Prototype set is here

[Eric H]

I think the next question is not if this set can be made operational but IF it should be.

If it's an RCA Prototype it truly is a signifigant piece of history, replacing capacitors and other components would seriously compromise it's historical value IMO.

[Phil Nelson]

I have mixed feelings about whether to restore it and I can think of good arguments for both sides.

Personally, I would find it hard to resist making it work. It was designed as something to be used, after all, not a museum piece.

I would soothe my conscience by doing nothing invasive, restuffing paper caps as well as electrolytics, maybe even finding resistors that look more period-correct. Ideally, when it was done, it would look the same (at least to a casual eye) but WORK as the designers intended.

Just my $0.02.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[miniman82]

Originally Posted by Eric H

I think the next question is not if this set can be made operational but IF it should be. If it's an RCA Prototype it truly is a signifigant piece of history, replacing capacitors and other components would seriously compromise it's historical value IMO.

Here's my take:

It is a museum worthy piece, therefore it belongs in a museum. For that reason, I am considering placing it at the ETF once I am done with it.

I have always been of the mind that if the set actually works, no one is going to care what's 'under the hood', since 9 times out of 10 it would not have worked on original capacitors anyway. No one walks into the ETF and says about the Model 5: "you know that thing would be much better non-functioning and with original caps". I don't think so. It's a much better thing to see it in operation, it blows away any thought of keeping it original once you see something on screen.

Lastly, I may not have to change anything in the first place. The chassis has what appear to be aerospace grade metal-film capacitors, so it may not need total replacement of the caps. They are not prone to leakage and breakdown like wax/PIOs are, so we'll see if they are any good. The lytics will be restuffed, but thankfully they are all mounted on wafers and secured to the chassis with screws. They will be easy to do.

[TubeType]

Originally Posted by miniman82

Here's my take:

It is a museum worthy piece, therefore it belongs in a museum. For that reason, I am considering placing it at the ETF once I am done with it.

I have always been of the mind that if the set actually works, no one is going to care what's 'under the hood', since 9 times out of 10 it would not have worked on original capacitors anyway. No one walks into the ETF and says about the Model 5: "you know that thing would be much better non-functioning and with original caps". I don't think so. It's a much better thing to see it in operation, it blows away any thought of keeping it original once you see something on screen.

Lastly, I may not have to change anything in the first place. The chassis has what appear to be aerospace grade metal-film capacitors, so it may not need total replacement of the caps. They are not prone to leakage and breakdown like wax/PIOs are, so we'll see if they are any good. The lytics will be restuffed, but thankfully they are all mounted on wafers and secured to the chassis with screws. They will be easy to do.

Hi Nick,
Congratulations! I agree with your statements one-hundred percent.
Also, once you have an operational platform, Pete might consider performing comparitive colorimetry measurements on your CRT.