This circa 1950 unit is in good shape but with the following issues. 1.) Used to receive am & fm--now it does not, no backgroud noise, nothing on both bands. What do I need to look at--tubes? The phono works well except there is no much volume or bass when turned up. What could be causing this? Thanks in advance for the hlep.

Usually the first thing I do to restore a receiver is to take all the tubes out and test them in a good, transconductance tester. This is not a perfect solution but it does weed out tubes that would fail for sure.

Then BEFORE I TURN IT ON, I put the unit on a variac and look at the high voltage ( B+) to see if it is coming up nomally. I also check transformers/chokes/filter caps for HEAT, and I also listen for crackles/arc overs ,etc.

:This circa 1950 unit is in good shape but with the following issues. 1.) Used to receive am & fm--now it does not, no backgroud noise, nothing on both bands. What do I need to look at--tubes? The phono works well except there is no much volume or bass when turned up. What could be causing this? Thanks in advance for the hlep.
:

:This circa 1950 unit is in good shape but with the following issues. 1.) Used to receive am & fm--now it does not, no backgroud noise, nothing on both bands. What do I need to look at--tubes? The phono works well except there is no much volume or bass when turned up. What could be causing this? Thanks in advance for the hlep.

Jerry,
Of course, it is probably a bad tube, but check the following first:
1. Are all the tube filaments glowing (expecially the rectifier)?

2. If you touch the center of the volume control, can you gat a buzz or hum that is controlled with the control? I think the audio is OK, but you might have a bad crystal pickup.

3. Can you take a transistor radio and, with it held close to the Magnavox, hear the local oscillator 455 KHz above the AM frequency on the Magnavox dial and 10.7 MHz above the FM frequency dialed?

Knowing these will give you some idea of where would be a good place to start checking things.
Lewis
:

::This circa 1950 unit is in good shape but with the following issues. 1.) Used to receive am & fm--now it does not, no backgroud noise, nothing on both bands. What do I need to look at--tubes? The phono works well except there is no much volume or bass when turned up. What could be causing this? Thanks in advance for the hlep.
:
:
:Jerry,
:Of course, it is probably a bad tube, but check the following first:
:1. Are all the tube filaments glowing (expecially the rectifier)?
:
:2. If you touch the center of the volume control, can you gat a buzz or hum that is controlled with the control? I think the audio is OK, but you might have a bad crystal pickup.
:
:3. Can you take a transistor radio and, with it held close to the Magnavox, hear the local oscillator 455 KHz above the AM frequency on the Magnavox dial and 10.7 MHz above the FM frequency dialed?
:
:Knowing these will give you some idea of where would be a good place to start checking things.
:Lewis
::
:
:
Thanks for the info--I don't have sophisticated testing equipment so this approach is helpful. The Rectifier tube looks to have a very faint glow on one side only.