"Our beloved Magnavox"

[TC Chris]

My Mom saved lots of letters and cards. All of them, in fact. And she kept up correspondence with old friends for years. Today I read a note dated 1972 from a couple she had known 30 years earlier in Evanston, IL. They were moving to FL and the note described selling their house, and the furniture, and "our beloved Magnavox." Wish she had added a model number!

Chris Campbell

[William]

Maybe it was a Concert Grand!

Bill

[19&41]

Such entertainment centers were the center of attraction for family gatherings and would set the mood for the holidays the year round. I remember there were always Christmas records playing while our extended family would get together for dinner. It just wouldn't have been right without it.

[William]

It seems as we age our memories seem turn to what we consider the good ole' days. Family gatherings, friends of long ago, good times, simpler times. With me, all it takes is someone to say something, or maybe something on TV, or a song I hear on the radio or a record, to bring back those memories. Music was a huge part of those good ole' days, days that I miss. How about all of you? What sparks your memories?

Bill

[19&41]

Hearing any of the old standards that were on the old Christmas collection albums put out as complimentary gifts.

[Firedome]

Remembering when all 3 of our children were home in the mid '80s to early '90s and listening in the background to WWMD (long gone) an "easy listening" station from Hagerstown MD that played All Christmas music from Thanksgiving to the Big Day. Every time I hear Sinatra singing "Oh By Gosh by Golly" or Perry Como's "There's no Place Like Home for the Holidays" I flash back to that exact time for some reason, to that living room in MD where the 1960 Fisher Premiere console - gutted of it's TA-600 (the horror, I know, and yes, I still live in shame ) and at that time containing my Sansui AU717 amp and Technics tuner, would be playing those nostalgic tunes of the Christmas season. Those times of having the whole family at home were the best of my life, and whatever reminds me of it is welcome! To this day I'll only listen to those great standards of seasonal music of the 1930s to 60s that have never been equaled. I still have some of those Goodyear and Firestone Christmas albums, usually $1 at their store... just perfect!

[William]

I too, listen to those Christmas albums. I actually start playing Christmas albums just after Thanksgiving and by the time Christmas gets here I have them all played. There is a local radio station that starts around Thanksgiving and plays until Christmas but does a mix from the standards to modern. I like the old standards much better.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

last couple of Christmases , I have been playing the R2R in the magnavox playing a 3600 ' tape at 3 3/4 speed of nothing but christmas music... it will play for over 3 hours non stop on one side... then flip it over and play another 3 hours ... now if I use the Pioneer 707 or the Teac 4010 those will auto reverse so I don't have to flip it over so it will play 6 hours... enough to last the whole day...

[William]

Elton, I'm jealous that you have two R to R's working. I only have one, it's a Sony, and the left channels is weak on highs and about half way thru the tape it starts to slow down. Someday I will get brave enough to tackle a R to R.

Bill

[hermitcrab]

Bill , if the sound is weak on your sony , go right for the caps on the amp, they are dried up.... same for the motor run caps, Sony's are notorious for motor caps exploding their electrolyte all over , I just use ceiling fan caps for replacements from any home improvement, just get the correct size ... I think the sony's use 2uf cap

[William]

Thanks Elton! I opened it up once and put it right back together. I was not ready, or experienced enough to tackle a R to R. Maybe now, after a few years of this hobby I will tackle it. There is a lot of stuff in there and it's really tight.

Bill

[William]

Thanks Elton! I opened it up once and put it right back together. I was not ready, or experienced enough to tackle a R to R. Maybe now, after a few years of this hobby I will tackle it. There is a lot of stuff in there and it's really tight.

Bill