Magnavox Automatic 400 Turntable?

[ry4wn]

I have been looking for a nice vintage Magnavox turntable for my entertainment room, I have some concerns however. I cannot locate any documentation about a Magnavox Automatic 400? I found one at a good price but I am concerned about performance, has anyone ever heard or seen this turntable?? The one in reference if it matters is on a site I’ve never heard of before - http://snasy.com/productdetails.php?productid=21

[barnettrp21122]

Hello! If you don't get info from your post here (most phono equipment discussed on this forum is of earlier vintage) you might try this link with The Antique Radio Forum under the phonograph section: http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewfor ... fdac3edd49
Good luck with your search.
Bob

[Schmaltz]

I used to have one of those when I was a kid in the early 70s; the "400" retailed for a bit less than the full-cost Micromatic but it operated the same and took the same needles. There's a discussion board over at Yahoo Groups called "MagnavoxFriends" that discusses this vintage of Maggie on a daily basis, and there's guys there far more knowledgeable than me. You can find them here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Magnavoxfriends/

If you don't have a Yahoo ID you'll have to sign up for one but the process is painless. Best of luck to you!

[gregbogantz]

The Magnavox 700 and 800 series changers (not related to the model numbers of the complete phonograph) were the last Collaro mechanical designs used by Magnavox. That's what this set has that you have linked to above. These changers are OK, but I don't like them as well as the earlier 600 series. The 700 and 800 series have been cheapened from the 600 design. They do not employ the record sizing clutch which allows the tonearm edge feeler to adapt to ANY size record as the 600 does. The later series still use the edge feeler, but they default to one of the three preset sizes of 7, 10, or 12 inch. Not too important in the USA, but in England and Europe there were a number of 8 inch records and some other oddball sizes made in the 1930s which the 600 will play automatically. The 600 also uses a separate changer cycle drive from the motor so that the cycle time is always the same, regardless of platter speed. The 700 and 800 series drive the cycle from the platter (as do most other record changers) so that when playing 78s, the cycle is frighteningly fast. Granted, these are probably insignificant details so far as most users are concerned, but I like the better design concepts and higher build quality embodied in the 600 series. I think the 600 series Maggies are one of the best changers for playing shellac 78s because of their gentle change cycle. I use one all the time. Attached is a picture of one. This is a later 600 model. The earlier ones had the same curved tonearm shape at the back, but the head was narrow and rectangular and without the oval shape.