very cheap barn dweller Mag

[Firedome]

This has popped up nearby for $40 OBO ... only 2 crappy pics, but from this can anyone venture to ID this from the cabinet or the partially opened top? It looks early '60s-ish to me, if may deserve to be saved for that price.

[chazglenn3]

I agree with the timeframe. It has the same turntable as my 1961 CG.

[William]

Roger, I found your barn find in the 1963 Magnavox brochure. At least your finds cabinet seems to match what's shown in the brochure. If that is the case, it's an Astro-sonic. Either a 3-ST672, or, a 1-ST-637. Both cabinets look similar, but one is 2" wider than the other. One has 20 watts, one has 30 watts. One has 15" woofers, the other 12" woofers. They both have horns. The 672 sold for $495.00. The 637 sold for $395.00.

Bill

[chazglenn3]

The knobs on the turner don't look like the usual Astro-Sonic knobs. Of course they may have been replaced, but I'm thinking last of the tube models. Maybe the earliest Astro-Sonics came with those knobs... I too would be tempted to save it for $40.

[electra225]

That instrument is a close relative to the "Contemporary" model I have. Mine is model 2ST653. If you look closely at the bezel on the tuner, you'll see "Magnavox Stereo" in block letters. If it was SS, that would say "Astro-sonic. My two cents would suggest that is a 1963 tube model. They shared those knobs on certain models in 1963 between the tube and solid state models, along with cabinets. I would also suggest that the cabinet would likely clean up well with some elbow grease and some orange oil. Certainly worth $40.

[hermitcrab]

$40 bucks.... I would grab it.... I am thinking a tube set as well.

[chazglenn3]

And it's $40 OBO.... Might get it for even less!

[William]

I noticed the "Magnavox Stereo", and, the knobs, but was not sure in 1963 if that term might have been used during the transition for both SS and tube.

Bill

[electra225]

This little stereo is not really listed in the 1961, 1962 or the 1963 catalogs. The closest is the 1ST288 from 1963. By the knobs, I'm guessing that is pretty close to right. There are two "Contemporary" models listed for 1963. Mine is the 2ST653. There is a solid state version also, 2ST650. I hope somebody saves this console. Probably has the 88 series amp.

If I could get to my Contemporary, I'd take a picture of it's tuner bezel. IIRC that is just like mine is. The tuner bezel is different from any of the others I have. The knobs are unique as well.

[chazglenn3]

This looks to be almost the same console. Slightly different cabinet. Cleaner and $40 cheaper. I don't even have any room in my storage to add it.

https://salem.craigslist.org/atq/d/wood ... 76358.html

[danrclem]

If you look at the right of the two top knobs it looks like there are two words there with five letters each. I enlarged the picture but it's still too blurry to read. If I had to guess I'd say it says Astro-Sonic. I've been wrong lots of times before and this may be one of them.

[Firedome]

If indeed a late tube model I'd try to save it, it's a 3 hour round trip so it'd be good to be pretty sure first!
Out of curiosity, whats the 88 series amp, if that's what it indeed has?

I agree that cabinet might clean up pretty nice. I may not have room for it but if I could clean it up and make it
sing then pass it on for at least a break-even price I"d be up for it, it gives me something to do in the winter and
I hate to think of it getting trashed.

Chuck the one you shoe has 3 lower panels and the top drawers are different... Maggie sure mad a lot of variations on a theme!

[electra225]

The 88 series amp is a close cousin to the 93 series. The 88 has a 6CA4 rectifier, a couple 6EU7 amplifiers for first audio and phase inverter, and P-P 6V6GT audio output tubes. Really about the same WPC, but lacks the sweet sound of the 93. A robust performer in their own right.

While I wouldn't bet my life that this is absolutely a tube model, knowing how Magnavox would change things. I would think that if it was SS, there would be "Astro-Sonic" slathered on it generously enough that there would be no doubt.

[Firedome]

Sent the seller a message and will try to get a better pic of the control panel face-plate and/or a model number (on the back I assume?).

[electra225]

It might help more if the back was off. That way we'd know for sure if it has tubes or not. The model number is on a sticker on the back, if you can read it. That might not tell us much, though.

[chazglenn3]

I saw a Maggie of similar vintage on my local craigslist today. The two words toward the top are "High Fidelity" on the example I saw. I tried to add a picture but failed miserably. Here is a link to the ad again:

https://salem.craigslist.org/atq/d/wood ... 76358.html

But zooming into the first picture in the thread it definitely looks like it says Astro Sonic to me now.

[William]

Charles, I see Stereophonic High Fidelity. I'm not seeing Astro-Sonic. I'm probably going to be wrong, but I think it's a tube model.

Bill

[electra225]

That bezel and knobs are like the ones on my '63 Contemporary. I put my vote in for it being tube. If it was SS it would say Astro-sonic in big letters.

[chazglenn3]

That's what I see in the Craigslist ad I posted too, but the picture in the first post on this thread kinda looks like it might say Astro Sonic.

[William]

When I try and blow up the photo in the original post it just gets more blurry.

Bill