1950's TV Troubleshooting Guides

[RitchieMars]

I recently picked up this neat set of vintage troubleshooting booklets.



After having unsuccessfully searched the internet for this type of information, I ran across someone who had mentioned a "Telefixit" book from the 1950's that their father had used to successfully diagnose problems with the family's television set and thus, saved money in what would have been some costly repair bills. I looked up this title on Ebay and found this set which includes the Telefixit book ( minus it's cover ) and 3 other booklets. The three larger books range from 1952 to 1955 while the smaller pamphlet dates from 1958.



This is the smaller pamphlet from '58, showing problematic pictures and the likely causes of such.



This 1955 copy of "Fix It Yourself TV Trouble Adjuster" includes tube layouts of dozens of various models. Apparently, the original owner of this book owned a Philco. They left their notes tucked away neatly in the section that covers the Philco models. They wrote their tube numbers down on this ad, offering enlarged and framed portraits for a discount... in exchange for the bottle caps or proofs of purchase from buying chocolate milk! What a strange promotion!



Here's some pictures from the Telefixit book:



Neat stuff! I've already learned a few things just from looking through these books. Outside of VK, information on how to address certain issues with these types of televisions remain a mystery except to those with a working knowledge of these things. Even guys who have studied electronics for years may find themselves baffled at the idiosyncrasies of early television.

Granted, the problems addressed in these books are usually remedied by simply replacing a tube, and that won't be of much help with a 60-year-old set of today that has fried resistors, bad capacitors, etc. But, I still find this sort of thing very interesting and I think it wise to keep these types of books handy. The future generations who inherit our restored sets might find them useful, at least.

[bgadow]

I have a few versions of those books, and they can be pretty helpful, especially those tube charts. If you don't have access to a schematic they will at least give you something to go by.

[marty59]

There's an early Howard Sams Publication #20361 that I would recommend simply called "TV Servicing Guide...Arranged By Trouble Symptoms" by Leslie D. Deane and Calvin C. Young Jr.

It's based on B&W tube sets with a first printing in 1956. Mine is a 1973 printing so there must be a bunch out there somewhere! I like it because it goes into troubleshooting based on actual circuit designs with various examples and screen shots.

[Reece]

I remember those folders that they had on the local 7-11 tube tester. As a kid I patronized that tester.

[kx250rider]

When I was a kid, I got hold of a few of the Art Margolis TV repair books from the 1950s & early 60s. Those were great for the hobbyist, or someone with a little bit of electronics experience but no formal training needed. They include a lot of details about early 50s sets, and a few late 40s. They give all the basics, and there is Art's beginner title "Professional TV Repair Secrets". That stops short of soldering anything, but gives all the tube-related tips, and adjustments, and lots of fundamental understanding of what parts of the TV do what functions.

For the slightly more advanced hobbyist with good soldering and some electronics education, I like the Video Handbook by (??? Boyce & Scheraga ???) (circa 1949).

Charles

[marty59]

I see some listings for availability of the book that I mentioned..

http://www.amazon.com/servicing-guid...TC?tag=t0e7-20

another:

http://www.abebooks.com/products/isbn/9780672203619