Astor "Devon Fringe", my first tube set. - Videokarma.org TV - Video

dr.ido · #1 02-02-2008, 12:20 AM

I picked this up off the road side garbage collection this afternoon. I don't really have space for it (which is why it's hasn't made it inside yet), but I just couldn't leave it there to be crushed. It's the oldest set I've seen locally for ages.

It's an unusual design with the controls on the top of the case. I stripped a lot of B&W tube sets when I was a kid and I've never seen one like this. It appears to have lighted channel numbers behind that black strip at the top in addition to the numbers around the tuning knob. I guess they wanted to make sure you always knew which channel you were on in the days before those awful watermarks.

It's all tube except for the audio amplifier, but that may just be for the record changer as there are seperate power/volume/tone controls for changer and the TV. There are a few wires hanging loose in there, but otherwise everything looks intact.

I'm not sure where to start with this one. I've never worked on a tube set before. I do know not to just plug in it in. The first step is to clean 40 years worth of dust and crap out of there and hope there's a schematic in there somewhere (I remember finding them in sets I stripped as a kid).

Sandy G · #2 02-02-2008, 07:07 AM

...And so, the Sickness Starts...(grin)

dr.ido · #3 02-02-2008, 09:30 AM

Well it's inside now and the chassis is out. Most of the connections are terminated with individual push on terminals or screwed in terminal blocks, but I hope I took enough pictures to get everything back where it should be.

That TV chassis is all tube with the exception of a few diodes. It has it's own tube audio stage, so the transistor audio amp is only used for the changer. The hanging wires appear to be from the TV power switch which also switches the speaker from the TV/changer.

Other than lots of baked on dust and some minor surface rust the chassis looks OK. There is some black soot around the 1S2 EHT rectifier, but the flyback itself shows no obvious signs of cooking. What's the best way to remove 40 years of crud without doing any damage? This stuff isn't moving with a dry brush.

There aren't many paper capacitors that I can see. Most of the capacitors appear to be Ducon polyester and Simplex foil.

Are these likely to be still good? At least for initial tests? I will replace the electros and paper caps first, but I was hoping to be able to verify the CRT and flyback are good before doing a full recap.

Tonight I was offered the guts from an old Thorn console set (supposedly working) that someone wants to turn into a fishtank. From memory many of these sets used very similar chassis regardless of brand, so I should have some spare tubes and possibly a flyback/CRT.

bgadow · #4 02-02-2008, 08:26 PM

Good find! Looks like a pretty hefty chassis for a later model bw set. Should be a good performer, I would think. I'm not sure what to say on the caps since they are different than what American sets typically used; I would suspect the Australian or European members would know more. If I had to guess though I would say they would mostly be okay. One thing I noticed is the Sylvania dualette I recently found uses similiar style caps, many polyester Sprague caps mounted this same way. I'm thinking they might be 60s replacements.

Alan Merritt · #5 02-03-2008, 03:04 AM

As an Australian TV-head myself, I've come a cross a few of the Astors before, and the oddly-styled "Devon Fringe" name has been used quite a lot.

Haven't seen one like yours, though, with the record player underneath. The controls located on top with the illuminated strip for channel display is something I've seen before. My brother owns (although never uses..) a Devon Fringe three-in -one with a long, console style cabinet in beautiful shiny wood which the last time I tried it still worked, though not well.

What I would do is give it a good clean and at least replace all the large rating caps in the power supply. Jaycar and Dick Smith are good sources for caps and resistors, and Resyurrection Radio in Melbourne can supply valves. If the tube is NBG you should be able to find another one around in another Astor..somewhere.

Good luck, and keep us informed of your resto - it could be easy, or a commitment over some years.

Cheers from stinkin' hot Mile End!

Sandy G · #6 02-03-2008, 06:38 AM

"Devon Fringe" ?!? Who/where did they dream up a name like that ? Sounds like one of those bizarre 80s bands....(grin)

Alan Merritt · #7 02-04-2008, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy G

"Devon Fringe" ?!? Who/where did they dream up a name like that ? Sounds like one of those bizarre 80s bands....(grin)

Not sure of the reason for the name - here in SA, a type of pressed and processed meat is known as "Fritz", but across the border in Victoria, it's known as "Devon"....

Don't think that's anything to do with the TV name - that's probably something to do with the old country.

These photos should begin to convey what a fine piece of furniture it is.

Reece · #8 02-04-2008, 12:26 PM

"Fringe" probably refers to the "fringe area" of a TV transmission; a set that would perform well in the fringe area far from a TV transmitter supposedly would have a better than average sensitivity. Sort of like putting a "Turbo" label on your car.

Reece

electroking · #9 02-04-2008, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Merritt

Not sure of the reason for the name - here in SA, a type of pressed and processed meat is known as "Fritz", but across the border in Victoria, it's known as "Devon"....

Don't think that's anything to do with the TV name - that's probably something to do with the old country.

These photos should begin to convey what a fine piece of furniture it is.

Do I see the image of an helical antenna in the second picture?

dr.ido · #10 02-05-2008, 10:07 AM

Alan: Is there any chance the schematic is still inside your set? If it's for the same chassis (D31GC) a copy/scan would make things easier.

Thanks...

Alan Merritt · #11 02-06-2008, 03:01 AM

Yep, it's a helical aerial. Can still buy them here. Never as good as an outside one, but still look good sitting on top!

Alan Merritt · #12 02-06-2008, 04:25 AM

I'm pretty sure all the diagrams are inside still - will look next time I visit.

BTW the State Library of SA has lots of original valve radio and TV diagrams in the bowels, and I have found many for vintage gear I've picked up over the years. You may have something similar in Vic.

Cheers

AndrewM · #13 02-09-2008, 10:33 PM

Nice set. If the Ducon polyester caps are of similar quality to the Philips caps of the era, they should mostly be ok.
I have a lot of schematics for old Astors and after looking through them, I think the "Devon Fringe" set is using a Series 5A chassis.

dr.ido · #14 02-10-2008, 01:35 AM

Yep, it's a 5A BX chassis according to the stamp on the back panel. Any chance of a scan/copy of the schematic?

It's a funny thing. After not seeing any tube B&W sets for years they seem to be coming out of the woodwork this year. Today I picked up another Astor set that and I've been told about a couple of others in storage.

I definitely won't have space for them all, so I'll only be keeping one. If you're local and interested I could pass any others your way.

I've also seen more late 70s/ early 80s color sets out in this years collection than I've seen for a few years. I've left them behind though as I simply don't have the space. There are a few sets I'd make an exception for, but Rank Arena 2601s and the like don't exactly excite me.

AndrewM · #15 02-11-2008, 12:13 AM

I can scan the schematic for you. I'll be able to do it this weekend.
I am located near you so if you do find excess sets that need a home I may be interested.