It definitely was larger yes. Almost every contact was gold-plated back then. And thicker too.
Part of this was necessity, due to everything being analog signal noise ratios were a lot more important. Gold stops contacts from oxidising. But electronics are also produced in a much more minimalist way, both to conserve cost and materials (these being good things) but also because they don't care if it lasts beyond the warranty period. The latter is obviously a bad thing. In the 1980s if your TV broke you'd go to a repairman, you wouldn't buy a new one. It's kind of crazy how we've come to accept electronics only lasting 2-3 years.
Part of this was necessity, due to everything being analog signal noise ratios were a lot more important. Gold stops contacts from oxidising. But electronics are also produced in a much more minimalist way, both to conserve cost and materials (these being good things) but also because they don't care if it lasts beyond the warranty period. The latter is obviously a bad thing. In the 1980s if your TV broke you'd go to a repairman, you wouldn't buy a new one. It's kind of crazy how we've come to accept electronics only lasting 2-3 years.