Motorola VK-101 Restoration - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Steve K · #1 09-30-2007, 01:56 PM

Fellow forum member Doug621TS gave me two 1948 Motorola VK-101s. I made one good one out of the two and finished restoring it this morning. The condition of the sets were as follows: Set A had a reasonable good cabinet but the chassis was modified to hold a 14 inch diagonal CRT in place of the original 10BP4 and the original screen bezel was removed and the front cut bigger to accommodate the new tube. Set B had a bad cabinet (feet missing and bad veneer) but a good screen surround and a good chassis. I was able to separate the screen surround and molding from the bad cabinet and put it on the better cabinet. I then stripped the cabinet and lacquered it.

I recapped and restored the radio and TV chassis and got a pretty good picture on it. This set is rather unusual. The service controls are located on the side of the TV chassis and are accessible through holes in the side of the cabinet covered with metal plugs. The Vertical and Horizontal controls are also on the side but have ONE knob to adjust them. After adjusting one, you pull the knob off and stick it in the other hole to adjust the other. I thought that there has to be a knob missing but according to the original Motorola factor manual they came with only one knob to adjust the H and V!

Both of the cabinets were dated a few days apart in February of 1948.

Thank you Doug for a fun project. Now where do I put this thing?

Steve

John Folsom · #2 09-30-2007, 04:30 PM

That is a really cool set. The pull out radio is a nice touch, and the shared knob concept is simply bizzare. Great work, Steve!

Steve D. · #3 09-30-2007, 04:31 PM

Hey Steve,

Nice restoration on this unique set. Having the two sets to swap parts really helps. A receiver well worth saving.

-Steve D.

Sandy G · #4 09-30-2007, 04:37 PM

GREAT job ! Kewl set !

Tube TV · #5 09-30-2007, 05:18 PM

I really like it . you done a nice job on the cabinet , it's neat that it has the radio below the tv like that .

ohohyodafarted · #6 09-30-2007, 05:43 PM

VERT NICE! Steve... A very unusual set to say the least. If you cant find space for it at your place you can send it to me :-)

I made a deal with a guy in Virginia last week to buy a Stormberg Carlson porthole set. I think it is a 12 incher, but I cant be sure because I don't have a model number yet. He is going to crate it for me and then I have to figure a way to get it to Milwaukee.

I will post about it as soon as I receive some better photos.

Great job on the MOT!

***Eric H*** · #7 10-01-2007, 02:17 AM

Nice job Steve!
I think I saw the one set a few years ago when I picked up a TV from Doug.

Tim · #8 10-01-2007, 12:11 PM

Great job! I think those are interesting looking sets. I have one but the damping cylinder for the swing out door has a bent shaft. Wondering if you have one from your other cabinet that is available? Thanks.

doug621ts · #9 10-01-2007, 01:42 PM

Hey Steve

Look forward to seeing this set and seeing it work! Fantastic job on the cabinet and it looks to work great! I imagine it was a bear to remove the screen surround??

Steve K · #10 10-01-2007, 08:02 PM

Tim:

Until you mentioned it I had know idea that there was a dampening cylinder in there. I checked the manual and sure enough, it is pictured. Unfortunately neither set had one and I'm not sure were I'll find one. Both of my cabinets were also missing the board that goes from side to side just above the yoke. I'm guessing that these got removed to take the chassis out and were never replaced.

Steve

Tim · #11 10-02-2007, 07:46 PM

OK. Thanks anyway Steve.

Here is a photo of the rear of mine and it doesn't have a board above the yoke either. You can see the bent damping cylinder below the chassis.