Ok gang, I've got one for the old time 8 track guys.
A few years ago I grabbed a few of these FM tuners that basically look like an 8 track tape, plug them into your 8 track player and they play FM through your player. I haven't tested any of them
However, I've got one in really good shape, but I think it works differently. It's a Muntz model # MPX-130, and from what I can tell it needs to plug into a Muntz 8 track player to work. The big question is, what Muntz player does it need to be? I googled Muntz MPX-130, and one of the links is to a Brandon MB newspaper ad from 1973, where there's a Muntz ad. I can't see the ad though because I don't subscribe.
So, which of you gang can point me in the right direction?
Here's a photo of the MPX-130.
-- Edited by seventy2plus2 on Tuesday 18th of February 2020 08:56:42 PM
Hi It seems to me that if it substitutes for an eight track it should fit in any eight track player. I've got s couple of those cassette to eight track adapter and they are universal. The critical part would be how the output interacts with the players head but again they were made to take all eight tracks.
Could we get a look at the back side?
Maybe it is designed to fit a four track which I believe Muntz offered.
If it is a radio it would likely need some batteries to power the output. More than likely double A's
Also I noticed that your picture background kinds of shows some financial numbers you may not want anyone else to see.
Probably not too much help but maybe...
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Tuesday 18th of February 2020 08:38:30 PM
I had one of those in the 70s, but not a Muntz. I used in an 8track am radio. I dont think it was meant to work in a tape player that didnt have an am tuner. I also had an 8track under dash player with an fm tuner built in, I think it was a Craig brand. Wish I had them now.
Here's the tape side of the cartridge, notice the 5 contacts on the right hand side. I'm pretty sure this needs to work with a specific set of Muntz players.
I think you're right. The main head area where the cassette adapters would interact seems to just have a dummy recess in it. The contacts would be where an erase head would go.
This might fit into a Muntz AM radio/8track combo to enable FM.
Hm needs more research.
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Tuesday 18th of February 2020 09:06:47 PM
-- Edited by 66 Grande guy on Tuesday 18th of February 2020 09:06:59 PM
The lack of an antenna plug must mean it is designed to work with a unit that has an antenna already as the fairly short range FM signal would need an external antenna.
It also seems, since it doesn't have a battery, that it get its its power from the main unit, so another reason for the multiple contacts.
It must also mean that it is designed to plug into a unit that has an AM radio 8track combo. Again, you are more than likely right on, that it would have to fit into a Muntz that has that weird interface.
It may have been meant as an optional upgrade to the purchaser of a Muntz AM eight track who decided he needed to access the FM bands for the better sound quality it offered.
That Muntz was a madman alright! Crazy like a fox.
Thanks George, I think you hit the nail on the head. The ad you posted is likely from the mid 60's as 4 track's didn't last very long. I'd sure like to find later ad's (into the 70's) to get tape player model #'s from then. As I said, I found a Brandon MB (Brandon Sun) page from 1973 that has a Muntz ad, but I can't read it to see the model #'s.
The Muntz ad posted by Greaser must be from 1968, as it shows 4 & 8 track tapes from Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" album. That album was released in 1968.
The Muntz ad posted by Greaser must be from 1968, as it shows 4 & 8 track tapes from Glen Campbell's "Wichita Lineman" album. That album was released in 1968.
The ad was in Billboard Magazine Sept.6,1969.-page 13
Are you thinking of putting it back into service Clint?
I have one of those old Audiovox under dash FM tuners that go through a AM radio.
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Prince Edward Island
'64 Parisienne CS "barn find" - last on the road in '86 ... Owner Protection Plan booklet, original paint, original near-mint aqua interior, original aqua GM floor mats, original 283, factory posi, and original rust.
The Brandon Sun got back to me with a copy of their June 14 1973 paper. I kind of like the Model M-607 that has a built in AM receiver, and it accepts the MPX-130 FM Cartridge Tuner. Now the trouble would be finding a M-607.
What year did fm come standard in most cars? What year did cassettes replace 8 tracks?
Fm was optional in gm in at least the early 60s, probably am fm was standard by early/mid 70s? Cassettes were same time period?
We now have no am radio signal around here.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
What year did fm come standard in most cars? What year did cassettes replace 8 tracks?
Fm was optional in gm in at least the early 60s, probably am fm was standard by early/mid 70s? Cassettes were same time period?
We now have no am radio signal around here.
I had a 1979 LeMans with a factory am/fm 8 track, and on the other end of the spectrum a friends dad ordered a 1971 Chrysler New Yorker and wanted an 8 track radio but the salesman ticked the wrong box on the options sheet. It came with an in dash am/fm radio and a floor mounted (on the hump) cassette player. I dont know when am/fm became standard equipment, but I am thinking late eighties or early nineties. Unless you bought a Hyundai Pony, am/fm cassette was standard equipment
I got the M-888 player in the mail a couple days ago. I powered it up, put the MPX-130 cartridge in and it worked. I'd already had the cover off the player, and found the belt was deteriorated into just a few small pieces.
The player needed a bit of attention, as the volume and tone controls were very dirty. A few squirts of contact cleaner smartened them up. While the MPX-130 cartridge is installed, the motor doesn't turn, nor does it display what track the player is on. I think that's by design.
Once an 8-track tape is installed, the motor turns and it displays the track. The button to change tracks didn't work, but again a little contact cleaner got it going. I spun the flywheel as quick as I could, and it's advancing the tape along, and I could hear some unintelligible audio. So we're a step closer.
However, I need 2 things:
- a belt for the ability to play tapes. From what I can tell the belt is 11.7" long, 0.21" wide. Anyone have a source for belts?
- a male plug for the wiring harness. Right now I'm using a pigtail from another unit. Anyone have some old audio bits and pieces from the 70's laying around? 4 or 5 pin will work as I don't know what the middle pin does.
All of this stuff is really neat and fun to play around with and looks real cool in your car. But in the end it is not something you really want to play music with because of the hideous sound. I grew up with 8 track and had a few before i went with the better sound of cassette. They still are a cool look in any 60's and early 70's car. By the mid 70's the cassette killed off the 8 track. I am presently looking for an original 1974 Chevrolet AM FM 8 Track player for my 74 Caprice Estate wagon. Any one know of any around in usable condition.
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1957 Pontiac Pathfinder Deluxe sedan restored 261 six
1974 Chevrolet Caprice Estate wagon low mileage original 400 V-8
