Mercury TV? Kinda unusual... - Videokarma.org TV - Video

sgtrob · #1 04-06-2009, 02:39 PM

Hello everyone! I just recently picked up a Mercury TV radio/phono combo. Looks like late '40s/early 50's

Here are some pics. Unfortunately, it looks like the yoke is fried, as it is very crunchy, and there are melted frgments on the chassis just below it. I may have one in my stash. I have never even heard of this particular brand. Anyone out there have any knowledge on the subject? Did they make their own TV's, or get the chassis from another vendor? ANY info on this brand is much appreciated!

Adam · #2 04-06-2009, 03:08 PM

Here's the thread that follows the restoration of my Mercury. It used the same chassis used in some Silvertone sets. http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/sho...hlight=mercury

sgtrob · #3 04-06-2009, 03:39 PM

Thanks Adam, much appreciated!

Steve K · #4 04-06-2009, 06:05 PM

Was that the set I saw on Craigslist a few days ago? I'm glad that you got it. The yoke is probably good. The plastic often times disintegrated but electrically it will most likely work.

Steve

kvflyer · #5 04-06-2009, 08:20 PM

While I know absolutely nothing about this particular TV, my gut feeling is that IF the yoke is bad, there may be some out there that will do in a pinch...

Tubejunke · #6 04-07-2009, 01:20 AM

For some reason the plastic that they used on the yokes of that era seems to turn to an ash like substance. I have been seeing yokes that look terrible work just fine since the early 80's. I still wonder what causes this since I have seen it for over 20 years in working sets, but I have NOS yokes in boxes that are the same age but are not deteriorated. The heating and cooling for years of use is the only thing I can think of that caused accelerated deterioration.

sgtrob · #7 04-07-2009, 02:47 AM

Yes, that was the set on Craigslist, it needed to be rescued, and at $20, why not?

Good insight from everyone on the yoke, thanks for the advice, I did not know they would actaully get that bad and still work! I will hold off on replacing it then.. It appears to be a simple set with a ton of 6AU6's, and 12BH7's. I tested the CRT, it is at about 85% emission. Can't wait to get it working, though I am having some difficulty finding the schematics....

kx250rider · #8 04-07-2009, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtrob

Yes, that was the set on Craigslist, it needed to be rescued, and at $20, why not?

Good insight from everyone on the yoke, thanks for the advice, I did not know they would actaully get that bad and still work! I will hold off on replacing it then.. It appears to be a simple set with a ton of 6AU6's, and 12BH7's. I tested the CRT, it is at about 85% emission. Can't wait to get it working, though I am having some difficulty finding the schematics....

I may have it in Rider's.... When we get back to Los Angeles next week, I'll take a look.

Those Pacific Mercury consoles are very unusual sets, and I think I've only seen a couple of them. One I saw was a 24" round metal tube, which I now wish I'd picked up. They also had a 12" wood table model with doors, similar to the small Hoffman.

Charles

Steve K · #9 04-07-2009, 10:36 AM

Sgtrob:

PM me your address and I'll send you a copy of the schematic. I only have the schematic for the TV chassis though.

Steve