Western Visionette Restoration

[vts1134]

I have recently been blessed with my first mechanical television, a Western Visionette. My example is in a non-factory cabinet. There is one other example that I know of that is very similar to mine which leads me to believe that someone bought the Western Visionette in a kit form, built a decorative custom cabinet for it, and added a radio to the package to tune the signal and make it a complete (vision only) set. I hope that I can find out some more information about who may have built the set, or find more examples.
The set was up for display at the ETF convention this year and I know many of you saw the set there. If you saw the set and have any ideas on its origins please let me know. For those of you who didn't attend the convention here is a photograph of the set at the museum.



Here is a photograph of the other example that I know of with a very similar cabinet.



The only history I have been able to track down about this particular set is that it was found in a barn of a man who horded all things musical. I'm glad he decided this set was worth saving, even if it was sitting in a damp barn for who knows how many decades. The cabinet of the set definitely reflects the fact that it had been sitting in a moist environment for a long time. Much of the veneer is separated and "bubbling". Sadly my cabinet guy has recently decided to retire so I will need to find an expert to make the cabinet right again. Here is a shot of the stand with its seperated veneer which is representative of what most of the rest of the cabinet looks like.



Sadly the mice have made a home in the lower part of the cabinet where the radio chassis was housed. Somewhere in this picture there is a joke about a techno DJ.



I think the radio chassis is a total loss. I am hoping to find another matching chassis and possibly swap as many parts as I can from the original chassis over. The chassis is a Crosley with a model number of 40s, 41s, 42s, or 82s. I found this online and it matches my chassis http://www.crosleyradios.com/buddy_data_41-S.html. If anyone knows where I can source a replacement I would greatly appreciate it.



That's about all I've found out so far about the set. It will probably take a very long time to get this one finished, but I plan on sharing my progress the whole way so check back for updates from time to time.

[vts1134]

By the way I forgot to give a very big thank you to Les for helping me successfully load the set into my Uhaul trailer at the museum for its trip home.

[kwalsh2328]

Interesting, impressive, and very nice looking.
I look forward to the posts on this thread detailing the progress and discoveries regarding mechanical TVs.

[Electronic M]

The chassis reminds me of a Crosley I have that is just a tad better off than yours looks to be.

I've seen rustier chassis brought back from the dead, and made to look good....It's just a more involved process.

[miniman82]

That chassis could be brought back, just depends how much effort you're willing to put into it. Ever hear of electrolysis rust removal?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ADeB6V1rQ

After that you could bead blast it and have it plated in cadmium, it would look brand new. The pots are probably long past gone, but maybe replacements could be found.

[Dave S]

Another option: I picked up a gallon of Evapo-rust on the recommendation of a fellow VK member. Available at Harbor Freight and other stores. It works like magic.

[vts1134]

I've seen some pretty rusty chassis brought back to life using the above methods, but this one is pretty bad. There are parts of the chassis that simply aren't there any more because they have rusted away. For now I'm going to keep looking for a match in better condition and if one can't be found I'll look into rust removal.

[leadlike]

Try to find out what make that chassis is. The other visionette you have pictured uses the very common Atwater Kent 55c chassis. Possibly yours is also from a very common radio. Good luck.

[maxhifi]

Man, Crosley sure used a lot of different model numbers for very similar models. I think you will track down what you want, but what a process to get it!

http://www.crosleyradios.com/31.html

[decojoe67]

Amazing piece and a true historical part of television history. Enjoyed seeing it very much!
Joe

[vts1134]

Originally Posted by maxhifi

Man, Crosley sure used a lot of different model numbers for very similar models. I think you will track down what you want, but what a process to get it!

http://www.crosleyradios.com/31.html

The 31 definitely doesn't have the same chassis as the one in my set. The dial face is all wrong.
I'm sure it will take some time to track down the correct chassis but I have two things going for me, I don't need it in order to make a picture on the set and therefore I am not in a hurry.

[maxhifi]

This document is pretty interesting, and shows it would be really easy to substitute any radio for the original one.
http://www.crosleyradios.com/pdf/40S...structions.pdf

[vts1134]

I have most of the parts pulled from the cabinet in preparation for its restoration.



I am having a bit of difficulty removing the scanning disc from the motor assembly. Can any one who may have done this before shed some light on how these two parts come apart?

[tubesrule]

You can free the disk from the hub assembly by removing the 8 screws but since the disk is sandwiched between the outer hub and motor it still won't come off. To fully remove it you have to press the hub off and back on the motor shaft, so it really isn't worth doing unless there is a compelling reason.

So how about some pictures of the disk in operation now

Darryl

[vts1134]

Originally Posted by tubesrule

... it really isn't worth doing unless there is a compelling reason.

Darryl

No real compelling reason, just for ease of cleaning and inspection.

After a splendid evening with a double Manhattan, a bucket of Murphy's Oil Soap, and a baby sleeping soundly on the monitor I have the cabinet all cleaned out and ready for veneer restoration.







I'll move on to the "chassis" components next.