Marantz eighteen (18) receiver questions

Some of the lettering on the faceplate of my model eighteen has rubbed off over the years. does anyone know of a source for a replacement faceplate? Thank you in advance.
 
I have restored three of the 18's and two 19's so far (they are all keepers) :music: None of them worked properly when I got them.

I recaped the 18's fully. I tested each cap as I pulled it out with a Sencore FC-102 and never found a cap out of spec, nearly every cap read higher than normal. I will say that it sounds better after the recap, especially in the bass response, it sounds tighter. The sound has also improved over time, it sounds smoother. I suspect that the caps in the power supply, although still good, just don't work as well as new ones do, I also replaced some of the caps for new WIMA films so I am sure that has something to do with it too.

The biggest problem I have found was the diodes in the power supply. One of the zeners really had me stumped. It was CR13, if it opens it causes havoc with the AMP driver cards. I also had to replace some of the driver card transistors and output transistors.

I replaced the dial glass on two of them, on the third I very carefully cleaned the glass with a q-tip and invisible glass cleaner. If you touch the white lettering it will just fall off, I tried and failed. :tears:

I put in blue LED's for the dial glass. I tried several types and colors and finally settled on this:

The picture does not do it it justice.. My iPhone just can't capture how it looks.

21709831218_efc3902885_b.jpg
What did you end up using for CR13?
 
I have restored three of the 18's and two 19's so far (they are all keepers) :music: None of them worked properly when I got them.

I recaped the 18's fully. I tested each cap as I pulled it out with a Sencore FC-102 and never found a cap out of spec, nearly every cap read higher than normal. I will say that it sounds better after the recap, especially in the bass response, it sounds tighter. The sound has also improved over time, it sounds smoother. I suspect that the caps in the power supply, although still good, just don't work as well as new ones do, I also replaced some of the caps for new WIMA films so I am sure that has something to do with it too.

The biggest problem I have found was the diodes in the power supply. One of the zeners really had me stumped. It was CR13, if it opens it causes havoc with the AMP driver cards. I also had to replace some of the driver card transistors and output transistors.

I replaced the dial glass on two of them, on the third I very carefully cleaned the glass with a q-tip and invisible glass cleaner. If you touch the white lettering it will just fall off, I tried and failed. :tears:

I put in blue LED's for the dial glass. I tried several types and colors and finally settled on this:

The picture does not do it it justice.. My iPhone just can't capture how it looks.

21709831218_efc3902885_b.jpg
I’m looking at a Midel 18 now. Was wondering the cost to have it rehauled. Want to make sure that my son has it for the next 40-50 years. Thanks
 
I have restored three of the 18's and two 19's so far (they are all keepers) :music: None of them worked properly when I got them.

I recaped the 18's fully. I tested each cap as I pulled it out with a Sencore FC-102 and never found a cap out of spec, nearly every cap read higher than normal. I will say that it sounds better after the recap, especially in the bass response, it sounds tighter. The sound has also improved over time, it sounds smoother. I suspect that the caps in the power supply, although still good, just don't work as well as new ones do, I also replaced some of the caps for new WIMA films so I am sure that has something to do with it too.

The biggest problem I have found was the diodes in the power supply. One of the zeners really had me stumped. It was CR13, if it opens it causes havoc with the AMP driver cards. I also had to replace some of the driver card transistors and output transistors.

I replaced the dial glass on two of them, on the third I very carefully cleaned the glass with a q-tip and invisible glass cleaner. If you touch the white lettering it will just fall off, I tried and failed. :tears:

I put in blue LED's for the dial glass. I tried several types and colors and finally settled on this:

The picture does not do it it justice.. My iPhone just can't capture how it looks.

21709831218_efc3902885_b.jpg
Hey have you ever had one of the channels sound really distorted? Any idea what’s causing it?
 
I was wondering if it's possible figure out the approximate manufacturing date of Model 18s based on serial numbers.

I've read that Marantz began serial numbers starting at 1000. So the first unit created would be 1001. If there were 7,000 models produced, that would mean serial numbers go up to approximately 8,000.

What's the highest serial number of an 18 anyone has seen? Low 8000s?

The earliest ads for the 18 appear in Oct. 1967. A Dec. 1967 Electronics World article states that the magazine didn't review the 18 for a receiver shootout because they received an engineering prototype from Marantz, not an actual production model. Unclear if that means it wasn't yet in production when the article was written (presumably in November 67).

I ran a quick search on the American Radio History website (which has an index of audio old magazines), and earliest mention I've found of the successor model, the Marantz Model Nineteen (19), in print advertisements is in the May 1970 issue of High Fidelity.

Do you think production of the Model Eighteen might have ended a earlier than June 1970 if they were beginning production of the 19? Or do you have data that shows June was the final production end?

If we assume production of the Model 18 began approximately in Sept. 1967 (just before the first print ads) and finished around April 1970 (the month before the 19 was first announced), that is 32 months and an average of 219 units produced per month (assuming production was steady throughout the run).

For 7000 units produced, that might translate to the below serial number ranges per month. Thoughts on if these production dates are accurate? Anyone have original sales receipts for their units to confirm? Also, what month and year did Marantz shift production from NY to California? I think all the 18s were made in NY. Were any of the 19s made in NY -- or were the earliest 19s produced in California?

Possible Marantz Model Eighteen production dates:

(Note: the below is only my best guess and could be inaccurate.)

Sep-67: 1001-1219
Oct-67: 1220-1438
Nov-67: 1439-1657
Dec-67: 1658-1876
Jan-68: 1877-2095
Feb-68: 2096-2314
Mar-68: 2315-2533
Apr-68: 2534-2752
May-68: 2753-2971
Jun-68: 2972-3190
Jul-68: 3191-3409
Aug-68: 3410-3628
Sep-68: 3629-3847
Oct-68: 3848-4066
Nov-68: 4067-4285
Dec-68: 4286-4504
Jan-69: 4505-4723
Feb-69: 4724-4942
Mar-69: 4943-5161
Apr-69: 5162-5380
May-69: 5381-5599
Jun-69: 5600-5818
Jul-69: 5819-6037
Aug-69: 6038-6256
Sep-69: 6257-6475
Oct-69: 6476-6694
Nov-69: 6695-6913
Dec-69: 6914-7132
Jan-70: 7133-7351
Feb-70: 7352-7570
Mar-70: 7571-7789
Apr-70: 7790-8008

Here's an image of the Oct. 1967 print ad.

marantz18oct1967ad.jpg
 
I was wondering if it's possible figure out the approximate manufacturing date of Model 18s based on serial numbers.

I've read that Marantz began serial numbers starting at 1000. So the first unit created would be 1001. If there were 7,000 models produced, that would mean serial numbers go up to approximately 8,000.

What's the highest serial number of an 18 anyone has seen? Low 8000s?

The earliest ads for the 18 appear in Oct. 1967. A Dec. 1967 Electronics World article states that the magazine didn't review the 18 for a receiver shootout because they received an engineering prototype from Marantz, not an actual production model. Unclear if that means it wasn't yet in production when the article was written (presumably in November 67).

I ran a quick search on the American Radio History website (which has an index of audio old magazines), and earliest mention I've found of the successor model, the Marantz Model Nineteen (19), in print advertisements is in the May 1970 issue of High Fidelity.

Do you think production of the Model Eighteen might have ended a earlier than June 1970 if they were beginning production of the 19? Or do you have data that shows June was the final production end?

If we assume production of the Model 18 began approximately in Sept. 1967 (just before the first print ads) and finished around April 1970 (the month before the 19 was first announced), that is 32 months and an average of 219 units produced per month (assuming production was steady throughout the run).

For 7000 units produced, that might translate to the below serial number ranges per month. Thoughts on if these production dates are accurate? Anyone have original sales receipts for their units to confirm? Also, what month and year did Marantz shift production from NY to California? I think all the 18s were made in NY. Were any of the 19s made in NY -- or were the earliest 19s produced in California?

Possible Marantz Model Eighteen production dates:

(Note: the below is only my best guess and could be inaccurate.)

Sep-67: 1001-1219
Oct-67: 1220-1438
Nov-67: 1439-1657
Dec-67: 1658-1876
Jan-68: 1877-2095
Feb-68: 2096-2314
Mar-68: 2315-2533
Apr-68: 2534-2752
May-68: 2753-2971
Jun-68: 2972-3190
Jul-68: 3191-3409
Aug-68: 3410-3628
Sep-68: 3629-3847
Oct-68: 3848-4066
Nov-68: 4067-4285
Dec-68: 4286-4504
Jan-69: 4505-4723
Feb-69: 4724-4942
Mar-69: 4943-5161
Apr-69: 5162-5380
May-69: 5381-5599
Jun-69: 5600-5818
Jul-69: 5819-6037
Aug-69: 6038-6256
Sep-69: 6257-6475
Oct-69: 6476-6694
Nov-69: 6695-6913
Dec-69: 6914-7132
Jan-70: 7133-7351
Feb-70: 7352-7570
Mar-70: 7571-7789
Apr-70: 7790-8008

Here's an image of the Oct. 1967 print ad.

marantz18oct1967ad.jpg
I have one that is 18-9980
 
image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
I was wondering if it's possible figure out the approximate manufacturing date of Model 18s based on serial numbers.

I've read that Marantz began serial numbers starting at 1000. So the first unit created would be 1001. If there were 7,000 models produced, that would mean serial numbers go up to approximately 8,000.

What's the highest serial number of an 18 anyone has seen? Low 8000s?

The earliest ads for the 18 appear in Oct. 1967. A Dec. 1967 Electronics World article states that the magazine didn't review the 18 for a receiver shootout because they received an engineering prototype from Marantz, not an actual production model. Unclear if that means it wasn't yet in production when the article was written (presumably in November 67).

I ran a quick search on the American Radio History website (which has an index of audio old magazines), and earliest mention I've found of the successor model, the Marantz Model Nineteen (19), in print advertisements is in the May 1970 issue of High Fidelity.

Do you think production of the Model Eighteen might have ended a earlier than June 1970 if they were beginning production of the 19? Or do you have data that shows June was the final production end?

If we assume production of the Model 18 began approximately in Sept. 1967 (just before the first print ads) and finished around April 1970 (the month before the 19 was first announced), that is 32 months and an average of 219 units produced per month (assuming production was steady throughout the run).

For 7000 units produced, that might translate to the below serial number ranges per month. Thoughts on if these production dates are accurate? Anyone have original sales receipts for their units to confirm? Also, what month and year did Marantz shift production from NY to California? I think all the 18s were made in NY. Were any of the 19s made in NY -- or were the earliest 19s produced in California?

Possible Marantz Model Eighteen production dates:

(Note: the below is only my best guess and could be inaccurate.)

Sep-67: 1001-1219
Oct-67: 1220-1438
Nov-67: 1439-1657
Dec-67: 1658-1876
Jan-68: 1877-2095
Feb-68: 2096-2314
Mar-68: 2315-2533
Apr-68: 2534-2752
May-68: 2753-2971
Jun-68: 2972-3190
Jul-68: 3191-3409
Aug-68: 3410-3628
Sep-68: 3629-3847
Oct-68: 3848-4066
Nov-68: 4067-4285
Dec-68: 4286-4504
Jan-69: 4505-4723
Feb-69: 4724-4942
Mar-69: 4943-5161
Apr-69: 5162-5380
May-69: 5381-5599
Jun-69: 5600-5818
Jul-69: 5819-6037
Aug-69: 6038-6256
Sep-69: 6257-6475
Oct-69: 6476-6694
Nov-69: 6695-6913
Dec-69: 6914-7132
Jan-70: 7133-7351
Feb-70: 7352-7570
Mar-70: 7571-7789
Apr-70: 7790-8008

Here's an image of the Oct. 1967 print ad.

marantz18oct1967ad.jpg
 
Hello Gents-
I've been schooling myself up here for a while. I have just barely enough electronic skills to operate a Deoxit can, and swap out an old bulb for LED's on my 2252. Basically, I've learned "you're not qualified".. which is ok.

This being said , I just bought a Model 18 yesterday for $360 from the second owner. I did hear music thought it, but only a faint fm signal. The CRT glows , but with no antennae it was weak. Yes, I took a risk. From what I've read here, the 18 is great under any circumstances.

My point of this post:

I don't want to rebuild anything unless it's absolutely necessary. Not because of the money, but to maintain the unit's originality.

I live in the L.A. area, and I'm asking the forum for a recommendation of an expert to diagnose and /or repair this receiver. It has a couple of issues so far.
1. Hums when I lightly touch any of the knobs.
2. Tuning dial lights are dead.
3. No sound on phono.

I will not open this receiver up myself. I'd probably just electrocute myself. But I want it to run as original.

I welcome any comments and advice.
Bored to death under this moronic Corona virus quarantine, so here I am.
 

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I would not worry too much about keeping the originality of the components, just use the right parts and have someone that knows what they're doing work on it.

The documentation is quite rare!
 
Hey have you ever had one of the channels sound really distorted? Any idea what’s causing it?

Hello could you tell me what LEDs you used on you Marantz Eighteen display, they look great. Seems prety staightforward to replace.
 
I'm new to this thread. I scored a minty Model Eighteen last week. I paid $350 based on a Facebook photo.

I expected it not to work. Instead.. it works perfectly and sounds amazing! Even the scope works great! And it had the original manual. It blows my 2230 out of the water. When I opened it up, not a speck of dust! This thing was babied! Now I'm working to get a custom wood cabinet made, as I think an original WC-9 will be hard to find.

The lights are a bit dim.. but I'm not eager to take off the faceplate and replace any bulbs. So I may leave it for now.

 
You guys got lucky with your model 18’s for less than $400. I was so smitten to fix my 19 that I paid top dollar on eBay for a nice example of an 18 set to arrive today. After hearing the 19 fully restored, my plan is to swap out my full tube systems with the 18 and 19 and sell off some gear. They sound that good.
 
Seeing broken ones go for $500.00 plus just makes me shake my head. I thought I over paid for this 19 that has taken me way too long to get working.

$440.00
s-l1600 (0).jpg


And now

IMG_0053.JPG

Tony
 
Well this one was basically free after some work by me but was also a basket case. Lost on buying a replacement non working scope tube on eBay though. Karmas gonna get that dude who sold me the bad tube. You know who you are.
 

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Scope and fm stereo works. All original. Plus I love working on point to point. This is gonna be fun.
 

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