Once again, thanks to everyone at VideoKarma for all the expert advise!
I Could never have completed this without the forum!
I bought this set on Ebay for $24.00. My first.
Replaced all the caps, did tons of cleaning,
and now I just need a EV26 cartridge and needle for the phonograph.
I had to refinish some of the wood, but most of the cabinet cleaned up nicely.
I also had to make a deflection yoke cover, (I think that's what it's called,) since the old one was falling apart.
The picture is perfect, and to me seems a bit more lifelike than the newer sets!

Can't wait to start the 1959 Admiral-
Thanks to all!

Magnavox300

I also found this original add from 1960-cool!

I like your chassis better than the one I have. No 5U4 rectifier on mine.

Very nice set, superb work :thmbsp: Pat

Very nice work. What did you make the yoke cover out of?

Was this set out of Ronkonkoma, NY?

Very nice work. What did you make the yoke cover out of?

I made the cover out of STYRENE,
I saw a thread on here about how to make one,
that's actually how I found this site!

Magnavox300

Was this set out of Ronkonkoma, NY?

It was!
I guess you saw it too.
The woman who sold it to me had it listed for 4 weeks,
and nobody bought it.
I think God had it waiting for me-

Magnavox300

Can we see the turntable set-up? The EV stylus is not hard to run across.

Somehow WW2 movies just look better on a B/W set...(grin)

Are you local?

Your set turned out great; it was well worth the time and effort you put into it, as the picture looks very good. (I'm sure the phonograph will sound great as well, once you replace the cartridge and stylus; Magnavox did not cut corners on any of their 3-way consoles, even the b&w ones that preceded their fabulous 25" color console of the late '60s.) I've never seen a Magnavox stereo-theatre TV in this type of cabinet until now (the only ones I've seen up to now have been pictures, in magazine ads and on eBay, of the big Maggie color stereo theatres that must weigh 200 pounds or more, take four people to move, and are housed in huge cabinets). Your stereo theatre "300" may have been a limited edition or the predecessor to Magnavox's stereo theatre consoles. Does it have UHF? How does it sound at this point? I am referring to TV sound and that from the AM/FM tuner. I bet that set sounds 10 times better than today's "stereo" flat-screen TVs with 3" speakers.

You got the Ronkonkoma set? I put that eBay ad up on the Phonoland Facebook page, I was so taken with it. I haven't seen any of that type in this section of the country, but one or two of the middle line theatres with speakers on each side of the screen. This set is an entry level model for people who wanted the theatre without the high price tag. I love this thing, can you show pics of the controls and record changer please? And congratulations!

By the way, as late as 1969, Magnavox had a bottom line color theatre, with the picture on the left, and speakers on each end of the cabinet. None have surfaced to my knowlege.

Your search for an EV26 is something I just did on one of my Maggies. Be very careful of the replacement bits. I tried an Arista equivalent but it didn't sound nearly as good as the real EV cartridge. Also, as far as stylii, The N26-7 seems to be the most dominant one. It's the .7 mil 33/45 stylus. The N26-2, a 2 mil stylus is REALLY tough to find. I ended up getting it via the NOS Arista cartridge and couldn't find it separately on eBay after weeks of searching. Getting the right stylus size makes all the difference in the world for 78s.

Are all Maggie stereo combo's considered "stereo theaters" or just some. Mine is a '63 color 21". This is not the "top of the line" one. Somewhere in the middle. you can find EV cartridges here: http://www.turntableneedles.com/

I always call them theatres, if they're Magnavox, and the one Magnavox300 just restored is referred to as a theatre. I love your set mstaton, I had the Chinese walnut version for a bit, I don't even remember where I got it. I do remember selling it though. It would be nice to know if mine still existed intact. I can make space for one more, color or black & white.

I always call them theatres, if they're Magnavox, and the one Magnavox300 just restored is referred to as a theatre. I love your set mstaton, I had the Chinese walnut version for a bit, I don't even remember where I got it. I do remember selling it though. It would be nice to know if mine still existed intact. I can make space for one more, color or black & white.

That is a nice Job on a unique set Magnavox 300.:thmbsp: I had a 1960 Philco combo and it had a non-stereo mpx tuner. Also had a 1968 25" Magnavox Theatre with the T933 chassis. It was in an Italian Provincial cabinet in near perfect condition. When it was picked up (it took 3 guys and one wrenched his back) drove the van home and had three friend help me put it in an entry hall off the dining room of my parent's house. It was so nice but when I moved, it had to go also, I sent it to an auction house about 20+ years ago and it fetched only $15. I hope it found a home, mine was too small.

Can we see the turntable set-up? The EV stylus is not hard to run across.

Here are a couple pics of the turntable.
Before and after.
I think my favorite part of this project was cleaning it up!

Magnavox300

When I was a youngun, we had a 2 cabinet console stereo that used this turntable. The wonderful Micromatic by Collaro. I still say this is the best automatic turntable there is. The late 60's version isn't nearly as good.

ME TOO!! I recall my dads old magnavox stereo. It was a big console, nothing but a record player, and it had an external speaker besides the console itself. It had this exact model of turntable. The turntable is long gone, but i still have the amplifiers from it. It used 4 6V6s and 4 12AX7 tubes not to mention the 5U4 rectifier. It worked well and did to the day i put it in the closet in 1989.. May still work today.. :)

Anyone got a pic of the model were describing?

Your set turned out great; it was well worth the time and effort you put into it, as the picture looks very good. (I'm sure the phonograph will sound great as well, once you replace the cartridge and stylus; Magnavox did not cut corners on any of their 3-way consoles, even the b&w ones that preceded their fabulous 25" color console of the late '60s.) I've never seen a Magnavox stereo-theatre TV in this type of cabinet until now (the only ones I've seen up to now have been pictures, in magazine ads and on eBay, of the big Maggie color stereo theatres that must weigh 200 pounds or more, take four people to move, and are housed in huge cabinets). Your stereo theatre "300" may have been a limited edition or the predecessor to Magnavox's stereo theatre consoles. Does it have UHF? How does it sound at this point? I am referring to TV sound and that from the AM/FM tuner. I bet that set sounds 10 times better than today's "stereo" flat-screen TVs with 3" speakers.

Thanks for the kind words, I thought this set was pretty unique,
and glad it got me started in this great new hobby.
I wonder how many sets are enough?
Yes it does have UHF, though what is it used for?
The sound has been perfect and loud if you want it, but still very clear! Though after just a week I now started getting some loud buzzing in it. Usually when the DVD is on the main title, but when I play an actual movie, it's fine.
It seems to only happen at the end or begining of most DVD's.
I know the only cap I didn't replace was a large cardboard one on the speakers themselves. Maybe that's the problem.
Very strange, and just when I thought I was finished!!
I don't know how I ever watched classic shows and movies on anything else!

Magnavox300

That Buzzing is normal on older sets. Generally when there is digitized lettering like during commercials or certain DVD's. . Nothing to worry about. My maggie color roundie even does it when the converter box in in mute mode. Just the nature of the beasts. Some sets do better than others. My CTC-16 barely does it at all. There are no parts you can change to fix this. Enjoy the set!

That is a nice Job on a unique set Magnavox 300.:thmbsp: I had a 1960 Philco combo and it had a non-stereo mpx tuner. Also had a 1968 25" Magnavox Theatre with the T933 chassis. It was in an Italian Provincial cabinet in near perfect condition. When it was picked up (it took 3 guys and one wrenched his back) drove the van home and had three friend help me put it in an entry hall off the dining room of my parent's house. It was so nice but when I moved, it had to go also, I sent it to an auction house about 20+ years ago and it fetched only $15. I hope it found a home, mine was too small.

Thanks for the compliment, and all your help!
This was alot of fun.
It's amazing how inexpensive these sets are to buy,
but it's great for all of us who enjoy the hobby so much!
Do you prefer vintage color sets?
I wouldn't mind picking up one of those too!
I wonder what year color sets first came out, and if it's hard to find any early models?

Magnavox300

1954 for color sets. Probably best to start with an early to mid sixties set. The price of early(54-59) RCA's are getting expensive to buy but you never know. Anything RCA, Zenith, Admiral, Magnavox, GE, Silvertone are good starter sets. Roundies or early rectangle sets. Roundies are more unique. There are a fair amount out there to be found since millions have been sold. Maybe put an ad on CL.

That Buzzing is normal on older sets. Generally when there is digitized lettering like during commercials or certain DVD's. . Nothing to worry about. My maggie color roundie even does it when the converter box in in mute mode. Just the nature of the beasts. Some sets do better than others. My CTC-16 barely does it at all. There are no parts you can change to fix this. Enjoy the set!

I am only concerned, because it didn't do it for almost a week, and now it always does, just in the main title, like I said.
Every so often I will hear a slight humm or buzz in regular viewing too,
but I won't worry about it if that is common.
My last thought, is when I replaced the electrolytics, I stayed at the same voltage as the originals, 350V.
Now I realize I should have went higher, like 630V.
Would there be less humm or buzz if I went higher?

Magnavox300

No, the higher voltage ratings wont change anything. You can try to adjust the sound IF cans to see if it will improve. Try adjusting the fine tuning and see if it is reduced first.

Yes it does have UHF, though what is it used for?
Magnavox300


To answer your question, nothing anymore, as I am about to explain.

UHF tuning in a TV set has no use any longer in this day and age of digital TV, as all older CRT TVs must now use a converter box with an antenna or cable to receive DTV signals. Most U. S. DTV stations broadcast over UHF channels, but I don't think they can be received using a standard (built into the set) UHF tuner or outboard converter as the transmission standards are different (the UHF tuners in all TVs made since the FCC UHF mandate of April 1964 are designed to receive only NTSC TV signals). These tuners or converters may not (more likely will not) work with today's ATSC DTV, although the broadcast frequencies are identical -- UHF channel 25, for example, is 536 to 542 MHz regardless of whether an analog or digital signal is being carried over that channel.

Note that since the DTV transition, UHF channels 51 through 69 are now assigned exclusively to DTV stations; NTSC analog television stations operating on these channels have been required to relocate to lower channels or else go off the air. Channels 70 through 83 were reassigned to land-mobile use in 1970, again requiring all existing TV stations operating in this part of the UHF television band to relocate to lower channels or cease operations entirely. Some early (1950s) UHF stations also operated on very high UHF channels above 70 (one of the first TV stations in Youngstown, Ohio for example, which would eventually become an all-UHF market, began its operations on channel 73, IIRC, when that station signed on in the early 1950s; it later moved to virtual channel 21, where it remains to this day).

BTW, I looked at one of the pictures of your Magnavox stereo theatre and found that there is no radio included in the console, just a Magnavox "Micromatic" four-speed record changer and, of course, the television. At least I didn't see a radio tuner anywhere on the control panel; if there is an AM or AM-FM radio in this unit its controls and dial scale may be located somewhere else on the set, although I would think that since most consoles route the phono/tuner audio through the television's audio amplifier and speakers, if there is a radio tuner in this one its controls would be in the same general area as the TV control panel. Another possibility could be that whomever owned this TV before you may have, for whatever reason, removed the radio tuner while leaving the amplifier intact and operational, although I did not see any empty holes on the control panel that would indicate such.

I wonder how many sets are enough?
Many of us collectors are still trying to answer that question even after decades. The rest already know-there is no answer! :)

I wont turn down ANY roundie color set. I guess 6 is not enough LOL.

When I was a youngun, we had a 2 cabinet console stereo that used this turntable. The wonderful Micromatic by Collaro. I still say this is the best automatic turntable there is. The late 60's version isn't nearly as good.

The Mag dealer I worked at used to get a bunch of turntables in the shop every November. After not using them all year, we would clean and lubricate the motors, idlers and platters. we even had a jig to do it:yes:

Wish i had that jig in the 70s, ours was always skipping cuz it was gummed up :)

Very nice set, superb work :thmbsp: Pat

Thanks Pat!

Magnavox300

WOW! That is one neat looking set and a great job done too. Congrats! :yes: :thmbsp: Cheers Glen

Thanks Glen!!!

Magnavox300

That Buzzing is normal on older sets. Generally when there is digitized lettering like during commercials or certain DVD's. . Nothing to worry about. My maggie color roundie even does it when the converter box in in mute mode. Just the nature of the beasts. Some sets do better than others. My CTC-16 barely does it at all. There are no parts you can change to fix this. Enjoy the set!

I took your advise and decided to enjoy my set-
I guess being my first, I was looking for perfection.
But after a few days, I realized it really is working great,
and there are no sound problems at all while I am actually watching something.

Thanks again for helping me bring this baby back to life!

Magnavox300