When I see the beautiful old DuMonts I wonder how anyone would have ever got tired of watching the thing and put it out to pasture. I think color tv might have meant the end of the line for many sets of this caliber and vintage. You had to be well to do to afford one of these huge DuMont sets.
I actually knew the man who sold my RA-109A new. I believe he said he sold it to the President of Stanley Furniture Co in the late 40's for upwards of $1,000. You could buy a REAL nice slightly used car for that. It took a chunk of change for what DuMont had to offer. At least the 19" and up to that HUUGE Royal Sovereign (I think). Anybody ever saw one of THOSE monsters? I have only seen pictures. DuMont really was the cutting edge in those days. The Sovereign had some ridiculously large CRT, maybe up in the 30"s. Not a blue collar set. Not today either because some lucky person will get it for $30 or so. If he picks it up himself he can put that $$ saved in shipping toward a team of piano movers to move the thing, and a proper recap, resistor check, and tube check. Caps are going up in $$ around here. 4 elecrtrolytics cost me $20 this week. Axials are real high. I'm making the radials work and actually I found it to be easier in many ways. Plus it saves space as the cap rests in a vertical position. Anyway it will be a job and a chunk of change in parts. My RA-109 had over 40 tubes I think. Probably over 200 caps and 300 resistors. Different model completely but similar setup and timeframe. Lots of parts, but not all require replacement as we all know. What about the vacuum leak problems with the glass/metal CRT's??
As clean is that thing is I wouldnt be a bit suprised if a slow warm up and tube replacement brought the Ebay set back to some degree of life. Replacement RCA CRT and no brightener are good signs. Looks like 19AP4 is holding vacuum
I'm so jealous
NAH I'm glad the set will get a good home and not the landfill. Yes, that still happens!!! Sorry for my typical long wind......
Tube out.........