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#1
01-23-2009, 03:37 PM
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As long as your always around when the set is on I'd leave them alone. It doesn't sound like they're leaking or have a high enough ESR to cause problems. If someone else is going to be watching it alot then you might want to change them.
I have a radio and several pieces of electronic equipment from the 60's and the electrolytics are still good. They certainly have a limited lifetime but it seems to be quite variable. I think 2,000 hrs is still quoted for modern aluminum electrolytics. I also have a collection of vintage electrolytics that I've been reforming and testing with a Sencore LC101. A large fraction of them are in excellent condidtion. John Last edited by jeyurkon; 01-23-2009 at 08:01 PM. Reason: Typo in Sencore model 
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#2
01-24-2009, 03:13 AM
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That is an RA-109A with the dreaded 19AP4 glass/metal crt. YOU are SO lucky to find this in the condition it is in.
I had one identical to this from about 1983 till sometime around Y2K. Unfotunatly mine was worse for wear from the get go, and I never really had the room for the VERY large set in my modest abode. I used to tinker with the thing when I first bought it and I remember just the chassis being a back breaker. I would say that the power transformer alone is at least 20lb. I will never forget being fascinated at the elaborate circuitry and the glow of I think around 30 tubes. You can thank the lord that you DONT have to give this one the once over as there is enough caps and resistors in there to build 3 cheap sets. More icing on the cake in that there is a fairly recent 19AP4 crt in there. They are notorious for loss of vacuum of the years and from some other posts I have read are getting pretty hard to find in good condition. Ever since I let my set go to a Richmond collector I have wished that I could find another Dumont, perhaps a smaller one, of similar vintage. The 109 would be perfect for someone who wants to have one huge, beautiful set, as opposed to several smaller, not so beautiful sets as a collection. Heck you need a refrigerator dolly to move one of those things!! For the record I MAY still have a photocopy of the complete Sams folder for this if you don't have one....Let me know if I need to dig.. Oh an finally DO NOT touch the bell of the crt in any way, shape, or form unless properly discharged. It is METAL!!
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#3
01-24-2009, 07:03 PM
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I have a 19AP4 dud that's got vacuum and is functional (but very weak). It was replaced in the set it came in with a NOS Sylvania one. I got the last one from Moyers. Sorry guys.
They're out there, though. I don't think they were any better/worse than any other metal tube, and they're not as hard to find as some CRTs are...
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#5
01-25-2009, 05:06 AM
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Take it from a guy (Me) who just restored a DuMont RA-105B7 "Sussex" from the Ground Up...You are One Lucky Stiff.
Mine had a Raster when I first got it, even though it was sitting in a Basement for 40 years, unused. But, I never turned it on again until I recapped the entire Set, replaced a few WW Pots & Tubes, etc etc etc. Some of the Electrolytics are replacements. If it was my Set, I would bench it and check out all those (potentially) leaky Caps, dried up Electrolytics, etc. If one of them Blows, you might have a catastrophie on your hands. It's working now, I know. But, why take a chance? If I were You, I would get someone who knows what they're doing. I wouldn't delve into this as a "First Project." You'll probably ruin something. The Chassis Bolts are no Big Deal. Easily replaced at any Hardware Store. The Star Washers that grip the bottom of the wooden Cabinet Shelf to the Chassis are probably not, but, some 1" diameter Washers will do. BTW, the Local Newspaper, the Worcester Telegram & Gazzette, is doing a full story on my Restos, including the DuMont, complete with Photos. It will run Feb 11th, one week before the Analog Broadcast Shutdown. Good Luck with the Televisor. I mean that. But, don't take it for granted that it will run like this forever. The odds are, something will let loose, or, something(s) are already marginal. If it takes out something made of unobtainium, you will kick yourself forever... LJB 
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#6
01-25-2009, 07:55 AM
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Quote:
Ouch!  I like to think I know a bit about what I am doing. I must admit, I do rely on AK to help me out when I need it! This isn't my first set. It's number 5. Three of which work, one I'm still having issues with. This is the FIRST time I've run into replacement filter caps from 1970. I think the consensus here so far is to let it run when I want to, but don't go to far away. The saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" is rolling around in the back of my head right now. Eventually I'll take it apart and work on it. It does have a few issues that I will need to address, such as the tuning dial is sticky. Oh yeah, Tubejunke, I have the complete Sams for it. The sams I got from the dude I got the TV from, had the folder in it. He also just called me the other night and said he was "digging around" and found the original owners manual for the set, and the complete Dumont service manual for the set. He's going to give that to me. I just have to go pick it up. Thanks again everyone! I appreciate the comments! Last edited by mkoser; 01-25-2009 at 07:57 AM. Reason: forgot my Zenith portable in my list of "sets"
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#8
01-25-2009, 09:10 AM
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What does it look like with the doors closed? Many, many years ago my dad turned a dead cabinet TV of about that size into a stereo cabinet.
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Hybrid Mode
