Old Muntz TV for sale Locally to me, Should I pick it up?

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

Ok, will do.
What size of bulb should I use on something like this?
I know certain size incandescent bulbs are no longer available.

You're right that large wattage bulbs are getting harder to find. Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range. You can experiment with a properly working TV to find the sweet spot were the bulb is just starting to light.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

You're right that large wattage bulbs are getting harder to find. Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range. You can experiment with a properly working TV to find the sweet spot were the bulb is just starting to light.

If you go through to various thrift shops, you'll find all kinds of incandescent lamps of all wattages. Many people stocked on lamps and now they're getting rid of them for LED's.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

If you go through to various thrift shops, you'll find all kinds of incandescent lamps of all wattages. Many people stocked on lamps and now they're getting rid of them for LED's.

Thanks, I checked all my thriftshops near me and the biggest bulbs they had were 60 watt bulbs.

[init4fun]

Guys , check the shelves of your local Home Depot . For real .

Last week I was at HD looking for a specific bulb when I happened across these two 150 Watt bulbs for a couple of Dollars a piece . There were two on the shelf , so I bought two . I'd have bought as many as they had , thinking I'd stepped through some kind of time warp or something , but when I asked the guy in the electrical department he said they are a regular item , being so called "utility" bulbs they aren't subject to any kinds of restrictions .

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by init4fun

Guys , check the shelves of your local Home Depot . For real .

Last week I was at HD looking for a specific bulb when I happened across these two 150 Watt bulbs for a couple of Dollars a piece . There were two on the shelf , so I bought two . I'd have bought as many as they had , thinking I'd stepped through some kind of time warp or something , but when I asked the guy in the electrical department he said they are a regular item , being so called "utility" bulbs they aren't subject to any kinds of restrictions .

I found 150 Watt Incandescent Bulbs at my local supermarket.

Thanks for the suggestion though!

[old_coot88]

..Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range.

¡Aye caramba! That won't give a soft start. Start with a low wattage bulb first, then work up in stages. Say 15W, 40W, 60W, 100W.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

¡Aye caramba! That won't give a soft start. Start with a low wattage bulb first, then work up in stages. Say 15W, 40W, 60W, 100W.

That's why I suggested testing different wattage's with a working TV a couple posts up. I suppose you could even use one of those 3 way switched bulbs for selecting different ranges. But I think a TV that uses 180 watts is going to drop too much voltage across a 15 watt

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

That's why I suggested testing different wattage's with a working TV a couple posts up. I suppose you could even use one of those 3 way switched bulbs for selecting different ranges.

I have a mogul base 3 way socket from an old floor lamp from the 1950s and a mogul base 3-way light bulb that's rated 100-200-300 watts, I could probably wire that up as a dim-bulb tester and just turn the 3 way socket on to the various wattages until the bulb dims when the set is on when it has been recapped, to check proper working order of the set.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

I have a mogul base 3 way socket from an old floor lamp from the 1950s and a mogul base 3-way light bulb that's rated 100-200-300 watts, I could probably wire that up as a dim-bulb tester and just turn the 3 way socket on to the various wattages until the bulb dims when the set is on when it has been recapped, to check proper working order of the set.

200-300 watts would be too much for your set. I wasn't really serious about the 3 way. Like OC suggested just try different wattage bulbs starting with a lower wattage. A lower wattage bulb will have higher resistance than a higher wattage, which is why it will drop more voltage and provide a softer start. But if it's too low it also won't allow the TV to get enough voltage.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

200-300 watts would be too much for your set. I wasn't really serious about the 3 way. Like OC suggested just try different wattage bulbs starting with a lower wattage. A lower wattage bulb will have higher resistance than a higher wattage, which is why it will drop more voltage and provide a softer start. But if it's too low it also won't allow the TV to get enough voltage.

I also have a variac, but its currently not wired up, it needs a box, an outlet and a power cord. Anyone have instructions for wiring up a variac?

Pictures of the variac in question posted below.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

You're right that large wattage bulbs are getting harder to find. Two or three 60 watts in parallel should get you in the range. You can experiment with a properly working TV to find the sweet spot were the bulb is just starting to light.

I found at my local supermarket a 150 watt incandescent bulb, would that work?

[init4fun]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

I found at my local supermarket a 150 watt incandescent bulb, would that work?

you posted while I was typing , and as per my post above sure the 150 Watt bulb you bought will be fine .