Seeking 1963 Magnavox Stereo Theater B/W TV Chassis C36-19-22 service info.

[Tim]

Hello

First post here and I hope someone can help me out. I am about to begin the restoration of a Magnavox TV/AM/FM/Phono stereo console. This is one of the Stereo Theater units with changer on the left, radio on the right and 24" TV behind sliding doors in the center. The model for the entire console is 1MR372R from 1963. This is a remote control set with horn tweeters and I guess high end for 1963.

I have restored many radios/TVs and know that Magnavox service information is related to chassis numbers rather than the model number. I have found close Changer, Amp (9306-00), Remote (704019-9) and Tuner (7607-00) info in Sams but only earlier versions of the 36 Series TV chassis, up to C36-09. The differences are probably minor and concern the remote and external power amp operation and will in all likelihood not stop the restoration however I always like to have the correct info. Does anyone have the C36-19 TV chassis factory info that could be shared? Thanks in advance.

Tim

Maybe I should have put this in Television Chassis. Mods please move if that is the case.

[electra225]

Welcome aboard, Tim! I'm glad you made it here. We hope you'll stick around and share your Stereo Theater project with us. You might go to the top of the home page and introduce yourself in the Introductions board. We'd like to get to know you better!

I can see by the chassis model numbers that your Stereo Theater is all-tube. Do you have codes for your ST? I don't believe I've seen a genuine tube 1963 Stereo Theater. My '62 Stereo Theater is a 1MR418M, which makes it all-tube, remote control with a 27" picture tube. I remember you saying yours was a 24" and was a 1963 model. Like I told you earlier, I used a C36 chassis schematic from Sams. The main difference in the TV chassis in stand-alone sets and the TV chassis used in Stereo Theater models is how the audio is picked off, and how the TV chassis gets power. The rest is pretty much your run-of-the-mill Magnavox black and white TV chassis. Mine uses the audio output tube as a cathode follower. The power comes from the tuner chassis and it controlled by the remote chassis and the function switch in the radio tuner. 1962 was the first year for the printed circuit TV chassis. I changed every capacitor in mine, and checked every resistor. R43, the AGC resistor, checked open. I still need to replace it. I made a chart of resistor values. I also checked my chassis, component by component, and made a chart noting any differences between the generic schematic and what was actually on my chassis. This procedure worked out surprisingly well. The ultrasonic remote control used in your Stereo Theater (and mine) has nothing whatsoever to do with the TV chassis, per se. It controls power to the entire instrument when the function switch is in the "TV" mode. You must re-power the instrument using the same method you shut it off. IF you shut it off with the remote, you must repower it with the remote. Then you can move the function switch and do whatever you need to do. The remote uses three steps to control volume, the parameters of which are set by the master volume control in the radio tuner. The remote also will change the TV channels. Mine has a cable operated channel indicator in the lower right hand corner of the picture tube mask. This little doodad looks cool, but it makes servicing the tuner a nightmare. I don't know what other questions you may have, but please feel free to ask whatever you'd like. This is the best group of console stereo fans you can imagine. And friendly.

[electra225]

There were three series of Stereo Theaters built, starting with the 1961 models. These models were basically continued for the 1962 model year. I don't have terribly complete documentation for the 1963 models, but my understanding is they were all of the new Astro-Sonic solid state series, with tube TV chassis. The 200 series used the 93 series amp and the series 100 tuner(five knob) with a 23" picture tube. The 300 series used the 93 series amp with the series 200 tuner (six knobs) and a 24" picture tube. The 400 series used the 93 series amp, the 200 series tuner (six knobs), standard Multiplex adapter, and the upper two models, the 420 and the 422 had remote control as standard. Remote control could be ordered on all the 400 series and was optional on a couple of the 300 series. The 300 series shared cabinets with the "little Imperial" series of console stereos. The 400 series had cabinets unique to Stereo Theater due to the larger picture tube. This is why I inquired about build codes on your Stereo Theater. It would be the only 1963 tube Stereo Theater I know of. I recently learned of a '62 big Imperial that is not technically supposed to exist, so it's possible something that was never supposed to have been built is out there. Many Magnavox instruments were sold in furniture stores. Custom orders are not unheard of. Many Stereo Theaters have been dismantled, robbed of their 93 series amps. That is a shame. They were huge and are hard to handle and to work on, but they are electronic works of art. I will be interested in following your project. The stereo in my Stereo Theater sounds at least as good, maybe BETTER than my Symphony, which is saying something. Good luck.

[William]

Hi Tim, and welcome to the forum. It's good to know there is one more person out there interested in this crazy hobby.

Bill

[electra225]

Tim, the notes I made for my Stereo Theater are in storage. Long story, but almost everything I own is in storage pending building a new shop. If it will help you, I'll see if it is possible to access them. In any case, we can talk you thru whatever issues you may be having. It's the weekend and most of the guys are otherwise occupied than on the forum. We'll do what we can to work with you.

[Tim]

Thanks for the welcomes. I will post some pics later today or tomorrow. I got the 1963 date from the fact that this model number was listed and pictured in a 1963 Magnavox sales brochure online that is no longer there and I did not download it. By codes do you mean date codes? All I have seen are late 62 and early 63. If you have specific requests I will provide them. The 9306-00 amp maybe was the last version of that tube amp? Thanks for the education on the series numbers. The photos of the 1962 units I have seen have cone tweeters but this has horn tweeters, if that indicates anything. Does the 1MR372R main model indicate series 300?

Mine does have the channel indicator in the CRT mask. I appreciate the info about the remote. I do have the original operation manual that covers the manual and remote control operation.

Thanks very much as well for the offers of assistance. I have been working with electronics for 60 years but always can learn new things from those more experienced with the device in question.

[electra225]

1962 and 1963 models of Magnavox instruments are nearly impossible to document accurately. Magnavox was concentrating on the solid state models they introduced in '63 and were hastily throwing their tube stuff under the bus. They sold tube and solid state instruments, side by side, for the 1963 model year, many times sharing nearly identical cabinets. I'm not doubting your claim that your ST is a 1963 model, I just have never seen or even heard of a tube 1963 model Stereo Theater and would be interested in seeing one and documenting it. Codes on the speakers and tubes would be the most reliable method of dating when the stereo was built. There may be date codes on the various chassis as well. We will be more than happy to assist you ( and share your project!) in any way we can.

[Motorola minion]

FYI- I have access to a 27ZP4 and its TV chassis from a late '62 model theatre model. I am using the series 200 tuner, mpx chassis and the speakers to upgrade my 1960 Symphony with a wonky tuner. It will add mpx and hopefully better FM performance to my treasured bedroom console.

Unfortunately this Theatre model was the dreaded white FP style, thus parted out in 2018 after not selling at our swap meet here in Eastern PA. It was lightly restored and played all day long too!

Nobody really wanted it and that is a shame but we blamed that on the very least popular style. I mean please, anything else but that style !!!

Another theatre parted out was the $800 1966 budget color model with a basic 15w SS receiver chassis and a 21" round CRT. Again despite the allure of black oriental style and early color, no takers!

[electra225]

The way my shop build is going, I'm going to be too old to work on mine. I don't know how many sets used a 27ZP4, but I'd bet not many. Maybe Magnavox only. 27" was a huge set at a huge price at the dawn of the popularity of color TV. You could put a couple hundred more in and have a color console, maybe not with a record player. The black and white part probably hurt sales, and now desirability, of those early Stereo Theaters. That's too bad. They are beautiful pieces of equipment, rather kluged together in many respects, but works of are nonetheless.