magnavoxguy
New member
New member here just joining today! Though I do not yet have a collection of vintage Magnavox televisions,I was wondering if any of you folks here have them,and if they still function! What particular model do you own?
Vintage Magnavox TVs from the 1960's? which were/are best?
- Thread starter magnavoxguy
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countryford
Well-known member
I have a 1959 Magnavox. I purchased it several years back at an estate sale. I got it home, hooked it up and it worked just fine. The first picture is of that initial test. I used it for a year then ended up recapping it. I still use it several times a year.
s31463221
Well-known member
60’s TV’s
I’ve not owned any vintage Maganavox televisions before, but I do LOVE vintage television sets in general. I have an Admiral and a Zenith console tv from the 50’s that I’m in the process of restoring. Then I have an adorable little 9” RCA that is a miniature version of the large consoles of the period. I believe it dates to the late 60’s! It’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen!
I’ve not owned any vintage Maganavox televisions before, but I do LOVE vintage television sets in general. I have an Admiral and a Zenith console tv from the 50’s that I’m in the process of restoring. Then I have an adorable little 9” RCA that is a miniature version of the large consoles of the period. I believe it dates to the late 60’s! It’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen!
magnavoxguy
New member
I'd like to get my hands on a late 1960's Magnavox console color TV,..doesn't need to have a stereo,radio,and record player,..just the TV itself!
s31463221
Well-known member
Good place to find them.....
There are several places to find them online...of course your location to the seller is a MAJOR factor as most of these are HUGE and HEAVY! But I find them quite regularly on sites like Craigslist, eBay, shopgoodwill.com, and EBTH. In fact, a 30 second search on searchtempest.com brought up this Magnavox tv from the 60's. Good luck!
http://https//akroncanton.craigslist.org/ele/d/vintage-1960s-tv/6582394065.html
There are several places to find them online...of course your location to the seller is a MAJOR factor as most of these are HUGE and HEAVY! But I find them quite regularly on sites like Craigslist, eBay, shopgoodwill.com, and EBTH. In fact, a 30 second search on searchtempest.com brought up this Magnavox tv from the 60's. Good luck!
http://https//akroncanton.craigslist.org/ele/d/vintage-1960s-tv/6582394065.html
universaldave1
Well-known member
Long time TV collector here
I have a circa 1971 Magnavox I got from an estate sale back in August of '17 for $44. Had to reflow some solder joints and set up the picture tube components, and it shows a pretty decent picture. Not as good as a Zenith Chromacolor, but it's still good. I watch it regularly.
I have a circa 1971 Magnavox I got from an estate sale back in August of '17 for $44. Had to reflow some solder joints and set up the picture tube components, and it shows a pretty decent picture. Not as good as a Zenith Chromacolor, but it's still good. I watch it regularly.
s31463221
Well-known member
Mini RCA Consoles
Apparently I’m a magnet for these mini TV’s! I happened to be on an auction site I visit (not eBay though), and found this little gem......popped a bid of $8 on it and believe it or not, I actually won it! So, here’s my second 9” RCA console television that’s in perfect working order!
Apparently I’m a magnet for these mini TV’s! I happened to be on an auction site I visit (not eBay though), and found this little gem......popped a bid of $8 on it and believe it or not, I actually won it! So, here’s my second 9” RCA console television that’s in perfect working order!
paulg
Well-known member
The picture on the 1971 Combo unit is quite good.
I suspect the CRT was replaced at some point.
I suspect the CRT was replaced at some point.
universaldave1
Well-known member
It's all original.
texaskirbyguy
Well-known member
I lived through the 80s and NEVER saw those mini-consoles - SOOOO COOL!!!
Is the wood actually a wood product or is it plastic? Either way I still like the looks of them.
As for Maggie TVs, the only ones I still have is a 19" from '84 and a 36" from '99. Both have extremely good pictures. I had a trash-find 25" console from '82 but that one is long gone as my mom would not let me keep it due to size. I had a 19" from the late 70s but that one was given to a friend long ago.
Best bet is to look for ads for them and go check them out. Take a video source so you can see how it works. I really did admire them back then.
My mom's BF in the early 80s had a Maggie entertainment center and it had a beautiful picture, as well as Mediterranean cabinet.
My mom still has a working Super-Chromacolor Zenith from '73 and the picture was great, until compared with the 80's sets. The main reason of this was the new striped picture tubes, replacing the dot matrix.
Is the wood actually a wood product or is it plastic? Either way I still like the looks of them.
As for Maggie TVs, the only ones I still have is a 19" from '84 and a 36" from '99. Both have extremely good pictures. I had a trash-find 25" console from '82 but that one is long gone as my mom would not let me keep it due to size. I had a 19" from the late 70s but that one was given to a friend long ago.
Best bet is to look for ads for them and go check them out. Take a video source so you can see how it works. I really did admire them back then.
My mom's BF in the early 80s had a Maggie entertainment center and it had a beautiful picture, as well as Mediterranean cabinet.
My mom still has a working Super-Chromacolor Zenith from '73 and the picture was great, until compared with the 80's sets. The main reason of this was the new striped picture tubes, replacing the dot matrix.
s31463221
Well-known member
Rob
I too grew up in the 80's and had ONLY seen the sets with the simulated wood on them. In fact, I STILL have my old GE color television from '82 (first tv I ever owned!) that has the simulated wood. These mini RCA consoles are slightly older (late 60's) and still use vacuum tubes. The cases are indeed real wood. In fact, this last set made my 3rd set, but the first set I had was in such bad shape, I ended up getting rid of it. The wooden case had been weather worn (all color faded off, brittle, and smelled like it had been in a smoker's home 40+ years), possibly submerged from the looks of the boards inside the set, and it literally crumbled in my hands! I salvaged what I could from it, and had to send it on to that big dumpster in the sky! LOL! The two I still have though, are amazing TV sets, they both still work, and the wooden cases are in excellent condition with only a few minor bruises and bumps! I don't know what it is about the area I'm in (Eastern KY) but the Maganavox sets seem difficult to come by. RCA and Zenith sets are quite plentiful around here still, but I have yet to come across a decent Mag set!
I too grew up in the 80's and had ONLY seen the sets with the simulated wood on them. In fact, I STILL have my old GE color television from '82 (first tv I ever owned!) that has the simulated wood. These mini RCA consoles are slightly older (late 60's) and still use vacuum tubes. The cases are indeed real wood. In fact, this last set made my 3rd set, but the first set I had was in such bad shape, I ended up getting rid of it. The wooden case had been weather worn (all color faded off, brittle, and smelled like it had been in a smoker's home 40+ years), possibly submerged from the looks of the boards inside the set, and it literally crumbled in my hands! I salvaged what I could from it, and had to send it on to that big dumpster in the sky! LOL! The two I still have though, are amazing TV sets, they both still work, and the wooden cases are in excellent condition with only a few minor bruises and bumps! I don't know what it is about the area I'm in (Eastern KY) but the Maganavox sets seem difficult to come by. RCA and Zenith sets are quite plentiful around here still, but I have yet to come across a decent Mag set!
dartman
Well-known member
My favorite TVs back when I was fixing them to sell was anything Zenith. When they were right they just had the best pictures and tended to last. Early Magnavox sets just didn't seem well built or give a good picture. I had a bunch of early to mid 80s Maggie's that did have great pictures and were easy to fix, modular, with a nice inline tube. I would go for their later sets if I wanted to actually repair and watch it long term. I've been around long enough I have seen just about any set made from early round tube color tube sets on up and a few early antique sets actually working too and I have worked on them. Some of the non big sets actually could have great pictures and build quality but they weren't as consistent about it compared to my favorite.
The BEST color picture
Is on a round tube set, nothing really compares for natural lifelike color, including the new flat screens, which are too harsh and bright, The convergence is so much better on the round tube there just isn't any comparison.
Is on a round tube set, nothing really compares for natural lifelike color, including the new flat screens, which are too harsh and bright, The convergence is so much better on the round tube there just isn't any comparison.
universaldave1
Well-known member
Round tube vs rectangular
Yes, but the old round sets are SUPER dim, especially if they don't have the newer rare earth phosphor. Black matrix tubes, introduced by Zenith in 1969, when paired with a good working receiver, can make amazing pictures. Better than any round screen set IMHO. Here's my all original 1964 Zenith roundie up against a 1971 Zenith 19" four tube hybrid Chromacolor, and a 1973 Zenith solid state 25" Chromacolor.
Yes, but the old round sets are SUPER dim, especially if they don't have the newer rare earth phosphor. Black matrix tubes, introduced by Zenith in 1969, when paired with a good working receiver, can make amazing pictures. Better than any round screen set IMHO. Here's my all original 1964 Zenith roundie up against a 1971 Zenith 19" four tube hybrid Chromacolor, and a 1973 Zenith solid state 25" Chromacolor.
