Magnavox TP-241D record player cabinet restoration

[TC Chris]

YouTube? My theory in such matters is that if I can do it, anybody can. Since I don't have a smartphone, I use my little old Flip video camera. That makes my techie younger family members roll their eyes or utter snide comments, but at least it came with video editing software that lets me assemble scenes into a movie. If you have a smartphone, then you'd need that video editing program to put all the snippets together.

Actually, getting the video made is easy. Getting it onto YouTube, well.... I've climbed that earnng curve quite a few times. Lots of #%^&$@!!! involved.

My brother kids me about my video triumphs. My most popular is the one of my Magnavox provincial Serenade at 585 views. "Influencers" get that many in a minute. My little GE phono film has 279 views so far, toward the top in my rankings. Let's just say that no advertisers are paying me to annoy viewers on mine.

Chris Campbell

[hermitcrab]

Greg, now that you tried the Tolex job... what's your opinion on working with it?... easy... hard? ...once I figured how all the quirks , I found it to be pretty straightforward to use once the pieces were cut ... I used contact cement and you have to make sure before you place it on the right spot the first time , because there is no second time that was the only part that scared me ...

[electra225]

Well, Elton, the best word I can use to describe my experience with Tolex was "intense". Like you said, there is little room for error. The glue I used was somewhat forgiving, in that I could make MINOR adjustments once I got the Tolex tacked. When I was doing a larger piece of material, I put it on a bit at a time. This allowed me to get it straight. I also learned, when cutting along a METAL straight edge to only make one cut. If you try to cut it a second time, you'll leave a gap. That was a bit of a learning curve for me. I also found that when I left extra length it caused more harm than good. Best to cut fairly accurately and get it right the first time. The lid was more work than the rest of the cabinet. I'll do a couple things differently next time, but, all in all, it was an enjoyable experience that I'm glad to have had the opportunity to try.

[electra225]

I am officially now 99.5% done with this project. I still have to find a Magnavox script for the grille. I got the platter mat and trim from Gary, along with a new needle. What a difference the needle made! Now, I can actually hear a bit of turntable rumble, but that is just a part of its personality and is music to my ears. The platter mat and trim ring are perfect. Instead of using the recommended contact cement or Tolex glue, I used white Elmer's glue. I smeared some on the back of the mat, spread it around with a Q-Tip, then stuck that on the platter. I got it perfectly straight. And, just for reference, I believe the trim ring I got for this platter mat will work on the original Colloaro S-600 mats in Magnavox stereos that are frequently found with a wrinkled center trim piece. It is VM's part number 24666-B. I have a 45 adapter on its way. I played some 45's without using a proper 45 rpm adapter. I think we are good with changer cycling and all that.

[William]

It looks great, Greg. It has to feel good that you have this one done, and it performs the way you want it to.

Bill

[TC Chris]

Looks like you found some NOS in the back of a store, but I'm sure the performance is better!

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

I love doing this kind of a job. Restoration was my business for lots of years. I got way deeper into this than I had intended. I used to tell people who wanted a car restored to get an estimate of the cost, double it, then add ten thousand dollars. That would typically get it pretty close. I'm thrilled to have it. I used to not be all that excited about mono equipment, but this record player has me rethinking that. This one is a Magnavox in every sense of the term, plus it has a VM changer to boot, sort of the best of both worlds.......

[TC Chris]

Instead of using the recommended contact cement or Tolex glue, I used white Elmer's glue. I smeared some on the back of the mat, spread it around with a Q-Tip, then stuck that on the platter.

Let's talk about this. I had always assumed that Elmer's/white/school/carpenter's glues were suited for porous surfaces. I fact, I just did a search, the first return says this:

"To bond, PVA glues must penetrate the surface, so they are ideal for working with porous materials like paper, wood, and plywood. PVA is ineffective on surfaces that don’t have texture or are smooth, such as plastic, metal, or glass."
.
About 25 years ago I found some beat-up speakers at curbside and dragged 'em home. They were big but lower-end "rock'n'roll" speakers. I needed some for my shop. The surrounds had rotted. I replaced the foam surrounds with a kit. It came supplied with good ol' white PVA glue. Sure, it'll stick to the foam and to the paper cones, but the steel speaker frame? Well, it's what they sent so I used it and they are still working just fine.

Just today I received a re-surround kit for my Dad's old Larger Advent speakers. Guess what glue they supplied? Yes, PVA white glue. So apparently the stuff sticks adequately to steel, even if it's not supposed to.

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

I love doing this kind of a job. Restoration was my business for lots of years. I got way deeper into this than I had intended. I used to tell people who wanted a car restored to get an estimate of the cost, double it, then add ten thousand dollars. That would typically get it pretty close. I'm thrilled to have it.

I just paid the last bill for having my older sailboat repainted. Actually, a bottom job plus hull paint, all on very imperfect surfaces. I just stepped back and let the shop guys make all the decisions, since all the boats they've done have been stunning, and they did not need me to tell them how to do it (even though I had many ideas). I paid roughly 4 times what the boat would sell for. But that is not the point. Now I can enjoy a handsome vessel, and if I am struck by lightning and fried, a new owner will want to own and care for that handsome vessel. Meanwhile, that boat and I go back to 1968 together, so we owe each other a lot. Remember what Oscar Wilde said about the kinds of people who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Yeah, I know all the drawbacks and technical specs about Elmer's glue. I have used it for eons and it never disappoints me. It is cheap, easy to use, easy to clean up, forgiving to work with, and it's effective. The reason I used it on the platter mat was that I was afraid of not getting it on straight. You only get one shot with contact cement or Tolex glue. Elmer's glue let me work it around a bit for a perfect fit. Where is the mat going to go? The absolute worst that can happen is that the mat comes loose. Then I'll just clean it up a bit and re-glue it. I use Elmer's glue for projects it wasn't designed for. But it's like WD-40. It just works.

I don't put cost as a primary concern during a restoration. I can't entertain myself anywhere else for what I spent on the record player. Where is another one like it? The result was worth the work and the cost. That's the fun part for me. The work. Then seeing it after it's done and comparing pictures before and after.

[Firedome]

Came out really nice... it should be in a museum somewhere, is there a Magnavox Museum anywhere? If not there ought to be.

[William]

The only thing I know of, is this link:

https://magnavoxhistory.com/

Bill

[Hi-Fi-Mogul]

Greg,
That Maggie is dealer showroom nice !

[electra225]

I have to find a place to display it. I had it stored on the shelf under my bench, but it can't go back there. This is going to be my 45 player. I have a whole box of 45's that I haven't played in several years, maybe 35 years or so. Playing 45's on a single play turntable is a lot of work and it's hard on my expensive needles. This player has an 8 dollar needle in it, so if I have to replace it frequently it's no big deal. There were a couple members on this forum who have made contributions to this project, and, with their approval, I'll give them the recognition they deserve.

The next Tolex job I am planning is on that big GE stereo of Don's. It needs more than one of everything. It's been used for a parts set. The tone board on it is cracked, so it will need to be diagnosed and probably hard wired. The changer is nasty, and may be used as a parts changer for a nicer example. The Tolex on the cabinet is in worse shape then this Magnavox was. It is basically dark gray with white interior. I'll come up with some colors that "pop" a bit more than what's there now. Maybe black, gray, and white, something like that. I have enough white to do the interior left from this project. It uses grille cloth and piping, something new for me on a Tolex job.

If you go back and look at this topic from the start, this little record player has come a long way in the last few months. And, Chris, as to your Magnavox record player with a buzzy speaker grille, I would offer this. First, make sure some of the buzzing is not coming from the speaker. The edge of the speaker cone on mine was a little loose and it made a weird noise during bass notes. Then, when I put the grille back on the speaker board, I put a strip of cork in the end pieces to take up the slack between the speaker board and those end pieces. I don't have any buzzing or extraneous noises now. I showed how I fixed the speaker cone in this topic, so refer to that if you'd like. The factory left lots of ways for the grilled to buzz in operation.

Roger, a Magnavox museum does exist. It's out in the building behind our house. I have Magnavox stereos, biggest to smallest with a Stereo Theater thrown in, plus this little record player, and some demonstration records. I'd do another one of these little mono players if I found one reasonably priced.

Thank you all for your kind responses. I appreciate each of you!

[electra225]

One of the last pieces arrived in this afternoon's post. Mr. Mogul was kind enough to send a 45 adapter for this record player. I got home later this evening than normal, so I haven't had a chance to give it it's maiden voyage yet, but I will real soon. This is going to be my go-to 45 player. Other than perhaps a juke box, nothing changes 45 rpm records like a VM changer. I have a box of dirty 45's that haven't been played in eons. I'd best get busy. Thanks. Mr. Mogul....