Magnatone was originally founded as the Dickerson Brothers in Los Angeles, California circa 1937. The company began building phonographs, lap steels, and amplifiers. In 1947, the company changed its name to Magna Electronics. They produced many amplifiers, but wanted a guitar to accompany it. In the early 1950s, they jumped on the bandwagon and began producing electric Spanish hollow-body guitars, which were designed by Paul Bigsby. In 1959, Magna merged forces with Estey Electronics. In 1966, Magnatone moved to Pennsylvania from Torrance. Magnatone continued to produce amplifiers in California during the 1950s and 1960s until Magnatone was bought out by a toy company in 1971.
Amplifiers previously built in California between the 1940s and 1960s.

MAGNATONE Guitar Amplifiers Models

MAGNATONE MODEL 280 (CUSTOM) Image

MAGNATONE MODEL 280 (CUSTOM)

- 50W, 2-12 in. speakers with 2-5 in. tweeters, tube chassis, preamp: 12AX7s, 6CG7s, 12HB7, power: 4 X 6973, two channels, stereo/vibrato, top black and white control panel, four inputs (two per channel), 11 knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, b, Ch. 2: v,...

MAGNATONE MODEL 111 STUDENT Image

MAGNATONE MODEL 111 STUDENT

- 2.5W, 1-8 in. speaker, tube chassis, preamp: 12AX7, power: 50C5, single channel, rear brown control panel, two inputs, two white knobs (v, tone), brown covering, brown grille, mfg. 1955-59.

MAGNATONE MODEL M7 Image

MAGNATONE MODEL M7

- 38W, 1-15 in. speaker & 3 in. midrange speaker, tube chassis, preamp: 7025, 12AU7, power: 2 X 7189A, single channel, top silver control panel, two inputs, three knobs (v, b, t), black covering, brown grille, mfg. 1964-66.

MAGNATONE MODEL M197-3-V VARSITY Image

MAGNATONE MODEL M197-3-V VARSITY

- 10W, 1-8 in. speaker, tube chassis, preamp: 6SJ7, power: 6V6, 5Y3 rectifier, single channel, rear control panel mounted on the bottom, two inputs, single volume control, brown or other covering, brown or other color grille with three sepa...

MAGNATONE MODEL MP-1 Image

MAGNATONE MODEL MP-1

- 27W, 1-12 in. speaker, tube chassis, preamp: 12AX7s, 12AU7s, power: 2 X 7189A, two channels, front silver control panel, four inputs, 11 knobs, black covering, light gray/tan grille, mfg. 1966-67.