I just bought this great early Magnavox console today for $75, and it was only 10 minutes from my house!
Found it on CL early in the week. The woman said her parents bought it new in 1955 or 56, and they were the original owners. Even came with the original owners manual!
I found a 1955 add, so I am assuming it is this model.
Radio works, I tried the TV, but it started to smoke, so I shut it off... Really hope I didn't fry anything!!! I know I need a variac, I have had good luck so far turning on old sets to test them, but I can see that is very foolish!
I'd hate myself If I did any real damage...
I'm not sure, but this looks to be maybe the earliest of the Danish modern style consoles that Magnavox started to make.
Anyone familiar with this one? Can't wait to restore this beauty!

Actually, I didn't see any smoke, I just smelled something burning, hope it was just years of dust, since there was alot of it in there!!

Photo of the back...

Classic "mid-century" looking console. Yeah, you should never plug in any as-found radio or TV. Don't worry too much, just a minor component may have fried. I have a '57 Magnavox TV that's a rather low-quality set, but performs totally acceptable after a chassis resto. That likely is the case with yours.

i have a magnavox with what looks like the same chassis. Works pretty decent, also after a recap. Wasn't too difficult, but the tube and chassis come out in one shot which can make it awkward to handle.

I found that once, and I couldn't remember what area it was in. I was going to post it on one of my sites. I'm glad you got it, you did such a marvelous job on your avatar console!

Yeah you really should get a variac.

That is not danish modern styling more mid century/American modern (which was coming to be between roughly between 1952 and 54).

If you want to see genuine danish modern styling look at the legs of this set. http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=180496&d=1381957641

A hot-lamp tester is a bit better than nothing at all. A 75 or 100 watt lamp, for smaller loads and maybe a 200 or 300 watt for larger loads.
Actually, I use both, a lamp and a variac for certain applications.
One restorer uses a 3 way socket from an old table lamp. You can select 50-100-150 watts.

A hot-lamp tester is a bit better than nothing at all. A 75 or 100 watt lamp, for smaller loads and maybe a 200 or 300 watt for larger loads.
Actually, I use both, a lamp and a variac for certain applications.
One restorer uses a 3 way socket from an old table lamp. You can select 50-100-150 watts.

I use a Tektronix TU 75B power test set, which has both in one box. Unfortunately it *does not* provide isolation :( .

Here is a high-priced one on the 'bay for illustration: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-TU-75-B-Vintage-Power-Test-Set-Unit-/201375907520

not affiliated,
jr

Yeah you really should get a variac.

That is not danish modern styling more mid century/American modern (which was coming to be between roughly between 1952 and 54).

If you want to see genuine danish modern styling look at the legs of this set. http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=180496&d=1381957641

Wow, that's a nice set!