Need info on Crosley 9-425

Hey guys, I was hoping you could help me with something...

I work at a museum in Benton County, Oregon and we recently acquired a Crosley 9-425 television set. Based on the limited resources I could find on the internet, I believe the television was made in 1948, although I'm not certain of that.

Because there is such little information available for this particular set I was hoping some of you might be able to enlighten me on the subject. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

-Matt

[azguy1878]

It was made in 1949, its one of the more rare portables, i belive its one of the smaller ones with only a 7 inch screen, whats the condition?

Are you sure it was only made in 1949? I have read in a couple of places that the 9-425 was made in 1948 as well as '49.

It does indeed have a 7-inch screen. It is shaped like a suitcase, for portability reasons I imagine. This is a fairly decent image of what it looks like:

http://www.earlytelevision.org/crosley_9-425.html

The television in the photo has been restored so unfortunately I cannot rely on that image for complete accuracy. Our knobs seem to be different; they are smaller, about an inch in diameter and brown. The channel select knob seems to be a replacement, it is larger, black, and is a slighty different shape than the rest. We have the copper plate behind the knobs and it is in fairly good condition, considering its age. I have not tried to use the set yet so I cannot say whether or not it actually works. Also we did not receive the cover piece for the front.

Edit: I forgot something. Ours has a leather handle on the right side of the case (if looking at it from the front).

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by mstaten

I have not tried to use the set yet so I cannot say whether or not it actually works.

A set that old probably will not work. Manufactureres back then used wax paper capacitors, which do not age well. They absorb small amounts of moisture from the air, and the acids in the paper in the cap corrode the metal foil and cause the cap to be electronically leaky. This electronic leakage messes up the tube circuits to the point that they won't work anymore, and some circuits may actually draw too much current and cause damage. What would need to be done is to replace all such caps with modern equivalents before applying power. Hopefully whoever had it before didn't try to power it up within the last 20 years or so.

Even if it does work, the caps should be replaced anyway. Preventive maintenance.

If you are going to display it in the museum turned off, then the above is moot.

The set was made for Crosley by Sentinel ,just outside of Chicago. It has 2 chassis, like Sentinel's own package but configured differently. I have one of the 9-425s.

[Tim]

MAtt:

I have attached photos of my 9-425 for your comparison. It has the original covering with the original knobs. The leather handle is broken though. I believe it is a 1949 model as it seems that Crosley's model numbering system at that time used the last digit of the year as the first number. It may have been sold in 1948 though.

As was already mentioned, it is not a good idea to plug in this set without replacing the old capacitors and checking other components.

I think these are great looking sets.

Tim -

That's the same set we have. 1949, then, eh? Thanks for the information, guys. Good to know there are other people around who appreciate old things like this.

And don't worry, I won't plug it in.