It probably just uses a single 6AQ5 or 6CU5 but those old GE's have the best sound of any tube set I've seen.

Philco Console
 

Slowly I'll get some pictures up of some of my sets; many are crowded together too much right now. This one is a Philco console from 1954 that I rescued from an estate a few years ago. I wish I could have saved all the sets they had but it was hard to justify storing all the late 50s/early 60s bw consoles. This one was too good to let die, I felt. My first test gave me a quick burst of light on the screen & then nothing. After a few years I dug into it, recapped it & swapped the seleniums for new diodes. This brought the set to life but with no vertical deflection. This was traced to a bad transformer. I tried a NOS one from my pile but it wasn't close enough-I couldn't get full height without srewing up the vert lin. Finally broke down & ordered the correct part from Moyer & this corrected the problems. The set was asleep for a long, long time (I estimate 30+ years). I'm not totally happy with the level of contrast in the picture but it is much better than at first. Swapping some tubes and just running it some have made a difference. Note that this is a split chassis set, I have the model number written down somewhere. It took some searching as the guy I bought it from threw away the back cover! (a story for another day) I also have an RCA which looks very similiar to this that I plan on displaying next to it.

Note that this set has a built in UHF tuner; I kinda think this was dealer installed since a couple details don't look factory, but it is the genuine Philco part, and works.

I am practicing my photography but could not get a good picture of both tv and screen this time so here is another shot.

Where do you guys come up with these gems? Other than E-Bay, I wouldn't know where to look. And the E-Bay ones in a lot of cases look like real junkers that would be well beyond my level of expertise in getting going again.

I have had success with electronic recycling collection days, trash pick-up days, estate sales and garage sales, a few from auctions.

The local Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper found me and my collection a few years ago and did an article...and was kindly vague about where I live. I had just over 100 phone calls and letters telling me that the person on the end of the line had the first television ever made. I did look at most of them and took home about 10 of them. Not a TRK in the bunch but did get my Philco 123 from that article. The last call came 6 years after the article from a woman who saved it for the time when her mom would be parting with it.

...

You can post an ad in the classifieds which will definately get you calls-and LOTS of wild goose chases! But some of it will pan out. Trash pick up doesn't work where I live since we mostly have small towns that either don't pick up at all or only pick up canned garbage. My town will take stuff like this but you have to go to the town office, pay $10, haul it to the curb with a special tag on it...easier for most people to take it to the county collection site, which is free but only open once or twice a week. I have found a few good sets there, but not recently. Some of these sets would be giveaways at auctions. Often they won't even let you unload them off the truck at the local auction barn. At an on-site auction they might not even bother trying to sell the sets, you may have to ask. Most of my sets in recent years have come from a lady who "bottom feeds" at a couple weekly auctions. She buys whatever goes cheap, then puts in in antique malls or her own junk shop. She knows I'll be around and will buy stuff from her so she picks up the bargain radios/tv's. Really, just keep your eyes open & keep looking. I have found bargains on equipment (and I havn' t spent over $125 for any radio or tv, new or used, ever!) in antique malls, yard sales, flea markets, classifieds, used furniture stores...this stuff doesn't show up like it used to but it is still out there. As I think was mentioned, since there is no longer any demand for such sets (even sets from the 80s or 90s) most folks that used to sell them no longer bother.

I also can testify that good media publicity about your collection works! I got on the 6 0 clock news recently for collecting old TV's from the recycling days. Just got a call at the radio station from someone who wants to give me another set. Also had a newspaper feature article about me and got responses to that too. Being in the radio business myself I am always on the lookout for interesting people to interview as on-air guests, so if you can make some connections in TV/Radio/Newspapers you may be able to get publicity about a hobby that not too many people engage in.

I have been also salvaging TV's from the trash for the past 10 years and have noticed the age of the sets in the solid waste stream keeps getting newer. Tube sets in the trash are getting rarer and rarer...so it is probably good to get them now, while they are still around.

Transvision A-4
 

Here is my Transvision kit tv. The only time I have made it to MAARC's Radioactivity was a few years ago, there were 2 tv sets in the auction. (the other was a Zenith porthole table model) I thought sure this would go high (at least over $100) but I was the only bidder & took it home for the reserve price of $35. It had been gone through by the seller, recapped, etc, and works fine. I have done nothing to it. Some interesting points: its sure not UL approved! Besides the fact that you can stick your little finger in the side vent holes, there never was a back, the chassis is just sitting there (never screwed down, I don't think) and no safety glass over the screen! The tv uses the DuMont style continous tuner with FM & aircraft bands in the middle. Also has a tuning eye-the schematic calls for the standard type of eye (I think 6E5) but this one uses a different type with 2 squares. (I should pull it & get the type) Not as neat looking but it works. The speaker is in the small grille to the right of the screen-its all ready for a big speaker down bottom but none was installed. The set came with all the original instructions & even the address label off the packing crate. It was built in Washington, DC-I think Star Radio is on the paper. It dates from '48 if I recall. This picture shows the local station off of a loop antenna hooked to a Mallory UHF convertor. I bought it the same day as the tv, as it happens, because my wife liked it so much. She was dissapointed-thought it was a radio! I knew better but didn't bother telling her.

Here is a shot from the rear. A fairly large chassis, which I guess made it easier to build for the beginner.

Local TV stations in Federalsburg?
 

Bryan,

I seem to remember in your reply to one of my posts that you said you are quite a distance from TV stations in either Washington, D. C. or Baltimore. What stations are you getting in Federalsburg with just a loop antenna on a UHF converter? You did say you are only about five minutes or so from the Delaware line, but I don't think there are any UHF stations there. The only thing I can figure is you must be picking up a Philadelphia station, which would make sense since Philly is only a few miles from Wilmington--unless there are new UHF stations in the area.

The tuning indicator tube with the double-rectangle target is type 6AL7 and was designed to work with both AM and FM detectors. If memory serves, there are 3 beam-control electrodes which enabled the tube to be used for monitoring the output of a discriminator for proper balance. I have several of these tubes on the way, NOS from a bulk buy.

Jeff,
The local stations are WBOC-16 & WMDT-47 out of Salisbury, MD, which is a 45 minute drive from my house. But I believe both of their transmitters are near Sharptown, MD which is maybe 20 minutes and less as the crow flies. There is also a PBS station on 28 out of Salisbury. Both stations also broadcast from Dover,DE-47 has a translator on 27 while 16 is on, well, 16. (I'm a little farther from Dover than Salisbury)

Bgadow,

Wow, what a great collectible set! I have a rare Sightmaster that employed the same chassis. Look familiar?!

Long lost twins!:) :)

Re: Transvision A-4
 

The tuning eye using 2 squares is type 6AL7. It is more accurate in FM circuits as it can indicate the zero voltage center tuning in the FM discriminator. One control electrode is grounded, so that square will remain at fixed height, which indicates zero volts. The other electrode is connected to the FM discriminator, and that square will vary in height above and below the height of the other square as the set is tuned. Correct tuning occurs when both squares are equal in height (see image below), indicating the discriminator voltage is zero and the circuit is balanced (tuning eye tubes will work only in split-sound TV circuits - they will not work in intercarrier sets, since the sound IF frequency remains constant as the fine tuning is varied).

The 6AL7 is the eye tube used in DuMont sets. Allen B. DuMont invented the eye tube in the early 1930's, and sold the patent to RCA for $20,000. He used the money to purchase the factory building in Passaic, NJ where early DuMont TV sets and CRT's were manufactured.

Mine has the rectangles horizontal; is vertical more correct? I never thought about it, really. Easy enough to rotate it.

I wasn't aware that Allen Dumont invented the tuning eye tube. I'm more familiar with the inner workings of the sets than with the historical background of individual components, though. Sylvania's Technical Data series features a particularly detailed data sheet on the 6AL7 and one of RCA's tube manuals features a pair of application drawings showing the circuits of and visual displays from the 6AL7 as used with AM and FM detector circuitry.

They are used both ways, depending on the manufacturer. Its a matter of preference. Like you say, all thats needed is to rotate it. Below is an ad for the 1948 DuMont Meadowbrook. If you zoom in on the eye tube, it can be clearly seen that the bars are vertical in this set.

Stromberg-Carlson TV and Radio...

Bo

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...7&category=364 http://i13.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/41/1f/9a_1.JPG

Sweeet! :eek:

Here's another set that followed me home from a local auction. It's an Emerson Model 628 in walnut. It has an AM-FM tuner and provisions for a phono input.

Chuck

Chuck that is a sweet set.

The Stromburg-Carlson WEDWEB listed above has a new owner today. Polaraman has added the Tv set to his collection. I already have two of the S-C chinese type sets in my collection. I will not be able to get the set till the end of the month. Really can not wait to see it in person. Still looking for a Blonde version of the same set.

I do not know if you folks saw that the 19AP4A on EBAY went for $272 dollars. I really needed the CRT for a Zenith port hole set. It was just a little too high for me.


polaraman

Polaraman scores
 

That is a beautiful combo. Should mak a nice addition to your collection. And...I think the price was right.:p:

polaraman

Happy to have helped a fellow member. Hope everything goes well with that. Did you see my post for a tv/phono combo that is near where I live? I haven't been back to that store lately, but if you are interested in it I could drop by and see if it is still there.





Bo

attn: Polaraman
 

I sent you a P.M. regarding CRTs

Eric

I finally have the above mentioned Stromburg-Carlson here in Georgia. This thing is a beast to move! Chassis is TS 125. I plugged it up and gave it a try. Very loud motor sound coming from the audio. Needs to replace some caps! I did get a raster but did not try to adjust it to get a clear picture. I had already pushed the set up against the wall. The adjustments are in the back. I am hurting enough from moving this thing 900 miles. It has a tuning eye!!!! Way cool addition for me. The power cords to the phonos are tattered. I will have to replace them before attempting to play a record. This has 2 phono players. There is also another storage area above the 45 phono. It is big enough to keep 45 records. It is a 12" crt. Looks like I will have this running in no time!

polaraman

hello, I'm new to the group and I thought I'd share my two tv's with everyone... the first one is a 1954 Muntz 321C1 and the other is a 1948 motorola VK101M (VK101R) that I picked up a couple of weeks ago... need to find two knobs for it and a cople of other parts like the tuning indicator gadget that is broken on mine and figure out how to attatch the damper / plunger mechanisim that keeps the tilt out radio chassis from flying forward :p

anyone have a sam's photo fact folder for a 1948 motorola VK101M
TV chassis # TS-5
B.C. - FM chassis # HS-108
that they'd be willing to copy and mail me??

thanks,
Antonio

http://www.gbronline.com/mysterieux2/1954muntztv.jpg

http://www.gbronline.com/mysterieux2/1948vkmotorola.jpg

http://www.gbronline.com/mysterieux2...kmotorola2.jpg

Holy mackerel! I haven't seen a Muntz TV since the '60s/70s, when my next-door neighbors in my hometown had one. The set died some time in the '70s, I believe, so they used it mainly as a stand for a 19" or larger portable after that, if memory serves. The Muntz had a beautiful cabinet, too, mahogany and with doors in front of the CRT, IIRC. (I like anything with a walnut or mahogany, or even oak, wood cabinet such as this.) They bought their set in the early '50s, so it may have been the same model as yours, only in a different cabinet. They don't make them like that anymore.

I am a newcomer to this group also and have about 20 sets, mostly late '40s and early '50s. Here is one of my favorite sets. DuMont RA-105 Colony that has been very well preserved. 15" round tube with a rectangle mask. It has AM and FM as well as a Phono.

Doors open.

Okie dokie.

1959 Zenith set. Just got her today. Works but needs some tweaking.

That SC is a great find; first one of its kind I've ever seen in 30-plus years of electronics experimenting. Glad to hear you got it home OK. :thmbsp: Sorry to hear you are hurting so badly from moving the set. :(

But 900 miles? Where was the set when you picked it up? My best guess is it must have been somewhere just west of Ohio (Kentucky or perhaps just into Indiana), as I have relatives in Georgia which is at least 600 miles from where I live (30 miles northeast of Cleveland).

You are correct as to the source of the motorboating in the sound. This is a classic symptom of defective electrolytics; best to change them all while you are at it, as most of them are bad or going bad (drying out, changing value or opening, but not shorting as a rule) by now. Fifty-plus-year-old caps aren't doing anyone any good, especially if you have problems such as motorboating (they may cause other problems as well, such as sync troubles, AGC malfunctions, etc.)

BTW, I like that cat sitting in front of your console. Guess he/she likes antiques as well.


Best of luck and very kind regards,

polaraman,

Just looked at a few past posts to this thread and found out where you got that Stromberg. I am a very poor judge of distance, but 900 miles sounds just about right to me as the distance between St. Louis, Missouri and Columbus, Georgia.

Kind regards,

Welcome!
 

Wow! We have lots of fresh meat here in just one day! That's great!

Jason, Huh, and Tim... welcome aboard! :D

Re: Welcome!
 

Yes indeed! and some very nice sets too!

Antonio, I have a Motorola radio from a TV console, different model but if it has the part you need your welcome to it.

Eric

I got the S/C from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. I also picked up 3 other sets on the trip. Stopped by a lot of antique stores on the way. I lived in Euclid Ohio from 1993 to 1996. I do not miss the winters there. Got this Philco set at an antique mall in North Carolina. It was in really nice shape and could not pass it up. It does work. I did not have a rectangular late 60's B/W in the collection.

hehe yeah Muntz tv's seem to be a little scarce... I've never seen another in person before or after I picked that one up... I'm only 24 so I wasn't around when they were being made :p

but the cool thing about my muntz tv is that back around 1996 or so when I found it in an antique store I pluged it in and it worked right there in the shop and it had never been electrically restored (of course I know better now than to just turn on an antique piece of electronics with out a variac or first recapping the whole thing) but it was so cool that it still worked nicely after all those years...

now the picture is a little off so I'm going to get it recapped but I am going to have someone else do it as the big picture tube in it and such worries me a little... I've only done radios so far and the high voltage in it worries me a little... but since my motorola's picture tube is smaller I don't feel quite as worried or intimidated by it as I am by the muntz...

I too like the big old wood console tv's and radios also... but I'm running out of room and there are still two more tv's I want to get hehe :)

Antonio

http://www.gbronline.com/mysterieux2/mt001.jpg http://www.gbronline.com/mysterieux2/mt002.jpg

Re: Re: Welcome!
 

Thanks for the offer Eric... I might have mis-spoke though, the radio chassis in my tv seems to be complete, the part I need some hardware to re-attatch is some kind of plunger mechanisim that seems to have been used to kind of slow the opening and closing of the lean out radio part of the tv... here are a couple of photos of the plunger part that is just hanging there with no obvious way for me to see how to re-attatch it to the back of the cabinet.

part photo 1

part photo 2

thanks for any aid you can give me on how to re-attatch the part to the back of the cabinet.

Antonio