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!!

[@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.

[@michaeldavidfigures9842]

The cabinet work in these old units was absolutely exquisite.

[@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.

[@pikadroo]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@jimtongas821]

From what you show that is a badass piece of all American quality. Amazing to even come to life after 75 years. So looking forward to the restoration! 👍

[@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.

[@theclearsounds3911]

Very exciting! In about 1972 I found a very similar model to this in a dump and pulled the radio receiver and speaker. Took it home and used it for about 8 years! The speaker cone was hopelessly torn, but I still had to have the field magnet winding hooked up, because it was in series with the B+, and this doubled as a filter. At night, that moveable AM antenna would pick up Illinois and Indiana radio stations from New Jersey! I later found the exact same model as mine in a thrift store in Chicago in about 1996, and regret to this day not buying it. Ah, what great memories of my childhood!

[@marcseclecticstuff9497]

Shango, you plugged it in prior to your trained television installation representative arrived! You know, unlike many electrical appliances, installation of a television receiver in your home involves more than merely "plugging in". I'm surprised it ever worked again after you recklessly "plugged in" without a trained television installation representative present. Very different times back then...

[@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.

[@dddevildogg]

Jerry might go clean,but the rest of SANE Americans are calling Walgreens to get a double on anti-depressants after the recent fixed election in which the winner is a genuine Gangster CRIMINAL

[@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.

[@christophero1969]

Great estate find. Happy Holidays!

[@jonathanhughes380]

Good morning Shango, Thank you for the great video.

[@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.

[@micmac99]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@noahcurcio8912]

My parents had a very similar magnavox, same cabinet outside, except instead of the cutout in the top for the record player ours had the record player that came out on a drawer where that panel says Magnavox is on the inside. We did not have the t, v, so the record storage was where the t was and had two grills for the bottom speakers. On Sundays, we would listen to the new york philharmonic on the radio or my mom would play different albums on the record player. Anything from Sinatra to Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks or jazz. Had that thing for years. I inherited it andsat a Panasonic 27 inch TV on top of it, and that was our tv cabinet. Then was used as a liquor cabinet also later on. I had never seen another one anywhere until I just run across your video.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@HankPanky]

Love the Magnavox badges.

[@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

[@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.

[@wgeddis]

That is very cool. Definitely worth saving and restoring.

[@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.

[@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 !!!

[@Suddenlyits1960]

Magnavox sure made quality electronics in the 50s and 60s. The amp and speaker in that tv are fantastic. I can imagine how nice it must have sounded when it was new. Hope it gets fully restored

[@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.

[@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.

[@MrRa1nes]

*stereo console

[@pochosousa4653]

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

[@ibrahimkocaalioglu]

Shango it was quite a journey. I discovered your channel last year. It took my 6 months to watch all of your videos from the beginning. Your videos are amazing. I am glad you got rid of the background music you used to play instead of talking. I like your mining videos coupled with radio test. I wish you, your family and your explorer friends all the best in 2025. Even though I am not working I will donate to your channel soon.

[@LanceHall]

Wow. This appears to similar to the combo unit we pulled out of the dead neighbors house (which we bought) except there was no TV in it. I got rid of it long ago because it was just so bulky. The radio DID work and it was LOUD. I turned it up loud and rode my bike to the other side of the neighborhood and could still hear it. I recall it did NOT have FM so it may have been an older model.

[@1953childstar]

These came in "variations" due to the fact that in the late 1940's - early 1950's not all areas of this country had FM or television broadcasting.. Some were without television or FM, some had FM and no television and one model had two 15" speakers. They all had the same Drexel cabinet.

[@edwardallan197]

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

[@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.

[@rogermccormick5248]

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

[@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.

[@davidgrisez]

I am 73 years old and I remember the old vacuum tube electronics that were in use when I was a young child. My parents in the 1950s had a plain black and white TV with a picture tube about the size of this one. The TV was not a combo unit like this Magnavox unit. I also remember when color TV came out and big companies such as RCA were advertising their new color television sets. It was also a big change when transistors started to replace vacuum tubes in TVs and radios. Transistors were a lot more reliable and used a lot less power than vacuum tubes.

[@MrJavaman5]

Can’t wait to see this restored! I live in Fort Wayne, and know a few people who worked at Magnavox back in the day.

[@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.

[@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

[@maddogproductions121]

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

[@scooterboi8761]

I grew up with Magnavox. Still love it.

[@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.

[@tenoquintana165]

Good vídeo. since Panama, central america Greetings.

[@seangriffon6502]

Great set. Beautiful real wood cabinet. Wow you are so lucky that you did not neck the crt and cause it to loose its vacuum. My friend got a vintage rca i think, he was not paying attention as he was pushing it through a door way, and the smashed the neck of tbe tube against the door jam. Talk about being torked off.

[@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.

[@paulm3079]

Awesome unit. I always liked Magnavox

[@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.

[@agostinodibella9939]

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

[@BillMorse-jr2ou]

love the paperwork from two very different time periods… thank you for sharing… 34 was the zip code before we went 5 digit… happy 2025 from Vermont

[@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.

[@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.

[@55benchguy]

My Grandmother had a set like this , and when we visited , I use to watch Mr, Rogers . ( we only had 3 channels )

[@walterbatman7949]

Beautiful set looking forward to future videos

[@karlament6939]

Nice set happy holidays to everybody

[@angrydove4067]

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

[@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?

[@MrDoneboy]

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

[@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.

[@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!

[@jeffreyhickman3871]

That's a REAL home 🏡 TV 📺!! Beats a flat screen TV, doesn't it? Glad this isn't a dumpster set. Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄 and a very safe and Happy New Year. Your friend, Jeff.

[@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!

[@38911bytefree]

I love this old tube consoles with large cones, they put rich bass effortlessly. And at 35W with a 15 light paper cone of this era, it can overpower the party no problems. I have a "15W" EL84 amp with 10 inch Jensens (sealed box type) and man, they pushed nice even at max volume. So 35 and 15 inch is a killer. Nice beast ... shame that they need to run the amp for the TV. I would mod to work with a little amp board when in tv mode. Even thinking on using a small speaker to avoid wearing out the 15 inch. The coil scratch sould be some dirt in the gap of the magnet ?. I recall you got nice speakers from the conn organ.

[@RickO.-vq8oh]

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

[@horseathalt7308]

There is also some kind of indicator lamp built into the r camera right side in the form of a small rectangle about the FM radio frequency 106.

[@RickO.-vq8oh]

@@horseathalt7308 I think you are correct - The tube diagram @ 9:22 says "Tube Omitted" for the 6U5

[@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.

[@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

[@JohnShinn6078]

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

[@tomprivate3362]

I have one just like it. I've also got the sales receipt for the down payment ($10) and the final payment $350. It was deleiver Dec. 24, 1951 a present for my mother. It still works.

[@Idelia412]

Just an FYI the Victor Electrola manuel that you were looking at was put out back in late the late 1920's cost $1100 approximately!

[@rkmklz7562]

Really like old style 1960s radios 😊

[@Joao.neto1974]

Parabéns , muito conservada o móvel, pelo que entendi ainda com etiquetas que vinha de fábrica , muito legal ver itens tão antigos ainda em bom estado. Abraços

[@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

[@thepurdychannel8866]

Love to see it restored great video

[@FranksPlace-jk7pj]

Nice quality mahogany cabinet and well built chassis.

[@JohnShinn6078]

Nevermind the tv, it's the opportunity to read the consumer manual that I really dig daddy-o. 👍🤓 Here's a couple excerpts: "The installation man will also make certain adustments at the rear of the television chassis. These adjustments are for experts only- we respectfully advise you to overcome any urge to tinker with these!" "Finally, the installation man will demonstrate the use of the controls. His demonstration, plus this booklet, should leave you fully capable of accurate tuning to any television broadcasts in your area."

[@Freedonone]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@ashraf9472]

Thanks. Good. Information

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

Still have the 1958 Magnavox "Modern Concerto" 2-piece console with the first stereo config for microgroove stereo records but not FM stereo. Its powered by 4 6v6 push-pull, two 15" woofers in it and a couple mids and tweeters and one 6X9" ~wonder what TV the rich cigar sucker had? Jeez I really need to get to that it's been almost a decade since I paid 60 for the set.

[@sgath92]

The rich cigar suckers had the Concert Grand, maganavox's MCM answer to the Zenith Stratosphere. 42 tubes plus remote control. Two monoblock amps, one per channel.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

@@sgath92 Sure, but this was the owner of a jewelry store. That's nice to mention the top notch of both of those top brands. If I were properly engorged with more knowledge of any/all of hi-fi history I might sound like less of my derp dat i do. I need to look these high-end kilowatt suckers up, thanks.

[@_Ramen-Vac_]

That's neat. Thanks for the input, 53*.

[@tedbell4416]

Thats a nice one, great cabinet

[@RobertKross-tw4si]

Please restore that set! Most of these sets were turned into liquor cabinets. My family had a Hallicrafters version. This is a museum piece.

[@Srinathji_Das]

Beautiful set!

[@scottbrady7499]

Beautiful Faux Woodgrain. Unspoiled Goodness. Sparklepony Mastercard.

[@dann2ptf]

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

[@rkmklz7562]

Russian Dance from the Nutcracker!!! playing cool 😎

[@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.

[@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.

[@horseathalt7308]

@30:30 Wow some traditions still live on all these decades later....The WPIX TV 11 New York Yule Log debuted on December 24, 1966 at 9:30 pm EST. Eventually the idea spread to other affiliated TV stations across the country including sister station KPIX TV in Los Angeles.

[@KenMalchisky]

Shango I do believe it is a 1953 my parents had the same one when I was a kid

[@danc2014]

Sad one in Illinois just went into the trash after 60 years in dads old house. It was going to be a liquor cabinet but no one wanted to work on it.