Kaye Halbert - what would you do ?
 

A local collector (I'm restoring his Admiral combo) contacted me last night about couple more sets he just scored.

One was yet another Admiral combo we'll probably part out. The other he didn't recognize and was going to toss because of the busted CRT. Then he mentioned is was a strange brand - Kaye Halbert. I told him those are rather uncommon in the midwest and he should take some photos.

Unfortunately, it looks like the most boring model they made
The cabinet and chassis are OK, CRT is toast, knobs and control cover are missing. So what would you do with it ?

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3673/1...963b5618_c.jpg

I figure the missing knobs and cover would look like this: http://s104.photobucket.com/user/kx2...ade08.jpg.html

It's a 253 chassis which they used in many models.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3685/1...b026c579_c.jpg

Interesting looking breakage pattern on the screen.... Makes it look like the coating was a cellophane and not powder.....

I have not heard of this brand, But many others here know much more than I do, Someone will have a nice history on it....

I guess that chassis was used as is on several different size models....

Boring or not, I think it is worth storing until you come across a tube, you never know...

Kaye-Halbert was located in Los Angeles (you can read Culver City on the label) and I think their distribution was not widespread. I have never seen one here in Washington state.

Phil Nelson

I have seen "necked" aluminized CRTs exhibit the same patterns, I think that the aluminum can peel off in strips, creating a jagged pattern rather than the nice circular area of missing phosphor usually seen on non-aluminized tubes after they have been necked.

jr

Uncommon set in this neck of the woods. Doesn't do much for me but if you've got the room? The pencil box cover is going to be very hard to find, I would think.

Possible fish tank.

I Would Definetely suggest restoring it. it is a rare set.
also, i wish i lived close by to you. i would love to have that Admiral Combo that you are about to part out. sets like these are virtually un-obtainium in this neck of the woods.

Kaye-Halberts are rare that far from the West Coast. I'd restore it. I'd love to have the Admiral combo too since most combos I find here have already been trashed or gutted.

That set's pretty far gone but if you have room to store it until parts can be found then keep it, if not maybe someone else can hang on to it?

Booorrrriiinnng....

Kaye-Halbert was one those also-rans that dissappeared by the mid-50s.

I say dump it.:smoke:

I definitely do not have room for it. The guy who currently has it might though and he got it for free.

I wish it had been something more like this
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTk0WDg3NQ...3+w~~60_57.JPG

As for the Admiral combo - dead CRT and termite filled. Trust me - you do not want it :no: He did make a few $$ selling the records though :)
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7421/1...b78410da_z.jpg https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2855/1...03e5a32a_z.jpg https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7370/1...8a046ab0_z.jpg

I just found out he scored yet another Admiral combo - also with a dead CRT :( They're pretty much free around here if you have a truck and are able to haul it away. The chassis are nearly identical to the TV only models so great for spare parts.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7402/1...088fe3e6_z.jpg

I had one almost like that using the same chassis except it had a blond-mahogany cabinet & the TV was on the right & the radio/phono on the left. i used it as a daily watcher until i sold it 10 years ago. i regret selling it now.

Always been looking for some Kaye Halbert TV's made in Culver City, California late 40's & 50's.They were famous for the cabinets. Mid 50's they made a 27 inch TV with remote control called Robot on a 25 ft. cord. No knobs on the front of this model set. We had one when I lived in S. California.

Banderson, we have this one, which looks identical to the one in the picture you posted. Where did the picture come from?

http://www.earlytelevision.org/telin...prototype.html

An advertising postcard on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1951-Kaye-Ha...-/271394267169

Close, Steve, but not quite the same.

The postcard set doesn't have scalloped edges on the top, the doors are a different length, the base has five posts rather than six, the base is different, etc.

You have the prototype, maybe the postcard represents the production model?

.

I honestly think this is one of the ugliest sets I've ever seen, but then I don't really like that 1950's Country style.
Not saying I wouldn't take one if it came up but I'm not a big fan of the Maple finish, Country style of the 50's, much prefer Danish Modern.

The photo is taken in my old living room in Santa Clarita. That prototype was one that I sold several years ago. Kaye-Halbert made several production versions of that cabinet; "The Cambridge". Ironically, the set next to the KH is the very set in my avatar picture; Zenith color roundie 27KC20Q.

As far as the one found by the OP, it looks to be a 253 chassis (1952-53), and is the "Open Face Console". The control box was a very weak plastic unit with a pop-off panel, and they're always cracked or missing. I can't help there, but I do have correct knobs for it, which I would consider donating if the set winds up being restored.

Charles

This one has the channel selector knob I've been looking for for nearly 3 years.

Ugh, that's right I was going to send you one months ago :o I think I still have your address.

Charles, did You see this ? It is a Picture of a Blonde 27 Inch Kaye Halbert.
http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=252372 Look at the bottom Picture, not the first one at the Top.

Ewwww! :eek: That would be my worst nightmare, bringing home a termite-infested TV set. I just had my whole house and garage "tented" a few months ago. I have already seen wood looking like that here, and I do not want to do so again.

What sort of front end does the tuner have? I just love that dial!

Radio or TV ? TV is a the standard turret tuner used in most Admiral sets. Radio used a 12AT7 converter/oscillator followed by a couple 6BA6 IF stages.

The radio. Just wondering, I had the 16" roundie version 20-odd years ago, but the radio was AM/FM. I just like the styling and think it would look nice standing alone.

This radio should be AM/FM as well, but I don't see the FM stations on the dial :scratch2:

I have the same combo that should have an AM-only unit according to the model number, but it's AM-FM.

Wanna swap? :D

http://tvontheporch.com/photo6_14.html

Here are some more photos of the K-H. The flyback must be under the chassis. Probably to save money.

Also notice there's no AC interlock. The power cord just goes right into the chassis.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/1...a57a4497_c.jpg

Not quite a Muntz, but a pretty simple design.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/1...37b41726_c.jpg

The cabinet top has seen better days.

The owner has the set in storage, but no desire to restore it. I'm not too keen on it either.

So, if anyone is interested, please let me know.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7442/1...ae2df23e_c.jpg

It looks like a cardboard box that came with a Hot Point stove inside (no offense). If it were mine, I might fix the chassis and then mount it in a 19" rack and put some colorful oversized controls on it, paint the chassis bronze - have fun with it like your Frankenrola. Add a Jacob's ladder on the top.

Kaye-Halbert rare or not; I would pull the tubes and anything else worth saving and move on. Now the one in the advertisement would be super as well as some oversized "robot" controlled oddity. But you'll have your hands plenty full with the Admiral project! $.02

If it had a good CRT and wasn't missing anything unobtainable then yes, but considering the condition...
Life is too short to spend time on near hopeless cases.

Good news. The TV sold and the new owner is going to attempt a restoration :)