1961 Admiral Son-R consolette. - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Fairlane500skyliner · #1 09-30-2014, 04:47 AM

I was very kindly given this set, which has been on my "wanted list" for eons now, by another collector only a couple of days ago. It's a 1961 Admiral Son-R consolette, in a beautiful mahogany stained cabinet. It has an ultra-sonic receiver for a remote (I'm guessing the "Son-R" may be an abbreviation for "Sonic-Remote" or "Sonic-Receiver"), and also appears to have a cord and socket for a corded remote, similar to the 1950s Admiral sets sold here. I believe this was built locally (as it uses Australian parts), most likely under license and using modified designs from Admiral USA. The chassis definitely looks very American, as does the choice of a 6DQ6A as a horizontal output tube (as opposed to the 6CM5 that was used in just about every other Australian set).

The tube line-up is as follows - 6BZ6 (1st I.F. amp), 6BZ6 (2nd I.F. amp), 6CB6 (3rd I.F. amp), 6EM5 (Audio output), 6EM5 (Vert. output), 6HS8 (Sync Sep./AGC??), 12BV7 (Video amp), 6CG7 (Vert. Osc.), 6CQ8 (Osc./mixer?), 6CS7 (???), 6AU4 (Damper diode), 6DQ6A (Horiz. output), 1B3GT (EHT Rectifier), 6EA8 (Audio amp) & 6ES8 (RF amp??). It uses a 23" Thomas 23HP4 B&W CRT.

Does anyone recognise the model number, chassis or have a circuit diagram for this set? Sadly the Masonite back panel is missing, which would have most likely had the model number on it.

Chris

zeno · #2 09-30-2014, 08:20 AM

This is a strange set. Not like any Admiral Ive seen so must be
a local product. It is the same logos as Admiral USA uses.
In the 70's Admiral had a division called "AOC" for Admiral
Overseas Corp. It built some small sets for the US and became a
brand after Rockwell killed of Admiral. They were in Taiwan
Dont know how far back they went but maybe they built it. The tube line-up is very US but the chassis has an un-US look to it. But
I dont see an asian look to it either so maybe a true Ausie set.

73 Zeno

Fairlane500skyliner · #3 09-30-2014, 08:53 AM

It's definitely not an Aussie designed chassis - I've never seen a full chassis using PCBs mounted on a metal chassis like that before. We generally either used PCBs mounted on brackets or a full metal chassis, not hybrid mixtures like this. That design looks a lot like the chassis in American sets I've seen on Youtube videos, as PCBs mounted on a metal chassis seems to be a common design feature. I think that such sets (RCA and Zenith seem to come to mind) have been shown in Youtube videos by Bryan Tennyson, Dan Yahro and Doug Harland.

Chris

dieseljeep · #4 09-30-2014, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeno

This is a strange set. Not like any Admiral Ive seen so must be
a local product. It is the same logos as Admiral USA uses.
In the 70's Admiral had a division called "AOC" for Admiral
Overseas Corp. It built some small sets for the US and became a
brand after Rockwell killed of Admiral. They were in Taiwan
Dont know how far back they went but maybe they built it. The tube line-up is very US but the chassis has an un-US look to it. But
I dont see an asian look to it either so maybe a true Ausie set.

73 Zeno

The tuner looks similar to the Admiral tuners of the mid-to-later 50's, with the two rotor discs. They must've used the 6ES8 instead of the 6BC8, that the U.S. sets used.
Regarding the 6CS7, it must be the horizontal osc and AFC tube. It's normally a vertical tube in the U.S. sets
It must have silicon rectifiers, instead of a rectifier tube.

DavGoodlin · #5 09-30-2014, 12:12 PM

Thats is a nice looking mid-60s Admiral with an interesting twist, and its a sonar.
If Aus did not get colour until the 70s, this was a real cool set for sure!

Pretty sure we can help you with parts but not a schematic.
I have all of those tubes, in multiples!

Old Moto Nut · #6 09-30-2014, 01:18 PM

http://nzvintagetvradio.blogspot.com...al-16h110.html

Fairlane500skyliner · #7 10-02-2014, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

Thats is a nice looking mid-60s Admiral with an interesting twist, and its a sonar.
If Aus did not get colour until the 70s, this was a real cool set for sure!

Pretty sure we can help you with parts but not a schematic.
I have all of those tubes, in multiples!

Thank you, hopefully I don't have to replace any tubes! As would be expected, there's quite a few Ducon wax caps crammed around the chassis, which will be the first to be replaced. I've also found a copy of the circuit diagram too, which will be of great help!

Chris

Labrat · #8 10-26-2014, 02:11 AM

Son R refers to the Ultrasonic remote control system, (Sonar). I did have the service manuals for these sets years ago and I am fairly sure that the remote control used two aluminium rods of differing length being struck by a hammer mechanism.

Try shaking your car or house keys near it. That should produce an outcome. It did with ath early ASA colour televisions.

Wayne.

Electronic M · #9 10-26-2014, 11:21 AM

Historical factoid Zenith invented the sonic remote in the mid 50's (they called it Space command) and within short order Admiral copied it without patent license (the SonR remote was born). Within short order Zenith sued for patent infringement and won resulting in Admiral paying royalties to Zenith for all the SonR sets they made and future models.