21CT55 SN: B8801131 Joins the Living List

[old_tv_nut]

Bob, 14 weeks actually seems like a short time for all you did. Just beautiful!

By the way, if you ever get the urge to break into my house at night and work on the CTC-5 cabinet, I promise not to call the police.

[jeyurkon]

That's a beautiful finish. The wet sanding really makes a difference. We see too many TVs and Radios that are glossy but have a surface like an orange. Yours is like a mirror!

John

[ohohyodafarted]

Jeyurkon,

Glad you like the finish. In the past I have been rebuked for using a glossy lacquer or even touching the finish. But sometimes a cabinet is just too bad to leave "as is". And why would anyone put in a lot of work making a set work great and look like crap.

I like to use acrylic lacquer because it drys fast and is very very durable over the long haul. And by wetsanding so the surface is very flat, without orange peel, and then the steel wool and compounding, you get a factory like finish that does not shine like the surface of a car but like a nice dining room table in a furniture store.


Bob

[Ampico-kid]

Great job Bob!! That set looks like it just rolled off of the RCA production line!!
That's a very impressive restoration job, first class from top to bottom! Bob

[Steve D.]

Bob,

I can only echo what the other's have said. Beautiful detail work. The high gloss cabinet finish and the factory fresh look of the chassis show great restoration skill and much patience.
My guess is the tube cap is a doggie water bowl.

-Steve D.

[ohohyodafarted]

You win the contest Steve! It is a stainless steel water bowl from a pet supply store. It is almost the same shape and size as the original in the photo that John Folsom sent to me. I think the original is probably plastic.

Your prize for the correct guess is one free ATTA BOY!

BTW, I did not want to do the refinishing job on my walnut Wingate so I cheated and took it to a furniture refinisher. He has had it for about 3 months and I went to see it last week. It looks pretty nice but I am not thrilled about the color of the stain he used. Otherwise the finish is very nice. I will need to rub it down with steel wool and buff it after I get it back.

I have not started on the chassis yet, and it will probably be some time before I get to it. However I did obtain a new verticle centering pot to replace the one on the chassis that is jury riged.

The basket case CTC4 that was found in Meridian MS in a shed, should be on a truck by now, on the way to Milwaukee.

When it arrives I will take picture and make a posting. If I can manage to rebuild this set, then I think anything is possible.

I will be looking for a 21axp22 for that set as the neck is broken off of the crt.

Bob