McMurdo Oxford cabinet - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: McMurdo Oxford cabinet (/showthread.php?tid=5321)

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McMurdo Oxford cabinet - y2kbruce - 10-12-2012

I know this is a non-Philco topic but McMurdos seem to growing in interest by some well-known collectors of other brands lately.

I just got this cabinet delivered today via Greyhound from California. It took 9 days to meander across the country but the seller packed it in 6 inches of foam board on all sides in a giant box that almost didn't fit in my 1965 Star Chief's huge trunk.

It was an ebay purchase and originally the seller tried to sell the complete radio (with a non-original 15/17 and PM speaker) in this cabinet which originally held either a Masterpiece V or VI with the 18" super jumbo Jensen speaker.

Someone I know in California bought the 15/17 chassis and the seller kept reducing his price on this cabinet and finally added a free shipping feature so I hit the BIN.

I have many more MS chassis than cabinets so it was a great buy for me as original McMurdo cabinets are SO rare to find. This one has some veneer issues, mostly on the lid and front trim veneers but its still very presentable as it is now.

There were at least 3 known versions of the McMurdo OXFORD cabinet plus EH Scott bought all the left overs after McMurdo's bankruptcy and he then sold a modified face board variant of this same cabinet, making the total of versions at least 4.

Some believe the differences were due to multiple suppliers and an original 15/17 Oxford without a hinged lid vs the more common Masterpiece version like this one which had a hinged lid to display the large chromed chassis of the V and VI, which were then topped off by a large chromed box over the chassis. The 15/17 did not usually have this chromed box but it seems it may have been offered as an option and would have been a smaller box. I have never seen a 15/17 with the chromed cover box yet.

I plan to clean it up this weekend and once I get my 15/17 set recapped, this set will go into my McMurdo room, aka my living room with its relatives.

IMO McMurdos are much nicer sets than similar EH Scotts. This cabinet even had its original "Bifarian sound board" which was an option and enclosed most of the speaker chamber to enhance the bass response. Many of these have been lost over the years for various reasons and since it was an option not all cabinets had one.

[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249/y2kbruce/McMurdo%20Oxford%20cabinet%20and%2015%2017/DSCF5056_zps858c5be9.jpg?t=1350071881]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249/y2kbruce/McMurdo%20Oxford%20cabinet%20and%2015%2017/DSCF5060_zpsf5afccfd.jpg?t=1350071885]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249/y2kbruce/McMurdo%20Oxford%20cabinet%20and%2015%2017/DSCF5061_zps17c6676d.jpg?t=1350071886]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249/y2kbruce/McMurdo%20Oxford%20cabinet%20and%2015%2017/DSCF5062_zps316503d9.jpg?t=1350071887]

The 15/17 chassis and speaker setup are also shown below, which I have been sitting on for several years waiting on an original cabinet to put them in:

[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249/y2kbruce/McMurdo%20Oxford%20cabinet%20and%2015%2017/DSCF5066_zpsaaa7dafa.jpg?t=1350071891]
[Image: http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc249/y2kbruce/McMurdo%20Oxford%20cabinet%20and%2015%2017/DSCF5063_zps1b06b8d0.jpg?t=1350071888]

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RE: McMurdo Oxford cabinet - Ron Ramirez - 10-12-2012

Oh, wow, Bruce, that is great news! Congratulations!

I can't think of a better home for that cabinet than yours!

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RE: McMurdo Oxford cabinet - TA Forbes - 10-12-2012

WOW, Bruce!!!!!

Would love to see some pics of your collection! I hear there are some NICE sets there!

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RE: McMurdo Oxford cabinet - Michael Dennis - 10-13-2012

Holy handgrenades!!!

Mike

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RE: McMurdo Oxford cabinet - jerryhawthorne - 10-13-2012

Great find Bruce and when matched with your chassis that will be a fine piece to listen to and show.
Jerry

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RE: McMurdo Oxford cabinet - LASJayhawk - 10-19-2012

LOL Bruce that must have been one heck of a box. For those who don't know, 2 37-116's will fit in the trunk, and maybe 15 or so Philco Jr.'s without taking the spare tire out.

You should do what I do, when the trunk of my 65 Bonneville is too small, I use my 65 Catalina Safari wagon.

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