Philco 51-T1634

[N2IXK]

Just went out to evaluate a set that will be my first "restoration for hire". A Philco 51-T1634 console set which is in its original owner's basement, having been stored in the basement (musty, but fairly dry). The owner's daughter is a good friend of mine and I told her I would be glad to try getting it going for her. She remembers watching it as a kid and wants to put it her living room as an occasional use set.

Went over there today with my CRT tester and the jug didn't have any visible tag on it, but tube chart refers to a 17BP4. Hooked the tester up and after a few minutes at slightly elevated filament voltage to wake it up, it tests into the "good" zone, with excellent cutoff and fair life test. Everything seems to be there except for the back cover and the round trim or dial light cover centered under the screen. Chassis looks dusty but unmolested, cabinet pretty clean, perhaps a few touchups and a good cleaning is all it may need. Grillecloth shot, but not a big deal. All the knobs are on it. Has a funky foil dipole antenna built inside the cabinet top, with a thumb wheel tuned cap recessed into the cabinet top just above the screen. Must have been intended for close in reception.

Started doing some research online and found a bunch of stuff on the ETF website, including the Sams folder and a factory service manual.

All the literature refers to a 16WP4A CRT. Test settings are the same as the 17BP4 I tested it as, so that's good. Have to clear the bench from the set I'm currently working on (a 721TS I'm writing up the restoration of over on EEVBlog forums), and make room for the Philco as a winter project.

Anyone have any experience/stories/tips on this set? Uses a split chassis, with an RF/IF/Video chassis and a LV/Sweep/HV chassis. The 6CD6 (straight bulbed Westinghouse) had a white getter, and set had a bunch of different brands of tubes installed over the years. Being a Philco, it has a handful of Loctal tubes in it. Have to make a date to get back over there and prep the set for transport. Probably will disassemble in basement, and bring up cabinet, guts, and CRT separately. Be a couple weeks till I can do it, i think.