Magnavox console black and white "Astro-Sonic" television...

[RetroHacker]

Well, I did it again. Hauled home yet another old console television that I found on the side of the road. It's a Magnavox, and I dragged it home - I still don't really know why. The cabinet is in pretty bad shape, the finish is totally shot, and the veneer is flaking at the edges. But, it was a black and white console... I just took the back off it a few minutes ago - I couldn't believe it - this thing is solid state! It uses a 24HAP4 picture tube, but it's solid state! It fooled me with the cabinet interlock on the back, and the general appearance of the set. I could've sworn that it was a tube set. I didn't even know they _made_ solid state black and white consoles. It's an interesting set, but I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with it as of yet. I think I'm going to see if I can make it work. It comes on, and I hear deflection and the sound works. But I don't get a picture or a raster or any light on the screen, and I can _barely_ see the picture tube filament. It's still got a silver getter though, so it hasn't gone to air. Hopefully the tube isn't worn out. I'll have to check the power supply when I get a chance. All I know at the moment is that the electrolytics aren't shorted - could still be something wrong with the caps though. The set has a power transformer, as well as what I believe to be a smaller power transformer for the filament supply. I'll do some more investigating when I have time. If I have time... I'll also have to post some pictures tonight.

-Ian