Another MAGGIE REPRIEVE...

Found another Maggie on the CL. Missing the top sliders but it was in the style that is real close to my '64 1st693, gonna gut it for parts depending. No price listed. Went over to look at it and see what he wanted for it.

Get over there and the guy cranked it up and it had the usual scratchy pots. Turns out the previous owner of the house left it there when he sold it and the guy now living there didn't want it. "HOW MUCH"?? "Just get it the hell outta here so my wife will stop harping on me!"

Gone in 60 SECONDS!!!!!

Get it home. Model # 1P3700. Date code 43-67. Speakers date 42-67 and 38-67 for the horns. TWO Original Round 45 Spindle Adapters. 1 Beige Colored and 1 Gray. gray one in box. Take out the Integrated AMP/Tuner. DeOxit everything. Minimal dust, but lots of hair balls in/on grease in the TT.


FUNNY THING! The Balance control is on the board UNDERNEATH, next to the trannie. Thought Magnavox only did that on Tube units. I'll get pics of it later.

Finished cleanup, and Power on. This one is clearly the best sounding of the 3 we have. Everything works the 1st time, no repairs needed right now. It needs caps(the pilot lights dim every thump of bass), but that's down the road. Stereo light and the TUNE Meter works Reception with onboard dipole is fantastic, clear, little or no static on fringe stations. The turntable (Collaro W620 Model) works 100% after minimal cleanup.

NOPE! Not tearing this one apart. The cabinet is in better shape than the 693, and the sound is a lot better(maybe because the horns actually work in this one).


Larry

Nice grab, Larry! Looks to be in good shape.

Keep taking them in if only to help me. I figure if I live vicariously through your acquisitions, it will satisfy my penchant for taking in orphans that I don't need.

I just picked up one near like that sitting by someone’s trash last night and brought it home. It’s not as cool a design. Mine has the plastic “turned wood” grills over the speaker covers, and has handles that don’t open anything all over it. I want to get it up and going though, but the pots are all dirty and the micromatic turntable spins real slow. What’s the secret to getting those pots clean? Do I need to take the receiver out of the cabinet to get to them? I don’t see any date codes on mine, but there is a model number (which I forget now, except for the "1ST" that it starts with and I'm at work now). Mine came with the owners manual and a record.

Normally I only bring home Danish Modern style, or anything with tubes, but I needed a console fix in a bad way. It looks like all the decorative panels are screwed to a box frame, so I'm wondering how hard it would be to pull out the old woodworking skills and convert this to something cool looking. I'll have to start to dis-assemble it tonight and take notes.

Brian Z

When I was a kid my grandmother had a similar "Maggot-Box" console (a nickname a late friend in the stereo business coined, no offense intended). Hers contained a 21-inch color-TV, in front of which I could always be found!

BrianZ said:

I just picked up one near like that sitting by someone’s trash last night and brought it home.

Click to expand...

Like I keep on saying, the things people throw away...

BrianZ said:

...I want to get it up and going though, but the pots are all dirty and the micromatic turntable spins real slow. What’s the secret to getting those pots clean?

Click to expand...

In my admittedly limited experience, a really-good hosing out of the interior of the controls (spray once, work the control, spray and work the control again if that doesn't do the trick) purpose-made contact and control cleaner such as that sold by local electronics stores or by the dreaded Radio Shack. Caig DeoxIT is a favorite of mine. A lot of 1960's pots have slots right next to the solder terminals, making the job of spraying out easier.

BrianZ said:

Do I need to take the receiver out of the cabinet to get to them?

Click to expand...

Yes. Unless there are holes in the chassis which allow you to stick the nozzle from your contact cleaner spray can into the appropriate control body, you'll have to open the receiver, which in any case means pulling it out of the cabinet. That shouldn't be too hard. If in doubt, you know where to find us!

larryderouin said:

NOPE! Not tearing this one apart....


Larry

Click to expand...

I'd be more inclined to believe you if the cordless drill were not in the picture!

Just messing with you, I love these old consoles and remember being fascinated with them as a kid. Nice score. :thmbsp:

I own one just like it ( added timbre control:yes Out of all the ones I own,It's the best sounding, My parents owned the same model when I was a kid, So I was determined to find the exact one.

The cartridge/stylis combo in that particular turntable is IMHO the best Magnavox ceramic, With nice high&mids and extended bass for those 15"
woofers.

BrianZ said:

I just picked up one near like that sitting by someone’s trash last night and brought it home. It’s not as cool a design. Mine has the plastic “turned wood” grills over the speaker covers, and has handles that don’t open anything all over it. I want to get it up and going though, but the pots are all dirty and the micromatic turntable spins real slow. What’s the secret to getting those pots clean? Do I need to take the receiver out of the cabinet to get to them? I don’t see any date codes on mine, but there is a model number (which I forget now, except for the "1ST" that it starts with and I'm at work now). Mine came with the owners manual and a record.

Normally I only bring home Danish Modern style, or anything with tubes, but I needed a console fix in a bad way. It looks like all the decorative panels are screwed to a box frame, so I'm wondering how hard it would be to pull out the old woodworking skills and convert this to something cool looking. I'll have to start to dis-assemble it tonight and take notes.

Brian Z

Click to expand...

BrianZ: You need a Phillips #2 Screwdriver of your choice and a 5/16" nutdriver or socket.

(NOTE: Date code may be on the bottom of the cabinet. Also the speakers will be stamped with date code (EIA code) and the receiver will have a sticker on it that should have a date code on it.)

Pull off the back.

1.) Remove the knobs.

2.) On the bottom remove the FM Antenna leads, the speaker leads (may or may not be separate), and the TT power leads. Remove the RCA jacks for the AUX(TAPE) and TT cartridge leads. Channel 1 is RIGHT and Channel 2 is LEFT.

3.) UNDER (The receiver is on it's side) the receiver, on the lower end you'll see a 5/16" screw head on either side. Remove these.

4.) In the TT housing you'll see TWO Phillips head screws. Remove them carefully, holding on to the receiver.

5.) Lower the receiver, watching out for the wires(they are hanging all over) and remove from unit.

Get it on a bench, and Spray De-Oxit into ALL switches, and pots. Add a drop of 3 in 1 oil to all the rollers for the tuning cord(they squeak and this will ease movement too). Exercise all the pots and switches at least 50 times each.

Installation is reverse of removal.

This applies to ALL Receivers that have screws on the TT Housing wall. Others you will have to use a palnut driver to remove the top and then 2 screws holding the receiver tight.

While you have the receiver out, vacuum all insides, wipe down with a damp cloth. Take a picture of the layout schematic inside. Double-check all wiring layout and correct if necessary. If your unit has a pilot light(center bottom in front) change it out using a #47 bulb.

The stereo light, if there is one is a 1845 or 1847. The Dial lights are #47.

Pull out the speakers and clean out dust, dirt, pencil stubs, etc from in front of the speakers. Re-install finger tight on palnuts. Remove the int/ext speaker switch and DeOxit. Re-Install.

Put it all back together. Doublecheck all connections. Plug it in, connect antenna leads(if you use an external) turn it on and check all functions.


Turntable: From underneath, flip the locking tabs vertical(there are 3). Lift straight up, disconnect the cartridge leads, and the power lead. you may have an extra set that will have to be disconnected from the receiver end, these are the reject mechanism leads.

Your main cleaning solution for the turntable is isopropyl alcohol. It will remove all the old grease. Use 91% if possible.

I'll tear down one and photo procedure in the next day or so. It's not hard, actually easier than a DUAL 1229 or 1249. These turntables do well with cleaning and lube. I've taken one that was totally locked up and in an hour or so, had it running well.

Larry

Thanks for that great information! I'll do this in the next day or two and report back my results. I did find a date on the receiver which is 11/64. I'm looking forward to getting it all tuned up and seeing how it sounds. I've still got a lot of capacitors to cut and replace on my '67 Packard Bell console, so I won't be replacing caps on the Magnavox soon, but of course I'm thinking about it.

I'm looking forward to the turntable info, and I'm extremely grateful for it. I've got two other consoles, but neither of their turntables work, so I'm looking forward to hearing some of my old albums.

Brian Z

8:00pm UPDATE: BRIANZ; I just got finished tearing down the Turntable (W620) and getting pictures. This is on a '67 model. My '64 has the older arm, however the internals are basically identical. Gonna put up a point by point post with pictures over on the Turntables Forum titled "Micromatic Teardown and rebuild". This will guide you thru the teardown, clean, and rebuild. Give me a bit to upload the pics, and write up the post.

EDIT: POST DONE. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=213911

Larry

Chazb11 said:

I'd be more inclined to believe you if the cordless drill were not in the picture!

Just messing with you, I love these old consoles and remember being fascinated with them as a kid. Nice score. :thmbsp:

Click to expand...

Hehehe.....the cordless has the 1/4" &5/16" nut drivers and screwdriver bits I used. Easier on wrists and the ticker.

This one is actually in the best mechanical condition of all three I've gotten. and it was a free one. The wifes needed parts for the turntable. The '64 works, barely. Needs caps BAD. I changed out what I had in stock, which wasn't much, but I marked them for when I re-cap the whole shebang. It's got the separate amp. But this one only needed a cleaning, and that was it.

It runs like new, the tuner is fantastic. I've got a horizontal AKAI Cassette deck, I'm gonna retrofit to it internally eventually. Been running it average of 6-7 hours a day since I got it home. Got a 4'x4' Birch plywood handi panel in 3/8" so I can make new top panels. Took the peeling veneer off the ones on my '64 Which is across from the one in the pic, sanded and am waiting on standing time between coats of stain. Going Dark Walnut. Then 2-3 coats of high gloss Spar Varnish. Gonna do the same for the '67 with the Handi Panel.

The old Girl is getting a bit overwhelmed with all the consoles even tho my two are out of sight in the basement. I think 3 working units in the house is enough, with others as I come across them, getting parted out. All of them need re-capping, and I can do that for therapy after my disc surgery next month. Gonna pull the amps, receivers, and put them on the bench so I don't have to lift them. Pre-set a pair of bookshelfs, an antenna and I'm good to go.


Larry