I bought a vintage TV store full of vintage TVs and parts.
 

So I have been gone for a few days because I have been working on this deal. I bought a vintage TV store complete with vintage TVs, parts, around 60 CRTs some rebuilt still in the boxes, around 4000 vacuum tubes lots NOS, test equipment, workbenches, shelves, everything. Well almost everything, I ended up with 90% of the store, I was not able to outbid a guy for the Sams filing cabinets, however, he said he might make me deal after he takes the set files he needs.

I have had a really hard time finding any vintage TVs out here on the west coast. I am based in Sacramento. The few TVs I have found I have always had to drive hours and often spend a large amount to get. So this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to allow me to get years worth of projects in one shot.

Here are a few photos of the first 8 truck loads. Tomorrow I probably have 6 more truck loads.

Finally, I am not a TV collector. So I will be moving a lot of sets on. I just want to have the chance to work on them.

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You are now :D

Wow, good for years of fun. Some neat sets there. I’m curious to see the next bunch!

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil’s Old Radios
https://antique radio.org/index.html

I got an honest laugh out of that, thanks! I guess I am just that.

I have a few more cool TVs and stuff coming. A bunch of Predicta parts and another complete Predicta. I also have a bunch of 40's-50's tabletop cabinets I bought. Along with a bunch of other stuff like the full test and repair bench with a BK 1077b, BK 415, Dyna Sweep Circuit Analyzer, and the list go on from the test bench. All that with tons more parts and a few more TVs.

I am ending up with so much stuff that if anyone sees something that they need to finish one of their projects let me know. I will update more pictures tomorrow with the empty cabinets and parts.

Holy crap dude. Helluva haul.

Hey, crazy idea. Start a tv museum. Legit all you'd need is a space to put it - you have everything else already!

I could use some test equipment, if you have any signal generators or what not and or some tube testers with the older style 4, 5, 6, and 7 pin tube sockets on them besides the more "modern" tube sockets.

As I have a bunch of old tube radios that need a good IF and RF Alignment and I currently don't have any sort of signal generator for that kind of work.

I think I'm having a stroke.

Absolutely amazing! That Hillsborough has been on my bucket list for years.

WOW! You really hit a jackpot there. You instantly got a collection of coveted early TV's. The wood 7" Philco is a particularly hard one to find. If you get involved in fixing these sets up and having them work again, you'll be hooked. There's nothing like watching your favorite shows on a vintage TV.

Homina-homina-HOMINA !!! (Grin) !!

Unbelievable! I can't imagine bringing all that home in one haul. Honestly I'd be overwhelmed for weeks, probably walking around in a trance. I'd have to say that's unusual to find an old TV shop with that vintage of sets and parts still on hand. Possibly the original owner was also a collector at heart. Anyhow like you say it's a once in a lifetime situation. :thmbsp:

Congrats on your haul. You have some really cool stuff there.

If you happen to have a good 21” predicta crt and any tandem trim, knobs, 17

pin connector for umbilical cord please let me know.

Bill

Congratulations.

Tell us more about that shop. When did it open and when did it close? It's really unusual to find that much early stuff in a TV shop today. Most owners threw out the old stuff years ago. In fact, it's rare to find any TV shop. In my area (northern N.J.), I couldn't fine a TV repair shop if my life depended on it. It's great to see that all those old TVs, tubes and parts have found a good home and will be spared from the dumpster.

Wow what a haul !

Fantastic find! Post a list of what you have to peddle.

A quote from Monty Python's Life of Brian "You luck lucky b#stard"

Thanks, everyone! So I am COMPLETELY exhausted, been moving this stuff for 2 days straight and just got done. I still have probably 3 more trucks loads.

I will reply to everyone's comment personally, just need to finish some stuff now that I am finally home to relax.

So here are pictures. Everything is a mess. Things are absolutely everywhere. Nothing looks pretty. But I figured you all would like to see the new stuff.

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This GE is actually beautiful! It does have all its legs, they have been removed for transport but I will be putting them back on once I find a spot to put it. Also, it has its wired remote which is cool! This was a last-minute purchase, I didn't buy it at the auction but it was all alone in the shop after I took everything else so I made a deal and bought it outside the sale.

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Here is another one I forgot to add in one of the last posts. Also, the stupid auction stickers just shred when I try to take them off and they are brand new. They did put some of them on with blue painters tape behind, but even that is wanting to pull the varnish on some of the cabinets. But to be honest, that and one broken tube are the only things that got damaged in this move so far on anything, I think I am doing pretty good.

I like the idea of a museum! You should check out all the stuff I brought home today, and I still have more left. I am totally sure what I will end up doing with it all, but I will say this NONE of it will end up in the dumpster.

Believe it or not, so far I think I have only got one tube tester in this lot. It is a heathkit, I am sorry I am unsure of the model but I took a picture. I am pretty sure it does do the old 4 5 etc pin tubes. I got a heathkit signal generator, the power cord is pretty crusty and obviously hasn't been used for a long time.

Haha, you think you are having a stroke? Imagine moving all this stuff for 2 days nonstop. LOL. On top of that, I completely ruined my living room and half of my garage with all this stuff hanging around. haha. Can you believe that I am married, and my wife doesn't care at all I did this? I am very lucky that my wife completely supports my passions and doesn't mind when they lead me into some crazy situations like this, I also completely support her in everything she does.

Thank you! I do really enjoy restoring TVs. I have now restored about a half dozen. I have also learned a lot by trouble shooting broken sets. So I am still pretty new to TVs, but I have more experience in tube radios. I have always wanted to restore more tube TVs but I never could find them. Also, I will probably be parting out some of this collection in time.

Thanks! :D

Check out the new pictures I brought home just about as much more today as well. I still have 3 truckloads left. Man, I can't wait until I get a moment to relax and actually walk around and enjoy the stuff as you said. I have been so focused on getting everything picked up I haven't even had a chance to let it sink in what I have got. But this is the first Christmas in years I feel like a kid again! :)

I might have that Predicta 21" CRT, I will need a couple of days to go through my stuff and check out what I have. I know I do have some Predicta CRTs for sure. I doubt I have much tandem trim as I missed out on a lot in the sale that ended up have some tandem parts (really bummed me out). That being said I have lots of other random Predicta stuff. Take a look at my recent pictures. I have boxes listed Predicta full of stuff like cages, yokes, wiring, etc.

Thank you!
The shop was in Rancho Cordova California. It actually wasn't that old of a shop, if I understand it correctly the guy had been running this place here for around 10 years. He was staying pretty busy with his vintage TV stuff but it slowed down recently. He also restores vintage car radios and while keeping the chassis tube-based and stuff he adds Bluetooth and other features. The car radios were keeping him busy and TVs weren't so he decided to hire an auction company to auction everything off. This is just what I understand, I met the owner but he really didn't say that much about it beyond that. Also since he is still in business I am not going to mention the shop's name for his privacy as I don't have don't want to overstep my place. I hope you understand.

Thanks! It's like never-ending. I am 12 truckloads in and I still have probably 3 loads left.

Okay! In time I will try and list what I have. I have tons of stuff to go through too. If anyone sees anything they need to finish a project, send me a note.

Haha, well it is nice to finally have a bit of good luck! :D Thank you.

This is impressive. Any color sets in there? You hit the jackpot!

Dont sweat it, his identity isnt a secret. Hes a member here and posted an ad for this auction in the classifieds section. I thought some of that stuff looked familiar hehehe, so i wont ask you if theres a 17TP4 in that haul :D

Congrats :D

SR

Yes! I do have 2 color sets. CTC-7 and a CTC-9 along with spare picture tubes.

Awesome! So I knew he was a member, but since I don't know him personally I wasn't sure if he wanted me to say his name or not.

Dont sweat it Delorean00, Justin is cool, i got a Dumont from him quite some time ago. It was fun browsing his shop when i went to get it. Sad he had to downsize, but glad a fellow member here took it home :thmbsp:

SR

Justin is awesome! His shop was HEAVEN, that's why I took it all home. I think he thought I was a little bit nuts. But he said he was really happy that I ended up everything because he knew that I knew what I was buying and that I actually service my own TVs vs a resaler or scrapper. I met Justin when I bought a TV off a lady on Craigslist who had it at Justin's shop. I instantly bought a CRT off him and a few Predicta parts. I tried my hardest to buy more from him the first day I met him but he told me that everything had already been listed in the auction. When I left I remember feeling this odd mixture of joy and sadness. Joy because I met a cool person with all the stuff I ever could want, but sadness because it was all going away and I could not buy any of it at the time.

I went home that very day and registered on the auction company page and figured I was going to give it my all on auction day. I was either going to buy everything or bid everything up to the point it no longer made sense to me. I really thought I would only get a few items.

An impressive haul to be sure .

If you ever bring a load to the ETF or I'm ever in California I'm sure we could do business.

Thank you! If you believe it or not I still have more coming. Not much, but probably 3 more loads.

Also if you ever come out this way, send me a message! I will let you know if I am ever heading out your way. It seems that old TVs are always located in the midwest or east coast for some reason when I am looking. It really isn't too much of a stretch that someday soon I will find that one set that I want bad enough to go on a trip to get. If that happens maybe I can bring stuff out with me. I know that Bob Andersen has done that or had other members do that in the past to get his TVs.

Oh. Dear. GAWD....... Talk about findin' a tub of Butter & then fallin' back in it...

Haha! Thanks! A lot of people think I am seriously crazy. But I have plans on how to organize all this mess and fit it into my house. I also have been making an effort to make sure everything is protected and stored safely.

Well, Hell, they're RIGHT.... We ARE Nutz, we're old TV Nutz. Nobody's supposed to WANT this stuff...

Haha! So true! It is because of that mentality this stuff is so hard to find. But I love old TVs and gear required to service them!

EQUALLY guilty as charged, yer honor... Been Nutzo over this stuff since I were a Tadpole, & got my 1st Sony 5-303W,Xmas '62, I believe... Been straight downhill ever since..

I'm sending flagrant waves of envy in your general direction ! :drool:

Wow. I am also trying to get my hands on a Predicta 21" CRT. Happy to send a list when you have the time.

Awesome! I honestly believe if it wasn't for a few wackos like you and me most of this stuff would have been in a landfill years ago. It seems that people just trash old TVs. But I can only hope that it is starting to turn around a bit.

Thanks! Wanna send me some energy waves because I have to go back and move CRTs tomorrow. haha. Those ol RCA color roundies are so heavy!!

You got it, I will get back to you once I get my CRTs home and figure out what I have. I am hoping to have them picked tomorrow, and then I can try to hopefully have an idea.

I don't know how you can think that, what with the huge demand for sponge-painted cat beds and other Etsy-enabled atrocities.

Dunno about youse byrds, but when I see a nitwit Millennial "Repurposed" TV or old stereo cabinet, somesuch as that, I see Red....About all you can really do is say quietly, "Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they Do...", but planting a size 13 triple wide steel toed Redwing where de Sun don't shine sure would feel better....

Oh god, you brought up such things on Christmas! lol. I hate that so much!

I completely agree with you! The Mercury TV I am restoring almost became a fish tank before I got it.