makers and appealed to customers that demanded quality. My grandparents bought this in 1950..

[@allisoncawthon2551]

That is a remarkable find. Look at the plating on the chassis. No rodents running around in hat house.

[@tobi8496]

If the voicecoil is rattling try to rotate the whole speaker 180° and try it. I had the same problem with some 1960s massive bookshelf speakers and it worked.

[@hestheMaster]

If you bought one of these consoles back then you were living it up. They weren't cheap by any standards.

[@geronimostade8279]

Its really not my style of cabinet but it looks like that one is quite a keeper in terms of quality. As one whos coming from Guitar Amp repairs i adore the Poweramp lol Thanks for the video and have a peaceful time man!

[@kpc5]

How much in today's money would that cost, a really nice piece of furniture and i would have it in my home.

[@1953childstar]

My grandparents bought this in 1950. It cost $1,400 new..

[@charleslaing3426]

It was common in consoles that there was only one audio amp so TV, radio, and phono all went thru it, BTW, the two digit number in the dealer address was a pre-ZIP "postal code". Only big cities had them and it facilitated mail sorting.

[@oldradiotvsc9836]

Could the rattle in the speaker possibly be just debris in the voice coil area that could be cleaned out? Maybe it could be good! Incredible bass and volume having those P-P 6L6 tubes!

[@1953childstar]

I was wondering if it was the "speaker within" the wolfer, coming loose.

[@JCWise-sf9ww]

6L6GB push-pull audio, Just Awesome.

[@gretalaube91]

Most of all, I am glad that KTLA has the Yule log, with classical music. In today's culture, evil greenhouse gas Yule fires, combined with sexist all male european classical music composers is highly cancelled.

[@brucemcgee2281]

I sell Magnavox TV's from 1967-1990. I love their furniture made in Arden, NC.

[@kevinbambrick]

Happy new year 🎊🎊🕛🕛.

[@12345678989814]

Yeah the bass that comes out of those things is tremendous I have several that are older that only have 12 inch field call speaker when was sitting in my living room had the best base of anything I've ever owned it would really rattle the windows even out of just a 12-inch speaker until that across the line cap let go and yeah they're insanely loud

[@skullheadwater9839]

I have two of those late 50's Magnavox 15" speakers, they were both F'ed with Voice coil rub. They put the same VC and magnet as their 12's which were decent.

[@racecar_spelled_backwards868]

6:45 Los Angeles 34 was a pre-ZIP code way of helping direct mail to the correct mail station in a large city where there were multiple mail stations. Large cities like Chicago, New York, and LA had numbers after the city to help with this routing. The ZIP code made this redundant.

[@fanofoldfans9238]

A 3" holesaw and some chicken wire will do great for venting that old heater. Cool

[@rodrigosiqueira9514]

Que achado maravilhoso!

[@MACEWINDULastJedi]

That fire place footage looks like the sixties!

[@relay3]

Good unit to get those Skyrizi jams bumping

[@stevecurl7430]

Thank you!

[@brentludwick213]

"34" refers to the district. Before the Zip code was invented, in 1963, large cities had postal districts, or zones.

[@russellhltn1396]

7:50 what's that RCA connector labeled "EXT COLOR CONV" for? What kind of whacky color system was that?

[@1marcelfilms]

Old speakers sound amazing even with a tiny 1w amplifier.

[@iRepairElectronics]

Ahhh The Yule log. Just as i remember it. On an old CRT set. I hope there is something you can do for that old speaker. You can tell the bass is monster.