Old Mcintosh help. Name that gear!

Haoleb · « **on:** 1 Mar 2003, 04:27 am »

OK guys. i was given this wonderfull

peice of gear. It doesnt work. Ive been told by people at AA that it needs to have all caps replaced. Im pretty sure this is the MC240 but it is missing a switch on the face that i have seen on other 240's. This has all the tubes. i dont know if theyre all originals or not i think the power tubes are because they all say made for Mcintosh by rca. When i got it, the whole top was rusty so i did a little cleaning up and im not done yet. The bottom cover is missing and all the lettering is gone. I dont even think this has a power switch. I dont know what im going to do with it yet. but am contemplatnig selling if i dont wanna invest in fixing it. What would this thing go for in this condition. DOA and needs work. no chrome or bottom plate. all tubes.? Thanks guys

heres all the pics.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=gallery;area=browse;album=29

JohnR · « **Reply #1 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 04:35 am »

Whoa, cool! Without looking it up, it sure does look like an MC240.

Haoleb · « **Reply #2 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 04:46 am »

i forgot i have the model number of the transformers if that helps.

Power transformer 043-655
Unity coupled transformer 043-657
Unity coupled transformer M-210-A

mgalusha · « **Reply #3 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 02:30 pm »

Very cool. It does look like an MC240 but I don't know enough about Mac gear to say for sure. It would be a nice restoration project but a lot of effort.

I would strip the chassis to clean it up properly, maybe bead blasting and have it either chromed or give it a nice paint job. The AA guys are probably right about the caps. Electrolytics don't last forever, especially when they're not used. Maybe some of the folks who repair/restore McIntosh gear could supply the missing sheet metal.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #4 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 03:46 pm »

Above image came from the following link; there's other stuff there that may be of interest.
http://members.fortunecity.it/antonio14/Html/McIntosh2.htm

jackman · « **Reply #5 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 04:32 pm »

Very cool amp! I hope you can get it back to working order. Take lots of pictures during the restoration process!

OT: how do you like that NAD 370? I have a friend who I'm helping put together a system and that integrated is in the lead. He already has a pair of Dynaudio Audience 50's that he picked up on the used market (cheap) and is looking for decent amp/CDP to use. He wants to keep it under a grand (very tough) and has already spent 550 or so on the speakers. I have seen that integrated for about $500 but that wipes out my CD player budget.

What do you think? I should post this on the general forum..

J

Haoleb · « **Reply #6 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 05:37 pm »

Hey... well i did another post at AA this time with the pics and now i guess its a whole rebuild or dump it on ebay. I thought about it and it would be a big job to get this thing working again so i think i will get rid of it or something. probbly keep the smaller tubes though incase i buy that foreplay i was thinking of, i think it uses a couple of the same tubes.

On another note.... The NAD C-370 i really love. I never regret buying it. Great sound....not grainly like some people complain about and it has heaps upon heaps or power. and great build quality unlike what some say. i dont know if theyre compaing it to a ML or if they have just never had one but it had great build and componets. id highly reccomend it. I got mine from www.YAWAonline.com they are authorized to sell online so you will get the warranty. which is very important because if something happens and you dont got one ur serewed!

JohnR · « **Reply #7 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 10:13 pm »

As much as I hate to say it, if you're not willing or interested in doing the work yourself, you're probably better off removing the transformers and selling the output transformers, power transformer, and chassis (such as it is) separately. I hate to see vintage amps pulled to pieces, especially for the purpose of making a few bucks, but this one would need a LOT of TLC to get it back together. It's lucky it's not already in a landfill

Another possibility is to try and locate a tube-savvy technician nearby and see what he wants to get it working again, and forget about the cosmetics.

HTH

JohnR

Haoleb · « **Reply #8 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 10:29 pm »

yeah im thinking that selling this would be the best option at this point. But as i have no way to test if the transformers are good, i dont know if i would be able to sell this thing. And i dont know if it would be better to sell it as a whole, or parted out. I saw a tube cage alone for sale at audiogon for 225.. although the cage i have ising an original square hole one and it has a little rust. Think i could just put it on ebay as is listed DOA untested and make a few bucks?

JohnR · « **Reply #9 on:** 1 Mar 2003, 10:31 pm »

Sure, it would be interesting to see what you get for it.

If I wasn't in radical reduction mode right now I'd have been interested