|
|
|
#1
02-24-2008, 02:42 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Completed RCA 630 TS Restoration
As promised, here is a link to a very abbreviated photo monatage that summarizes a 6 month saga to a nearly ground-up restoration of my RCA 630 TS.
Enjoy... LJB 8) http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p...edium=text_url 
|
|
#4
02-24-2008, 08:05 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
The pictures hardly do the TV justice. Refinishing & restoration is my forte. The Chassis looks as it does because I removed as many components as I could, and individually cleaned/emory papered/polished/painted them all. The top of the Chassis is just cleaned, not replated or painted. The sides of the chassis were emory papered, tacked, and dusted with an aluminum-based paint just enough to cover, but, not look like paint.
All the shields, brackets, transformers, cages, covers, etc were cleaned, sanded, refinished with the appropriate finish. I masked and preserved all stamps, parts numbers, inspection marks, etc on the Chassis and the Cabinet. The Cabinet was completely disassembled, stripped, vineers reglued, etc with the appropriate agents and finishes. It was NOT overrestored, i.e, shiny on the inside of the cabinet, etc. All production marks and stamps were reapplied. All Labels were recreated via Photoshop of the origionals, or of other 630 TS's. Phil Nelson supplied the images of the "Eyewitness" and the Serial Number labels. My chassis still had the rest of them. But, the "Golden Voice" label we located on line, and Barbara, my GF, resized it to the proper dimensions. All Labels were digitally cleaned up and printed with the correct colors. Decals were repros for. a 621TS, and were applied. You can pick your teeth in the cabinet's finish. 8 coats, hand rubbed down to 2000 grit emory paper. The Electronics were, of course, the most challenging. This set was modified down thru the years, and I reverted it back to it's stock, early/mid production condition. I did not restuff caps, figuring this was my first TV restoration, and better to take it easy. But, above the Chassis, it appears bone stock. I replaced all 15 electrolytics and about 70 various caps. All Tube Caps were, obviously, replaced. The 1500 mmf mica caps were left alone. A goodly amount of the high value resistors were replaced with flame proof ones. They don't appear above the chassis. All the old electrolytic cans were left in place. Wafer Boards below support the new electrolytics. There's a lot I left out. Been working on this set for 6 months, and, it's finally complete, right down to the stickers. Still have a minor drifting problem with the picture, but, I'll get that tomorrow with some freeze spray. Now I'm looking for ANOTHER TV to completely restore. It's a disease... LJB 
|
|
#5
02-24-2008, 08:24 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Nice!
 I've got a customer in Pittsfield that has one of those, and was eager to get it completely restored. Then I told him what it would probably cost him. End of story--at least for now.Some day or another I might take this up as a hobby again, but working in a music store as electronics technician soured me some. Some day....  But I'm just the same impressed with what you have done, and my hat's off to you. Good luck with your freeze mist in locating the horiz AFC drift problem.
|
| Audiokarma |
|
#6
02-24-2008, 08:30 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
...oh, and sharp eyes will notice the speaker grille cloth is non-stock. I could not locate the stock material, or a repro. I picked an RCA Speaker Cloth from a bunch of swaths because it's gold & black pattern harmonized with the Cabinet's color and finish, and because the Bakelite Switch's Decals were the same colors.
The Serial Number Tag on the back, is NOT in the usual location (under the High Voltage Cage) because this set has a Keyed AGC where this label usually goes. As near as I can figure, it was installed at the Factory, as the wiring, caps, resistors, etc all look stock vintage. The Serial Number Tag went on the wire would resistor cover. If anybody knows where it really goes, I'd like to know... LJB PS: I'm ordering a bunch of DVD's of Newsreels from the 40's thru 60's. They'll look great on the 630TS. Also, I'm getting a bunch of Nuclear Bomb 40's and 50's stuff. "Duck, and Cover!"
|
|
#8
02-25-2008, 09:43 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I don't mind it where it is now. I knda like it... LJB
|
|
#9
02-25-2008, 09:54 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
I have one other 630 chassis I could look at but it's not easy to get to right now, I think it had the usual setup anyway.
|
|
#10
02-25-2008, 10:12 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
OK, I found this picture I grabbed from eBay a long time ago, it has the tag next to the resistor box where you have the Eyewitness tag.
This set doesn't have an eyewitness tag so perhaps it was located on the back instead of the chassis? The 8-T-243 and the T-120 have both the Golden Throat and the Eyewitness tags glued to the back, someone here or at the ARF must have an original 630 back they could check. Edit, my 630 has the Eyewitness tag in the same location as yours but it has the serial tag in the normal spot, I don't have a back, what does it mean, I haven't a clue, I'm totally confused now... Maybe the AGC sets got the other tags on the back instead of the chassis. Last edited by Eric H; 02-25-2008 at 10:17 PM.
|
| Audiokarma |
|
#11
02-25-2008, 10:37 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Yeah, that Chassis looks like mine. I can barely see the "Golden Voice" Label on the corner of the Wooden Cabinet's floor, so, that goes where it always goes. Notice the Black Hi Voltage Cage. That's like mine. Earlier ones were Dark Bronze, I believe.
Looks like they just omitted the "Eyewitness" Label, and put a Serial Number Tag there instead. Christ, and Barbara, My GF, spent soooo much time repro'ing it. LJB
|
|
#12
02-26-2008, 05:18 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Ah! Noticed something on the back of that Set.
There is the remains of a "UL Approved" circular label on the back of the metal Chassis. Anybody have a digital close-up shot of that, intact? I want to repro it for my Set. Thanks! LJB
|
|
#15
02-26-2008, 09:11 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
Darryl
|
| Audiokarma |
 |
|
|
Linear Mode
