1977 Magnavox console television (T995-02 chassis)

[t0xictreasure]

how annoying to have a big letter infront of the screen everytime you change channel

[whiskeyify]

My parents had a 1976 model, I fixed it a few times for them. You need to pull the modules out and clean the connections. These have plug-in boards, the connectors get dirty and at the corner of each board is a ground connection as well. Take a pencil eraser and clean the corner of each board with it until the copper is clean and bright. This tv lasted a long time with just a few repairs, a blown capacitor and a board replacement.

[alicetherat]

My parents owned the same model. I can't remember what the rectangular button on the control panel was for (the one with tiny shutters inside that turned blue when you pressed it).

[dynatrak]

@alicetherat I'm working on a demonstration video of the V Matic switch.

[Gerogiancounty]

Impressive , the contraption still hummimg along :)

[S0lidState]

How much more were these remote units over the big manual tuners ?

[Lachlant1984]

Does this console have a radil tuner or record player in it?

[dynatrak]

@Lachlant1984 It's just a console tv.

[MATTHEWS42]

the black line is caused by a bad capasitor in the vertical circuit ,,,this is a common problem the capasitors dry up,,,,i fixed over a hundred of them,,

[123demaio]

Cleaning the video module conections can help as well . if the module is filfthy mess take out . and wash it with hot water and dawn and let it dry well.  this really works ..any contact cleaner will destroy the plastic and make it into goo

[dynatrak]

Thanks again. I'm gonna have to get this tv out of storage soon! Yeah, retrochad said the same thing about using contact cleaner on the plastic, so I sure wont use any.

[123demaio]

The sixty cycle bright bar going through the picture is a bad cap on the video module . An esr meter would be helpful for this problem

[dynatrak]

Thanks for the information! I'm planning on buying an esr meter soon.

[80stvfan09]

only problem with these older emitter remotes is that any airplane flying overhead turns the set off! (Radio interference)

To this day there isn't a TV made with an OSD as amazing as the old TouchTune Star Systems. i'm still scanning thrift stores looking for one!

[80stvfan09]

I always loved the On Screen Display on the original TouchTunes, they had that cool 3D effect at the spacing out of the channel that hasn't been topped yet even on HDTVs.

I am on the lookout for an original TouchTune as they have superior bass and stereo sound that tops even HDTVs lousy built-in surround and of course that channel OSD.

The issue i remember was the sonic remote was bad about radio interference, like airplanes flew overhead the TV turned off.

[comgeek24]

My grandfather bought a Magnavox just like the one in the video, brand new, except it didn't have the clock, just the fading channel display (which I thought was cool). It didn't have stereo sound, but the sound on it was so good my mom thought it did.

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

Omg, thats an awesome tv and wow it's way ahead of it's time, LOL! We used to have a 1986 GE remote controlled console tv, but this one is more advanced in technology. I'm guessing this one replaced the old Magnavox B/W console that your Grandfather once had.

[dynatrak]

Thanks! It's been a good one. Nah, this set belong to my other Grandfather on my Dad's side. Mom told me they got their first color set in 68, and the black and white Magnavox went to my Grandparents room. When it quit working my Grandfather stripped out the chassis, and my aunt used it as an entertainment center. After she got married the fm radio came out, and the cabinet got trashed. I did find it in some old home movies, and at least I know what it looks like if i run across one.

[Vinylrecordsneverdie]

Good luck finding that same set. I'm sure that TV been gone since the 70's or so.

[chevy0500]

Your remote is not infrared or radio control. It is actually a speaker/amplifier. On the tv for the remote pickup is a microphone. The remote produced very high frequency sounds, each button on the remote produced a different sound. This used to drive my dog nuts! A very unique technology. Magnavox was always the innovative American electronics company. They were always a cut above and, their products commanded a premium price. All until Philips took over.

[dynatrak]

Yeah, I can barely hear some of the tones if I put the remote up to my ear, and push buttons. I would like to find one that works better. I have an old Zenith Space Commander remote, and pushing the volume button twice causes it to go to channel 66. I'm pretty sure this tv was pricey brand new, but it is still working 32 years later, so that speaks for itself. Too bad stuff made now doesn't last half as long.

[chevy0500]

I absolutely positively love the way the on screen display works!! The channel number just flies away. I had a 1977 Magnavox tv with the videomatic feature. It had a red led display digital readout channel display. I thought that was leading edge in '77. Evidentially not! All the videomatic was is a light sensor that brought up the brightness in the presence of light. In a completely dark room, it would bring the brightness down. Easier on the eyes.

[Trance88]

That is the coolest on screen display!!! I had no clue they had on screen display technology that long ago.

[dynatrak]

Yeah! I like it. I grew up watching this tv. It's the oldest one I've ever seen with on screen display. I'm not sure if other tv sets older than this one had it? It would be cool to see them in operation.

[eyeh8nbc]

Cool display- this is why I can't watch shows with logos that stay on the screen all the time- I keep staring at them waiting for them to disappear! Nice that most stations in your area are bug-free, but whoever owns channel 21 should die a horrible death. That's a perfect example of how stupid this practice is when the TV's number shrinks to nothing but the one on the station just stays there! VERY sad state of affairs when PBS stations are using bugs too.

[dynatrak]

Yeah I'd rather not see their icon on the screen constantly either. Most of the channels here will display it for a while, and then it disappears. Probably watching a roundie type color tv would solve that problem!

[EncoreEnterprisesLLC]

Don't hate me for saying this, but I actually find the channel logos useful. They let me know what station Im watching without checking the guide.

[eyeh8nbc]

Very cool channel display! Never seen one like that.

It's good that a number of stations in your area are bug-free, but that channel 21 is a perfect example of how stupid this practice is- the number isn't supposed to stay on the screen all the time! I hope whoever runs that station dies a painful death, same with the PBS station- the one in Sacramento also uses one and makes it even more annoying during the kids' shows. Why bother with digital when they intentionally ruin the picture?

[vwestlife]

That "Psssht!" burst of static when changing channels has become such a cliché that it's odd to find a digital tuning TV which actually does it for real! I really like that on-screen display. Due to the lack of pixellation when the channel number "fades out", I think it may even be done by analog circuitry -- perhaps a vestige of Magnavox's own Odyssey, a pioneering analog video game console.

[EmersonCollie]

That is so cool. I like the on screen display.

[spatsbear2]

I love that on screen display. This is my first time seeing one with it. Just how the channel number gets smaller like that.

[dynatrak]

Yeah! I've always thought it's a unique, and cool on screen display.

[jefferyb304]

agreed ! I like how big the numbers are also.

[retrochad]

I would make sure the controls such as brightness, contrast, and the "V-Matic" if present aren't dirty, then you might check for bad connections at the module sockets. I worked on one similar to this but with a knob tuner which was in a church and it was having problems with poor contacts at the modules.

[dynatrak]

Thanks for the tips. I did replace the brightness control many years ago, but still the same thing. I need to take it apart to clean all the controls. I'll check out the module sockets. What would I use to clean the module connections properly?

[retrochad]

According to RCA you should never use contact cleaner on module sockets...I actually tried that one time and the socket fell apart! I can't remember if the Magnavoxes use edge connectors like RCA's or terminals that go through the circuit boards like Zenith. Sometimes just re-seating the module on the socket or pins can help.

[dynatrak]

Oh ok. I was just planning on using it on the brightness, and contrast controls. I didn't think it would be good on the circuit boards, but thanks for confirming that! It's been a few years since I've had the back off, but I'm sure the modules are the edge connector style, not the Zenith style.