Found a Videodyne on CL

[Eric H]

I was searching CL last night as usual when this popped up.
This has been one of my holy grails for years but I never expected I would find one locally.
I believe this is the 10FM model.

Drove down to Dana Point this morning to pick it up.
It was located in an upscale Orange County gated community, guard at the gate, and they have to put you on a list to be allowed in.

I got it from a nice older lady who said it has been in the family since new. Her Father worked at Lockheed in the 40's and this set was bought in California and resided in Pasadena for many years.
I liked her because she was truly interested in the set finding a good home and telling me a bit of it's history, she was going to call her Brother and let him know the set was sold, there was some sentimental attachment to it.

It's not without issues, most seriously is the screen mask around the CRT is missing, also the back, though that's a lesser thing. The dial cover is cracked but that looks to be easily reproduced, and the knobs are probably wrong, though they look really appropriate for the set.
the cabinet is is terrific condition, the black trim needs redone but the rest is great and original with the normal crazing from nearly 70 years of aging.

It wasn't free, she asked $175 for it and I didn't argue a bit because I figure I'll not likely have another shot at one.
I tossed and turned a lot last night worrying someone would beat me to it.

I haven't checked the CRT yet, I'll get back with that info later.

[init4fun]

Nice Score , and well worth $175 since like you say , they don't exactly pop out of attics on any kinds of regular basis .

When you get into it , some chassis shots would be great to see !

[jr_tech]

Wow! Amazing find !

jr

[Eric H]

The CRT is probably usable, it went well into the green after a couple minutes, the cutoff is bad but it may get better with use.

Powered it up with the Variac and got a hum and high voltage, it's not making it to the CRT because the 1B3 is gassy and lighting up purple, can't change it without pulling the chassis so it have to wait.

[Electronic M]

Wow, that is one sharp looking set. Too bad they are so rare...I kinda want one now.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Very nice score, definitely has a look to it all of it's own. Have to wonder how the mask became separated from the set, possibly a servicing accident, or maybe the owner simply removed it when they updated the knobs. At any rate it looks rather sharp, as-is.

[decojoe67]

AWESOME find! I've been into vintage TV's for years and can confidently say that you have a set that's as rare as a pre-war. I too would see it as a "Holy Grail" set because not only is it rare, but it is one of the best art-deco designed '40's TV's of all-time. There was more than one version of this set. I believe there was another by Columbia, but this one is my favorite. Even the "Videodyne" name is so cool. I am envious! Good luck with that gem!

[Eric H]

I found an ad from May 1949 for this set, that's about all I could find, not much about this company out there.

[Ed in Tx]

First thing that pops up on Goggle...

http://www.earlytelevision.org/videodyne.html

There's a link to the Sams 69-15 manual too.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Eric H

I found an ad from May 1949 for this set, that's about all I could find, not much about this company out there.

I see, there was a distributor in Milwaukee, although I never saw one in this area. IIRC, the Videodyne sets were built out east, somewhere.
The Empire building has been torn down for about 40 years.
A little bit of history! I had some Wallace's Tel-aids, that were rubber stamped with the Radio-TV Labs, on North 11th St.
I'm not sure if I wanted buy a TV, from a firm named "Fink Engineering".
Steve Allen, used to have a lot of fun with the name "Fink" on his show.

[Ed in Tx]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

Steve Allen, used to have a lot of fun with the name "Fink" on his show.

Used to stay up past my bedtime to watch that old Steve Allen show, the one syndicated by Westinghouse. Sure wish the Steve Allen estate would put out some of those on DVD. I've asked them to!

[Steve D.]

Videodyne set/w mask on display at the ETF Museum. Also a closeup of the knobs.

-Steve D.

[Kevin Kuehn]

It's beginning to look like they used a few different knob styles.

[broadcaster]

I've owned two Videodynes. They are neat sets. One thing to examine are the screws that attach the sub chassis to the main chassis. These work loose over time, and cause weird effects with ground loops. These sets were offered as kits, and were well designed. You have a rare winner!

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I'm not sure if I wanted buy a TV, from a firm named "Fink Engineering".
Steve Allen, used to have a lot of fun with the name "Fink" on his show.

I also remember sneaking a watch of Steve Allen's late show, but my mom would insist I turn it off and go to sleep. So I wouldn't fall asleep in Mrs Murphy's boring 4th grade class.

I was around 9 or so, and had thought "fink" was the "F" word. I was a little behind in my vocabulary at the time.

Someone with the name Donald Fink wrote a television broadcast reference book. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_G._Fink

When this Videodyne TV was made, they may have gotten a great deal on surplus aluminum, as there was tons of it left over from WW2 military equipment manufacturing.