Admiral 30A16 scored - Videokarma.org TV - Video

bandersen · #1 10-30-2009, 10:23 PM

I picked this nice Admiral 30A16 set up in Indiana this morning. It's in pristine condition except for the two chips in the top veneer. Good thing too. Someone almost bought it before me so their son could turn it into a fish tank. He only passed on it because of those chips!

It's been in the same house since it was purchased back in 1948. The woman I got it from said it came with the house when she bought it.

Decals are in great shape,

Here's the veneer damage

It extends down to the plywood base.

All my other Admiral console sets from this era have metal backs. I wonder why this model has a masonite back ?

Here's the upper chassis. This model has the power supply and audio amp down below on a second chassis.
10BP4 CRT took a while to show some life on my tester. After about an hour, it tests about the same as all my other 10BP4s. I've yet to find a dead one. Maybe, I've just been lucky ?

Is this yellow/green coating is a Cadmium plate ? Odd - none of my other TVs or radios from this era have it. Or at least they haven't turned this color.
Almost looks like it's radioactive - nice for Halloween.

Here's the lower chassis and speaker.

Blurb about an upgrade inside the cabinet.

I'm really happy to get this set. It makes a great addition to my Admiral collection. Time to open a new Admiral wing in my museum!

Dan Starnes · #2 10-30-2009, 10:35 PM

Wow!!!!!

jeyurkon · #3 10-30-2009, 11:06 PM

Nice collection!

bandersen · #4 10-31-2009, 02:13 AM

Thanks guys!
Any thoughts on that green coating?

***Eric H*** · #5 10-31-2009, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandersen

Thanks guys!
Any thoughts on that green coating?

I think it's Cadmium Oxide, I'd use caution around it.

I had an Airline that was about that bad, I cleaned most of it off with Naval Jelly and water, I couldn't clean the underside this way so I left it alone.
It stunk pretty badly.

The stuff is very toxic (and Carcinogenic) don't wire brush it or create dust, probably not a good idea to get it on your skin.

Wikipedia has some info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadmium_oxide

Phil Nelson · #6 10-31-2009, 12:29 PM

You can wear a rubber glove and clean it off with metal polish. I believe the transformer cases in this radio are cadmium plated.

Phil

Sandy G · #7 10-31-2009, 12:44 PM

Wow....Just "Wow".....

Electrohome · #8 10-31-2009, 01:18 PM

Just an incredible save from Indiana

No fishtanker is wrecking this TV. I can't believe a fishtanker would even think of ruining a 1948 blond Admiral roundie

That's an awesome save and I'm very glad that TV is now safe in your collection safe and sound in good ol' Chicago now to be appreciated for many years to come

Awesome save and incredible work on saving this awesome 1948 blond Admiral roundie

jr_tech · #9 10-31-2009, 01:37 PM

Nice Save!!

That is really an Admirable collection !

Do you have a plan for fixing the "patches" ?

When I was a kid, I had an old Emerson console that had a front overhang like that set... it used a ton of 25Z6s.

jr

leadlike · #10 10-31-2009, 02:29 PM

I always liked this model, even with the chips it still steals the show.

Is this type of blondie veneer gone the way of cobalt blue art deco mirrors, and NLA? I see that my CTC-9 and Olympic Console use the exact same finish, so there must have only been one or two manufacturers of this stuff.

Although this guy on the antique furniture restoration board describes it as a process unto itself:

"...Usually they were made of good quality Oak/ Oak Veneer, but the white finish was part of a white grain filler tecnique that involved smearing plaster of paris all over the surface and sanding the top layer back off. then a white stain and lacquer was applied, some were just stained..."

Some of that does make sense, it certainly is, or is made to look like, oak. Luckily, Oak is one of the cheapest veneers out there. But wood filling with plaster of paris? Just the thought makes me cringe, after having filled the grain on a couple of console radios.

bandersen · #11 10-31-2009, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrohome

Just an incredible save from Indiana

No fishtanker is wrecking this TV. I can't believe a fishtanker would even think of ruining a 1948 blond Admiral roundie

That's an awesome save and I'm very glad that TV is now safe in your collection safe and sound in good ol' Chicago now to be appreciated for many years to come

Awesome save and incredible work on saving this awesome 1948 blond Admiral roundie

Thanks! It was quite a chore to haul it home during that torrential downpour we had all day.

jeyurkon · #12 10-31-2009, 06:36 PM

Great save!

Looks like cadmium to me too. Phosphoric acid was the only stuff I tried that had an effect. But I worried about neutralizing it, etc. and decided that it wasn't bad enough in my case to worry about.

I like some chassis, like Phil's radio, when they're polished. But I prefer the original look if it's achievable.

John

bandersen · #13 10-31-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeyurkon

Great save!

Looks like cadmium to me too. Phosphoric acid was the only stuff I tried that had an effect. But I worried about neutralizing it, etc. and decided that it wasn't bad enough in my case to worry about.

I like some chassis, like Phil's radio, when they're polished. But I prefer the original look if it's achievable.

John

Phil's radio does look amazing, but I think I'll leave this set like it is. It would be a ton of work to clean up both chassis. Even the speaker frame is greenish.

TV-collector · #14 11-04-2009, 05:06 AM

Hi,
As I remember right, this console was seen in a garage in one of the
old b/w PERRY MASON episodes!

My Admiral console is the same, with the seperate power supply chassis!

newhallone · #15 10-31-2009, 02:47 PM

I started a conversation over at Antique Radio awhile ago about blond finishes. It's easy to find search for 50's blond finishes.