Classic Hifi Care

I'm so happy to have found this message board! Everyone seems so very knowledgeable and kind here.

My Magnavoxes (Magnavoxs? Magnavii?) are not nearly as impressive as those I've seen on this board. The Magnavox I chose for my avatar is a 1971 model which belonged to my great aunt. I spent many hours listening to her records on it, which probably explains my fondness for both Guy Lombardo and the Magnavox brand. I have a 1965 Magnavox Stereo Theatre (black and white) and an early 70s Magnavox component system. All of these sort of work, but could use some help to work properly.

I've recapped a few AA5 radios, but I feel as though I'm completely lost when it comes to the newer stuff. I'm hoping to learn more by joining this community. It seems like a good place to learn while having fun!

Welcome, JDS, it's good to have you on board. We are a friendly bunch and like most things old especially vintage consoles and electronics. That's not to say we don't appreciate other things too, so please share your other interests, stories, and photos of all the things you have as hobbies. Thank you for following the "rules" and completing your registration, that really helps us know who is legit or who is a spambot. Again, welcome, and feel free to jump right in.

Bill

Welcome aboard, JDS.

I like the simple lines of your family's Magnavox.

I hope we can assist with your service questions on
your hi-fi's.

Thank you, William and Hi-Fi Mogul for the welcome.

I've been interested in electronics since I was a small child, and was fascinated by the Panasonic quadraphonic system my parents had (I still have it), but I was more interested in the older stuff. My grandmother had a big RCA Victor stereo console, my great aunt had the Magnavox in my avatar, and my father was constantly buying stereo equipment at yard sales and flea markets. He used to take me to the flea markets with him when I was little, and I started buying radios with my allowance money. That $25.00 a week went pretty far in the early 90s, and I was able to buy lots of common table radios and some decent records. I still have some of them today. My first real "old radio" was a General Electric model 400, a little brown bakelite thing with a crack in it and one wrong knob. I talked the old guy at the flea market down to $6.00 from the $8.00 he was asking when I was eight years old. I still have that thing, and I've looked for a good cabinet for it for years.

As far as other interests go, there are quite a few. I have a couple of Victrolas, a VV-4-40 and a VV-VI. It's good to have one for acoustically recorded records and one for electrically recorded records. I've had other acoustically amplified machines over the years.

I collect American glassware and china, with an emphasis on the Ohio potteries around the East Liverpool area. The glassware is just whatever I think is attractive, though I'm terribly fond of Fostoria products.

I have a fairly respectable collection of Kodak cameras, mostly from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.

I've a fair amount of knowledge about all of these things, should anyone need information. I really didn't mean to provide an autobiography here, but I seem to have done so.

I'll post questions about electronics in the appropriate sub-forums.

Welcome aboard from me as well! You have quite the collection. As far as the cracked cabinet on your little GE 400, those can be repaired then repainted, using auto body filler, (Bondo) and glazing putty. If there are chunks missing you can use that metallic HVAC tape to make a form, then fill that with Bondo. I have done several small plastic and bakelite radio cabinets that were broken. I think some of those topics are still on this forum. If that is something you might be interested in, post some pictures so we can see what you have, then we can offer suggestions on how you can repair the damage. Again, welcome to the forum, we hope you will feel at home here..

Maybe post some info about your other devices, with photos if possible. By way of encouragement, you can see my Edison cylinder phono here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-n4MC4u8aA&t=171s

or my 1942 GE tabletop phono here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb48WobryxQ

And if you dig farther there are radios, boats, cars, and parades. The point is, pictures, moving or still, are always interesting. We'd love to see yours.

Chris Campbell

Here is the topic where I redid some radio cabinets. The big RCA bakelite radio arrived via ebay in several pieces. The Zenith was just busted, straight break, minimal chipping. The old white Bendix had a chunk out above the dial and one corner was broken off. The gray Truetone cabinet was in the best shape, but it also proved to be the most problematic to restore. Maybe this will give you some ideas how to proceed with your cabinet repair if you decide to go that way.....

https://www.classichificare.com/viewtop ... 3&start=40

I appreciated your "autobiography" as you called it, it is always fun to hear others interests and hobbies. I find it fascinating just how many of us here on the forum share the same interests. And, that a lot of us started way back when we were kids. Thanks for sharing and please share some more and maybe a few photos.


Bill