1948 Magnavox Windsor - An elegant example of 1940's craftsmanship

[MusicMike1285]

whats the name of this song thats playing? very pretty!!

[maynardcat]

@MusicMike1285 I belong to you Ralph Flanagan orchestra

[MusicMike1285]

@maynardcat Thanks. I've never heard of Ralph Flanagan. I'll have to look i up. By listening to it I thought it was glenn miller and the modernaires.

[75capriceconvertible]

Absolutely STUNNING. What a piece of furniture, and what components and what a record changer. The original cartridge sounds impressive, I can't imagine how it will sound with the upgrade. This was definitely a rich man's (or woman's?) toy for 1948... just beautiful.

[spannerworks1]

Hi

Just a great sound with depth and range - over the web.

A piece to treasure

Warm regards

Richard 

[gabevee3]

That phono sound is super! And we're listening to it from a likely mid grade mike and digital recording! I bet it's tons better in person! Wow!

[AstroSonic1967]

Very nice console. I also have a Windsor from the early 50's. I'm using a Webster 3 speed changer with a Stanton 500 cartridge and a Fisher one-tube pre-amp for the phono cartridge. The Stanton cartridge really helped the reproduction of records. When you replace your changer you might want to keep an eye out for the Webster 3 speeds that have the plug in head shells w/standard mounting holes. If you go GE, I'd go w/the VR II. They are easier on records than the older RPX series.

[maynardcat]

@AstroSonic1967 Hi Thanks for the advise, very much appreciated. I've seen a few 3 speed Websters excactly like this one with 3 speeds on ebay ,but they were very high priced. I do have a 3 speed early 50's webster that I found this summer, but looks somewhat different from this one. I have a stanton cartridge, but I am not sure of the model, which I am going to check out. I do have a couple of the GE VR11 cartidges, but they won't fit in this particular tonearm as it is too narrow.

[TwinMillMC]

What a gem! I'd never part anything like this out, it's too rare. The phono sounds nice considering the age of the crystal cart. But if I were you, instead of a Shure M3D Stereo Magnetic as a replacement, I would go with a Mono GE-VR Magnetic. The tone arm on this Webster may not be compatible (light or flexible enough) for the floating stylus of the M3D. The GE VR tracks heavier & has a fixed/stiff stylus more suitable for rigid tone arms. It'll also need proper grounding & a phono preamp.

[maynardcat]

@TwinMillMC I did try the Shure M3D,.in this changer & surprisingly it has lower friction than most, & didn't do too bad, but my first choice was the GE-VR as the 78 stylus are readily available & I have a few, but due to the narrow custom styling of the Magnavox tonearm it will not fit. I did find another Webster changer this summer that is 3 speed, & if nothing else I will see if it will fit in the Windsor, & its regular styled tonearm will accept the GE VR cartridge I agree a better choice.

[TwinMillMC]

@maynardcat I thought the GE VR may be too wide for this tone arm. However, you might not have to change the TT. There are very HQ narrow EV ceramic cartridges on sale at eBay - Item # 350512137920, $20 for 2. The seller is a friend of mine & has restored many of my turntables. I used this 1/2" mount EV to replace another ceramic in a 70's BSR turntable. The sound quality of this EV is nearly as good as a magnetic & it may fit in your Webster. You wouldn't need a preamp either.

[maynardcat]

@TwinMillMC Thanks for the info. I found those on ebay and saved it .. E-V does make some good cartridges. I have two EV 5095 stereo cartridges that I use in the Magnavox Imperials. The genuine EV 5095's are getting expensive. I have a number of old magnetic cartridges that I am going check to see if a 78 stylus is available for them. The 78 stylus is no longer made for the M3D so I've ruled that out. I have the Shure N-78, but it is way to compliant for that changer..

[Turkeydoodlers]

Wow that sounds and looks great bill. Unbelievable sound. I love the woodwork

[VictrolaJazz]

They're all just beautiful and I have to know they all have "Made in U.S.A." somewhere on them! Is Magnavox's trademark the roaring lion's head in the horn of a 20's radio speaker? Everything had so much class then!

[maynardcat]

@VictrolaJazz The roaring lions head is pictured just behind the changer on this one.

[okiebill1948]

Great sound for a unit of that vintage, even considering the failing cartridge. BTW, that unit is the same age as I am....LOL!!!! Like those units, we also get better with age!!! That Magnavox would look great in my "man cave" in our house.

[chkjns]

@okiebill1948 To put the price in perspective, my dad began as a trainee commercial insurance underwriter in 1950 at a salary of $50/wk. That unit represented 1/3 of a year's GROSS salary !!! How sad that this wonderful machine became instantly obsolete with Columbia introducing LP records that same year & RCA coming out with 45s in 1949! Man, I would have been so ticked off after paying a price like that . . .

Tech wars it has been & tech wars it shall always be.

[maynardcat]

@chkjns That is true it would have been a little irritating, but electronically, and in sound it was way ahead of its time, and could have been easily updated with the 3 speed Webster changer that came out in the 1949 model which looked identical except for the speed indicator. The only updating the previous owner did was a little RCA RP-168 45 player that came along for the ride for free which needs new idler wheels and cartridge, and odd update for something this expensive.

[jasonlava]

Magnificent!

[SpeakerFreak95]

cool!

[HD7100]

Mine has the dynamic 15" speaker. You could replace the cartridge with a magnetic but you may have to add a preamp for that. Mine is not working. It is presently at a friends house who no longer wants it so it will end up back here.

[HD7100]

I have the model that has the exact same insides but in a narrower cabinet. The left side where the turntable is has a flip top lid. The turntable had a rubber idler wheel that petrified and the crystal cartridge did not work at all. Did you rebuild the electronics and turntable in your model? Its very nice.

[GeraldLoves2Cook]

Wheres the Ipod Connector Looks like A great bit of Kit. Like your choceof music. reminds me when I was in my youth. Great Video Gerry

[Westtoledoguy]

what a beautiful machine