Thank you both Steve and Sandy,
I admit that I jumped on the set when I saw it only because these early model Color TV's are incredibly hard to find, not to mention find locally! I bought the Hoffman for $50 from some junk dealers here in town. Funny story, but my wife, who happens to work at their shop, came home one day and said that they had just got in an old TV and wanted to know if I was interested. They had the year right, but they also put "B&W" on the tag so she assumed that they were correct. So she say's "it's really beat up and missing most of the knobs" and I was like "forget it!" To make a long story short, about a month and a half afterwards, I was dropping her off at work and happened to walk her up to the door and instantly I knew it was color. I mean it says color all over it and I had to argue with my wife because they wanted $50 for it and it had been sitting outside all this time. Fortunately it was covered so no real damage was prevalent. These people know that I collect valuable stuff so they started asking how come I wanted it... well I just said because I thought it was a good project. Anyway, that's how I got it. Apparently it came from a family who had sold a house full of junk to these people and anyone who knows anything about the south knows that people around here just don't have much money. This is why I figure the set survived, because the people who bought it spent so much for it at the time they could not bare to part with it and let it sit for years until someone died. I go to estate sales around here all the time and I can tell you it's few and far between when you find something that's actually worth anything to anyone.
Steve! I don't feel that you were implying anything! I know exactly where you're coming from and anyone that I can share ideas with is wonderful! I'm learning more every day! I have the issue of "Color Television" you refer to (another super eBay purchase for $15). But I guess I haven't completely read it. That Philco is remarkable! In fact I'd love to have any Philco of that era. The CTC-7 that we have is a Townsend (the same as the picture Ed has up on his site at
http://www.novia.net/~ereitan/Galler..._Gallery.html). Now set is right up my alley. And the best part is that it's in remarkably unmolested condition. Of course I've completely overhauled it and I still have to touch up the convergence. The color purity is off a little too but I know that I need to dial that in before I start futzing with the convergence again. Anyone would give their eye teeth to have that Wingate of yours, but I'd prefer the Asbury due to the styling. But let me tell you that the one you have is absolutely beautiful! The Aldrich looks very much like the Commodore but I'm very happy to hear that the demodulation is X & Z on the Hoffman and I can expect better results. Anyone that can offer any advice on how to proceed disassembling this thing would be greatly appreciated. And anyone who has yet to experience the color that these sets have to offer is truly missing something. I'm continually amazed at the greens that our Townsend produces and look forward to having that on another TV.
I beg the question though; isn't your CTC-100 worth more to you now that the cabinet has been refinished than it was before? Now that's a RARE set that some would say never touch, but I for one am so happy that you can present this set as it should be. What good is it to have a super rare set like this without going through the pains of complete and total restoration. If you're like me, you leave what you can, but with the advancements in capacitors (and I happen to subscribe to the notion of rebuilding the power supply with much higher value caps), why would drop a hot rod engine in a beater body?
I just need to learn more about these cabinet designs and the restoration thereof.
Thanks again and keep on Steve,
Jeff