Help Identifying Magnovox Magnificent mid/late 50's

[dabrakeman]

Hello. Total Noob here. This piece has been part of my life in my parents home for my entire 62 years, but, I took it for granted until now. The natural order of life has made it a current priority. The unit is a Magnovox Magnificent with stereo capability and is fully functional and sounds great but for a slightly choppy loudness dial and a little warmup time on the first cycle. It is totally original unmodified except for my Dad hooked up an external speaker for stereo capability using an old '50's Zenith TV speaker. The player cabinet looks identical to the Magnavox History stock photo of the 1956 Radio/Record Player with the notable exception that it does NOT have an AM/FM tuner. Even an AI search suggested that these never really came without a tuner unless maybe a custom order or something... Can't really see inside the turntable cabinet in the stock photo but it seems the 45 adaptor holder is on the left instead of the right in my unit and there is no knob on the left side of the interior cabinet. My hope here is that maybe someone can help identifying an actual year ('56, '57, '58, '59??) and model number since I could not find any tag on the exterior of the unit itself. I have attached a few pictures. The glare on the glass hides the wood pattern on the front slide doors but they are identical to the one in the stock photo (kind of a diamond pattern). Appreciate all input. I am remote but may be able to get more pictures taken for me if needed.

 

[wparks]

If you don't get an answer here, you can post this on a console dedicated forum I found called "Classic Hifi Care"- those old feller's eat, drink and breath these old Magnavox consoles, and someone will probably recognize it on sight. It appears their server is down right now, but the website is here.

Since the paper tag, that would be near the top of the back is missing, you can get technical information on the chassis if to remove the back, and take pictures of all of the paper tags and ink stampings on the chassis- Magnavox used chassis model numbers across multiple units, and if they (or I) can identify the chassis model you can look up a Sams photofact from that.

 

[Dswankey]

...The unit is a Magnovox Magnificent ... My hope here is that maybe someone can help identifying an actual year ('56, '57, '58, '59??) and model number since I could not find any tag on the exterior of the unit itself.

It's a Mono unit, here's what the amp (Amp-14x series) should look like.

A great source of info to do some research

Magnavox Consoles/Late 50s-Early 60s (Warning: Lg. Files)

Analog Addict was kind enough to send me scans of a Magnavox brochure he got with his latest acquisition. I've been trying to determine the model year in question by comparing the brochure with contemporary advertisements. I'm guessing 1959. If you all have any further information, esp...

audiokarma.org

 

[dabrakeman]

If you don't get an answer here, you can post this on a console dedicated forum I found called "Classic Hifi Care"- those old feller's eat, drink and breath these old Magnavox consoles, and someone will probably recognize it on sight. It appears their server is down right now, but the website is here.

Since the paper tag, that would be near the top of the back is missing, you can get technical information on the chassis if to remove the back, and take pictures of all of the paper tags and ink stampings on the chassis- Magnavox used chassis model numbers across multiple units, and if they (or I) can identify the chassis model you can look up a Sams photofact from that.

Thank you @wparks for the link. Produced an error on my phone but seems I can get in on the desktop. The unit did go through a number of moves so the tag likely got stripped off with application and removal of moving blankets.

 

[dabrakeman]

It's a Mono unit, here's what the amp (Amp-14x series) should look like.

A great source of info to do some research

Magnavox Consoles/Late 50s-Early 60s (Warning: Lg. Files)

Analog Addict was kind enough to send me scans of a Magnavox brochure he got with his latest acquisition. I've been trying to determine the model year in question by comparing the brochure with contemporary advertisements. I'm guessing 1959. If you all have any further information, esp...

audiokarma.org

View attachment 3526526

It does have a stereo setting although as you say the unit itself I believe is mono. Outside speaker was wired up by my dad.

 

[gadget73]

Wonder what amp it has. Some of the early stereo units relied on an external speaker with an amplifier in them, others had a 2 channel amplifier and just needed the second speaker.

 

[Dswankey]

@dabrakeman

This might help with identification, when you have a chance as @wparks mentioned there should be a model number on the amp chassis.

It would look similar to this

 

[wparks]

Definitely a Magnavox AMP-142 BC. link here to Radio Museum for some basic info. I'll snoop around for a good schematic.

The schematic from Sam's is in folder 311-9. I can't find a good copy free online, but there are lots of bad copies on google. Click the schematic link at Radio Museum above and they will let you download the schematic they have, that might be passable. If you would like the best copy, a paper version of photofact 311 can be purchased either from Sams or from eBay. It's a real odd duck- definitely mono, using parallel 6V6 tubes in push-pull. Pretty easy restore, not a lot of components under the chassis.

 

[tcdriver]

Our family had one just like the one you show. Mono unit without tuner. That is a very nice unit you have there.

 

[cademan]

If you do report that you do have the mono amp in your cabinet, then it does need another speaker cabinet along with it's own mono amplifier to make stereo. The selector switch in the "stereo" position would probably be the turntable only and the turntable would have to be stereo with a stereo cartridge. AM and FM would be mono.

This would be evident that when you look at the turntable from underneath, it should have two RCA jacks where one goes to the main amp and the other would be wired to a jack in the back panel somewhere which would be for what's called a companion speaker and amplifier.

Growing up, we had a Packard-Bell stereo which was factory built as a separate main unit and a companion speaker set up.