Magnavox model 3-ST647 "The Cartier"

[William]

Several weeks ago I got a call from a sort of friend asking if I could fix his screwup. "What did you do" was my response and he told me he tried to changed the needle in his little Maggie console. Ok, I will take a look and a few days it arrived at my door step. The model 3-ST647 is one of Magnavox's smaller cabinets which was good as I did not want a six foot monster sitting in the kitchen for a few weeks.

His idea of changing the needle, he did not know what he was doing, was remove the cartridge, wreck the wires, break the cartridge, lose the old cartridge and the little screw that holds the cartridge in and then bringing it to me. Luckily, I found the old cartridge and the little screw in the bottom of the cabinet. Not sure how it got there. If he had not broken off one of the tiny terminals on the back of the cartridge it probably would have been fine. It was an EV-150. The little screw was the important part and for some reason, and I have no idea where I got it, I had an EV-149 which is almost the same as the 150 just a slight voltage difference. Wires repaired, cartridge installed, changer cleaned up, motor serviced and it was ready to go. I also cleaned the cabinet inside and out, pulled the chassis and cleaned the control pots and pulled the dial glass and gave that a bath. The radio plays well, and the changer performed as it should so a few hours of testing and hopefully it can go home.

I still do not have a way to take photos to share but it is in the 1966 brochure in the downloads. It is French Provincial in a Cherry/Fruitwood finish, 12" woofers, horns facing the front and has 5 knobs. It really does sound good for a little compact console. The other thing I noticed is the improved components that Magnavox used in there Astro-Sonic models. All of the electrolytic capacitors were all Nichicon, and everything was very neat and orderly.

I guess the lesson learned, at least I hope he has learned one. If you are not sure what to do or how to do it, please ask.

Bill

[electra225]

You did good, Bill. You rescued his stereo from himself. "A man's gotta know his limitations".....

[danrclem]

It makes a big difference when a person knows what they're doing, and it sounds like you did a good job Bill. I have to admit that I have got in over my head during my lifetime on different things. Most of the time I usually get them figured out but there have been times when I had to give up.