1967 DuMont color TV estate sale find

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by drh4683

Regarding the working condition of the set, when I said it works, I meant just that; it works with a good picture receiving that of a LPTV signal. Since the set was still wired to the outdoor antenna, I was able to pull in channel 48 on UHF and channel 6 as Electronic M had indicated.

Thanks for that information, Doug. I was not aware that Chicago had any VHF or UHF analog TV stations still operating after the DTV transition. I remember reading about channel 6 being an LPTV station in Chicago (Cleveland has one too, on the same channel), but not channel 48. I was sure the latter station would have been forced to go digital, and discontinue its analog signal, on June 12, 2009. Did that station somehow get permission to operate in NTSC analog after the transition?

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by marty59

This is the later chassis style other than the common flat clone used on the earlier rectangle as well as round tube sets. During this time period the cabinets were still generally well made.

I've seen Emerson's from this time period that looked similar but had different trim/bezel colors to differentiate from the DuMont's.

Doug you'd be right about that vertical board being problematic especially back in the day.

That model was just another RCA CTC15 clone, right down to the tube compliment.
The Milwaukee Emerson distributor, had a repair shop that would repair the sets, that were DOA.
He went to the Emerson plant in Jersey City for a service seminar. He was telling me, there was a reason why the chassis was assembled that way. The chassis were assembled on the upper floors and hand carried, to the first floor, where the cabinets and CRT's were. They didn't have a freight elevator!
That's the reason why the top brace is rounded, like a handle.
That was a time, when they were more or less, on the way out and didn't want to make the investment.

[NoPegs]

Originally Posted by drh4683

Electronic M is correct. The pics of the TV on the tile floor were taken at my home, thus the background TV's are part of my collection already.

Did you clean it out at all before taking the photos at home, or did it somehow manage to span the last four decades or so clean as a whistle? (I'm thinking that because the couple could afford the place, they probably retained a houskeeper or housekeeping-service, plus the 3rd floor was mentioned to be more or less unused.)

I'm envious, even if it turns out to be a real dog to keep working.

[Kamakiri]

I trash picked a similar set back in 2002 or 2003. IIRC, it went to Dwight. Wonder whatever became of it?

[freakaftr8]

Nice set. Yes indeed that CRT bezel is identical to my heathkit GR-295.

[drh4683]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

That model was just another RCA CTC15 clone, right down to the tube compliment.
The Milwaukee Emerson distributor, had a repair shop that would repair the sets, that were DOA.
He went to the Emerson plant in Jersey City for a service seminar. He was telling me, there was a reason why the chassis was assembled that way. The chassis were assembled on the upper floors and hand carried, to the first floor, where the cabinets and CRT's were. They didn't have a freight elevator!
That's the reason why the top brace is rounded, like a handle.
That was a time, when they were more or less, on the way out and didn't want to make the investment.

Thanks for that bit of info! I would have never guessed that to be the reason for the chassis handle. That must have been a very antiquated plant at the time. Small details are what make these sets so interesting. What I also find interesting is how they stapled all of the labels to the back cover instead of just gluing them. You would figure glue or some other adhesive would have been much easier and perhaps cheaper.

I didn't really clean the set at all when I got it home. All I did was take a dust cloth to the top of the cabinet and face of the CRT before taking the photos. Otherwise, it's essentially untouched.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Wow, that's certainly a very clean and interesting set!

Now I'm curious what those apt buildings were originally built for, with those large glass block windows apparently covering more than one floor.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by drh4683

Thanks for that bit of info! I would have never guessed that to be the reason for the chassis handle. That must have been a very antiquated plant at the time. Small details are what make these sets so interesting. What I also find interesting is how they stapled all of the labels to the back cover instead of just gluing them. You would figure glue or some other adhesive would have been much easier and perhaps cheaper.

I didn't really clean the set at all when I got it home. All I did was take a dust cloth to the top of the cabinet and face of the CRT before taking the photos. Otherwise, it's essentially untouched.

I failed to mention, that it was the technician that did the distributor repairs, that told me that bit of information.
As I said before, I should proofread a little better.
It seems, that Emerson used computer generated labels, a lot earlier than the rest. Magnavox, as well.

[drh4683]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

Wow, that's certainly a very clean and interesting set!

Now I'm curious what those apt buildings were originally built for, with those large glass block windows apparently covering more than one floor.

They were always apartments. They were built in 1956. The large area of glass blocks were used to provide natural light into the stairwell.

[Carmine]

Once again, Doug provides a great reason to tune in. I also enjoy the little "why was it done this way?" factoids. There are lots of those I'm familar with in auto manufacturing, but not so much with consumer electronics.

I wonder what the daily production numbers were like in a smaller operation like that, and what methods of error-proofing were done? I'd think that in a lower-tech operation, with a lot of lower-skilled turnover, you'd have all sorts of problems with misconnections and incorrect tubes installed. Most of these would be caught before they left the plant, but it had to keep the higher-skilled test/repair guys busy!

Thanks for the many photos Doug, not everyone does the YouTube thing. Always enjoy the environment surrounding the find.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Carmine

Once again, Doug provides a great reason to tune in. I also enjoy the little "why was it done this way?" factoids. There are lots of those I'm familar with in auto manufacturing, but not so much with consumer electronics.

I wonder what the daily production numbers were like in a smaller operation like that, and what methods of error-proofing were done? I'd think that in a lower-tech operation, with a lot of lower-skilled turnover, you'd have all sorts of problems with misconnections and incorrect tubes installed. Most of these would be caught before they left the plant, but it had to keep the higher-skilled test/repair guys busy!

Thanks for the many photos Doug, not everyone does the YouTube thing. Always enjoy the environment surrounding the find.

If you look at some of the last production Emerson products, you'll see that each soldered connection was marked by a felt-tipped marker. It was probably made by an inspector.

[mpatoray]

It seems, that Emerson used computer generated labels, a lot earlier than the rest. Magnavox, as well.

I find that fact interesting since RCA, Philco and Packard Bell all made computers.

Cool info and neat set Doug!

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by rca2000

BTW--I saw an early- to mid 60's Dumont roundie color set sell some time back at the ETF convention.

That was the first ETF convention I went to, and the first auction there that I won. I owned that set for only a few minutes though...I only could haul one set home (and I badly wanted to buy a color roundy set), and wanted a certain black metal Silvertone color roundy (which they auctioned off later) more due to being an apartment dweller back then. Before I bid a nice fellow who knew I wanted the Silvertone more, but was more concerned with not returning home empty handed offered to buy the Dumont off of me if I won the Silvertone...Which I did.

So my first roundy was a Dumont...Technically.

[TVTim]

Amazing. Any Youtubes on these Doug?

[drh4683]

Originally Posted by Carmine

Once again, Doug provides a great reason to tune in. I also enjoy the little "why was it done this way?" factoids. There are lots of those I'm familar with in auto manufacturing, but not so much with consumer electronics.

I wonder what the daily production numbers were like in a smaller operation like that, and what methods of error-proofing were done? I'd think that in a lower-tech operation, with a lot of lower-skilled turnover, you'd have all sorts of problems with misconnections and incorrect tubes installed. Most of these would be caught before they left the plant, but it had to keep the higher-skilled test/repair guys busy!

Thanks for the many photos Doug, not everyone does the YouTube thing. Always enjoy the environment surrounding the find.

Thanks Chris,

I must say, I do enjoy documenting these TV's via pictures with a written description more than I do making videos. There is something about pictures that in some ways better tell the story. Maybe it's because one can study a picture more so than a video. That's just me though.