A true restoration mess waiting to blow!
 

I thought I'd post some pictures of an Emerson 639 I bought a while ago that claimed to be completely restored and in perfect running shape. While it does manage to squeeze out a picture which can barely be seen in a totally darkened room, the internal work on the restoration has to be the most appalling job I've ever seen.

For those of you unfamiliar with this model, it packs 21 tubes on a chassis about two-thirds the size of a Motorola VT-71. The wiring is really layered to accommodate the required circuitry which if it hadn't been screwed up by the "restorer" would probably be fairly presentable. As it is, most of his fixes are floating in space and cobbled together. Look carefully at the shot of the whole under-chassis. Practically all of the new stuff on the left side (black electrolytics, blue caps, disc caps, etc.) are hanging in air without any support - a real cobweb of parts just waiting to short out.

There's really no need to go on about this further, except to say that it brings a new low to the idea of "restoration." Can you top this?

Ralph S.

Oh, Dear God....

Is that liquid electrical tape all over the joints (and other places)?

Liquid electrical tape is a great restoration tool...for speaker repair. Solid adhesion and remains slightly flexible.

Yikes, what a mess. That liquid tape can emit some nasty fumes if you solder over it.

Hmmm. Never thought about that - thanks! The only time I can remember using it was as an extra precaution on an old 3-conductor telephone line I had to splice underneath my old house.

Speaking of tidyness. anyone know where to get those old type solder terminals. my local frys didnt have them...

You got punked.

That chimpanzee kludged that TV but good.

He's someone who deserves a taste of aluminum justice--a good whack to the head with a metal bat.

I think Mouser has them.

Yikes! A technician's worst NIGHTMARE!!!!!
Good luck with it....
Bill Cahill

wow, a hackjob would be a compliment.

I know I get a little lazy sometimes but that is a damn fire hazard!

That's pretty bad. And, it will take longer to fix this man made mess than it would to fix it right in the first place. I have seen a few radios that were recently hacked like this. The most recent was a '39 metal midget radio. Not exactly the kind of radio where you want components with bare leads hanging down everywhere.

Thanks, Dave, that's a great idea. And it's the right color. I need to repair the speaker in my ancient Magnavox 12 inch TV and now I can.
Cliff

Now that's a pretty half-fast restoration. That is far worse than the "restored" 1942 Westinghouse radio I bought that had all the original paper caps and electrolytics still in place, rubber covered wiring crumbling and a clip lead inside for an antenna with the free end hanging loose over the chassis.

I think I have one of these chassis laying around somewhere, I could take some pics if it would help straighten out this mess.