National TV-7W
 

Seeing a National TV-7W on ebay got me thinking it was about time I took a closer look at mine.

I got it from the Elli Buk auction last spring sandwhiched between a Clifton and bakelite Emerson.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8115/8...1378a57c_c.jpg

I suspect it was that very heavy Emerson that caused the top to mush down and front to pop out. Hopefully, it can be jacked up, glued and clamped back in place.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/1...51e86bbe_c.jpg

I'm pretty sure only the fine-tuning knob is correct. I suspect it will be very hard to find a full set of correct knobs.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3685/1...5f555216_c.jpg

There seems to be two versions of this set. This being the early with series string tube filaments, logo above the screen and no holes for a magnifier.

The only good picture I could find online was from the ETF

http://www.earlytelevision.org/images/national_TV7W.jpg

Here's an example of the other version.
http://www.myvintagetv.com/national_tv7w%20.jpg

I'm pretty sure that's a homebrew back.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3768/1...8dcca3b8_c.jpg

It kinda looks like two labels were removed and this one applied.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/1...4693a7ae_c.jpg

Two fuses are a nice touch :)
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/1...376bf98e_c.jpg

Looks like an interesting set. Is this an Electrostatic one?

Definitely yes.

Yep, 7JP4 electrostatic CRT.

Now for the inside.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/1...f7a5393b_c.jpg

The AC line voltage selector is a nice touch.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/1...6047f164_c.jpg

Solid plywood bottom.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3763/1...4bfbbb7b_c.jpg

Simple cabinet interior.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3741/1...6ccc1e64_c.jpg

Finally, here's the chassis with dual speakers :music:
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/1...64a89438_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3824/1...292fb8b5_c.jpg

Loads of room underneath. Should be a piece of cake to work on :yes:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7431/1...6585d259_c.jpg

I like they way the constructed the HV section with clip-in doorknob caps the horizontal deflection coupling.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5508/1...60e9d377_c.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/1...c9863030_c.jpg

Multi-deck rotary tuner switch.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2819/1...88b81b19_c.jpg

Cast aluminum fine-tuning gears.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3822/1...228e1860_c.jpg

Crappy old repair.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7374/1...6ace5cbd_c.jpg

HV oscillator coil. I sure hope it's still good :ntwrthy:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2866/1...67c78ed7_c.jpg

Now for a bit of cleaning.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/1...b671df86_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/1...7c7b3cb1_c.jpg

Chunky piece of safety glass.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/1...84fd0efb_c.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3823/1...9d9dbcbc_c.jpg

Ceramic sockets for the hor/vert oscillator and output tubes.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7351/1...34b27830_c.jpg

It's a guaranteed electron tube :)
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3670/1...6e1c223a_c.jpg

That's better
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/1...1cd66811_c.jpg

That set is looking nice, the chassis is in great shape! Dual oval speakers, that should put out some dB's :) Looks like it is going to turn out to be a nice set.

That is just about my favorite 7-inch set. Only National would give you ceramic tube sockets!

http://antiqueradio.org/art/NationalTV-7W19.jpg

That chassis will polish nicely, too, if you're into shiny.

If I could only keep one 7-inch, it would probably be my Admiral 19A12, though. Performs very well and it just looks so darned cool.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Very nice :thmbsp:

I think my favorite 7" is the Airline 94GSE31088, but then I've never owned one and probably never will.
http://www.tvhistory.tv/1949Airline94GSE31088.JPG

I should have said, "of the 7-inch sets that I own," the National is one of my favorites. I'll probably never run across one of those Airlines, either.

I'll be curious to see what you think of the National's performance when you're done. I think it's a pretty good set, but there are lots of things I haven't seen (and I did the restoration on mine a long time ago).

Regards,

Phil Nelson

The schematic in Riders #2 shows a dedicated AGC and DC restoration rectifier so I expect it will work fairly well :)

Hi Bob,

This is going to be a great project. I look forward to seeing you do a full restoration. I have this same model only mine has channel 1 Most of channel selector knobs I have seen are chicken head knobs. On the chicken head version the fine tuning knob is the size as the volume knob. Based on your photo it looks like yours is the chicken head version because of the size of the fine tuning knob. On the other version the fine tuning knob is smaller. I usually only see the knob that covers the fine tuning in the later version models like the photo you show with the magnifier option. I am sure either would be appropriate. Hope this helps.

Roy

TV’S&MORE

I was thinking you could get knobs off an old National TV signal booster but it appears they only have one knob. You could use that knob to make your own. Sometimes you can get these boostewrs cheap on eBay for $5-$10. http://tv-boxes.com/boosters/natl-tvb2.jpg

It seems National couldn't decide whether to put their logo on the top or bottom of the face. A picture of one of two that I have with the logo on the top.

Bob, go to closed ePray auction 231124855530 , and select "see original" and you will find two original adverts for this set, one (or both?) which seem to show a modernistic brown chicken head, instead of the later style knobs.

The pictures of the restored set in the auction show the more common knob. The seller is the green pool table guy in Florida.

Jas.