Charles:

I believe that it is just mineral oil.

Steve

Here are pictures, after I emptied the lens and refilled it with mineral oil:

http://www.earlytelevision.org/automatic_tvp490.html

Looks really good!

Do those have an actual filler hole for the lens or do you have to cut something open?

Actually, it looks a little better than the photo. The lens is really very clear, for some reason the photography makes it look like there are dings on it.

On the rear side at the top of the lens is a #10 bolt that allows draining and filling. I drained out all the old oil (Chuck Azzalina warned me not to just top it off, since the new oil will have different viscosity and color), then refilled with a quart of mineral oil from CVS. It took almost an hour, because the stuff is so thick and the fill hole is so small. The dark spot at the top of the lens you see in the picture is the bolt.

Steve,

Will you be re-working the insides? It would be interesting to see the set play with this lens.

$100 a bargain
 

Buying online can add price to tv considerably to pay for shipping . Plastic magnifying lenses are usually solid, ---- heavy and expensive to ship also, usually scratched in good to fair condition at best. A definetely interesting set--------- clean design with built in magnifier. Seems a deal-- Any 1948 TV is a rare find anymore. Going to get it ???

Yes, I'll restore it at some point. The 7 inch sets are pretty simple, and unless someone has messed with the IF alignment they don't take a long time to restore.

fake alligator hide??? :) Was this used often? I think this is a really good looking TV, but I've just never heard of this on a TV before.

hey,since i posted it on here,if you do end up selling it,can i get a 10% finders fee..? :D just kiddin.doesnt matter..glad a nice old set is finally amongst people who appreciate it
frank :tresbon: