Viewers choice
 

While many are trying to beat the heat, I am in a area where this will be the most awful summer in history.
So when the weather is lousy you sit in side and watch tv or guys like us work on tv(s).
Now comes the dilemma, Three sets in particular are speaking to me as to which will be next to hit the bench? Here is where i get some help from my friends. All three are in about the same condition, good crts flybacks and are in need of a complete recap job. Viewers choice you pick the order! :yes:

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137047406.jpg
Dumont RA-103, Admiral 12X11 and Zenith 28T926R

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137047637.jpg
Is it the Dumont dog house

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137047652.jpg
Could it be a Admiral bakalite

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137047771.jpg
Or will it be the Zenith porthole?

My vote is for the Admiral. The other 2 are backbreakers and have a crapload of caps.
Terry

I vote Dumont, it's heavy alright but the chassis is very open and easy to work on.

I'm a sucker for Zenith portholes...

While I think that the DuMont and the Zenith are very desirable, I would go for the Admiral. You will be rewarded with easy success and then the incentive to try to pick from the remaining two. I know, tough decision...

Kinda like tryin' t'pick between Ginger, Mary Ann, or Jeannie, ain't it ? (grin)

I vote for the Zenith. Good luck!

You're not making this easy!

I'd have to say the Admiral because they've been the topic lately so if you had any issues or problems there may be an open chassis for comparing. Or throw a curveball and open up that Dumont as long as you share the details and take pictures!

Porthole! Porthole! Porthole! :p

all look great, but I would vote for the dumont

DuMont, hands down. Easy to work on, the build quality will make you whistle while you work, and when you're done, it will perform like a champ!

The others are mighty cute, though.

Phil Nelson

Tough call. The Admiral should be the easiest to work on, the Dumont will perform great, but the porthole is just so cool :scratch2:
I sure hope to see all of them undergo restoration eventually :)

Dumont doghouse is my vote.

The Zenith looks like it deserves some love... Its kinda smiling back at ya!:D

The Admirals I've worked on were all real easy; I have that same model porthole and it was a real tough dog; took me years to get it working. I've never worked on a "real" DuMont. Speaking for myself, if they were mine I'd start with the DuMont.

Thanks everyone for participating, This is a lot of fun. For now it looks like it may be too close to call. :scratch2:
I just ordered the capacitors for all three will work on voters choice 1,2and 3 when the parts order arrives.
Mike.

3-1-2

I'd start with the porthole.

What's funny about this thread is, hearing it's too hot to go outside. When these sets were new, it would have been too hot to stay inside. You would have gone to the movies where at least they had air conditioning. Or here in Chicago, among other places, gone out to sleep in the parks.

zenith and the dumont..... bury the other in the yard. I'll watch over it.

Parts have arrived, Dumont in the lead just barely
 

Closer than Bush and Gore in 2000 the Dumont edged out the Zenith and if i were to tally the unofficial votes the Admiral would be on the bench.
Thanks for your votes it made waiting for part a whole lot easier.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137344806.jpg
caps for all three.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137181664.jpg
Now for the work at hand, It looks like i will be in the dog house.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137181577.jpg
Mid left view shows that a two section resistor was replaced, After a close inspection i was satisfied with this earlier repair job and it will remain unchanged.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137181715.jpg
Five chasis mount eletrolytics that will need to be removed restuffed and replaced, Atleast the two big ones with cardboard sleaves will be easy.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137181700.jpg
This pair will also be easy.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137181725.jpg
I will also restuff the wax caps.

To be continued with after pictures.

You made the right choice! Good luck and have fun.

Phil Nelson

I vote for the DuMont - that cabinet seriously needs straightening <grin>

Out of the Doghouse
 

On the last post i just received a box of capacitors and started to restuff the eletrolytics and all the wax paper caps that were restuffable.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137345803.jpg
The 80uf / 450 VDC were the easiest to restuff.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137345816.jpg
One of the 80 uf capacitors reinstalled.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137804034.jpg
Done! all recapped, Some of the capacitors were not suitable canidates for restuffing,
A look of old and new.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137804023.jpg
At this stage of the restoration was the moment of truth, what
reward will i get when i power up the set? The good news is no smoke
and i have inteligent sound but no raster. Having proper B+ voltages
for the deflection circuits and a text book perfect saw tooth waveform
on the grid of the horizontal output, Hmm the horiz out tube is
suspiciously cold and is definitely not conducting. An open 100 ohm
5 watt current limiting resistor in the cathode circuit will certainly
cause this condition. (blue ceramic resistor that is open)
Now i have sound, a good raster, but no picture and no smoke!.
http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137805616.jpg
Well it turns out that the video if stage was starving no B+, The 6AG5s
may be small but they need to be fed. Quick trouble shooting led me
to two open resistors, a 2.5k and 6.8 k part of R 213 a three section
resistor combination. Added are two modern 10 ceramic resistors.
http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137804012.jpg
Here is where things really come together, a stable image that was
very easy to setup with the adjustment controls on the rear of the chasis.
As mentioned by some VK members this set is a solid performer when restored and to add that, my expirence with this set is it warms up
quickly and needs no further adjustment. Now for the scary part the Tektronics 2246 is 22 years old and at least has found re employment.

http://www.pbase.com/redraster/image/137804071.jpg
Overal this set has turned out pretty good. I would like to replace
the two multi section resistors with originals and on the cosmetic side
of things one of the wooden knobs is in rough shape and the clear
plastic tuning dial disc is split. A big round of thanks to all the VK members for
your support and input given on this fun and yet to be continued thread. :yes:

Nice work. You're right about the set-and-forget nature of this TV. My RA-103 is the most stable vintage set in the house. DuMonts are fun to work on, too. Very well built.

Phil Nelson

Nice, love the string tied wires, Nice work on the stuffing of the caps. Overall a very handsome looking set.

Fantastic Work! The set looks great. This set is one my potential next projects. I hope mine goes as well as yours.

Dumont! What a fiesty critter they can be. But the green tuning tube is so(!) cool!

Nice job!:yes: Gotta luv the 'mil spec' laced wiring too.

Looking good! What's next?????:D

Well, I'm in love...(grin)

http://www.pbase.com/image/137869028.jpg
Moltogordo i would think the Zenith would be next.

Really like the look of that Admiral. Good show!