Saved a Dumont - Videokarma.org TV - Video

pdr-fml · #1 08-27-2022, 12:43 PM

For some reason I could not pass up this large piece of furniture at a local estate sale and took it home with me. It is a Dumont RA-112 and it appears to be pretty complete. Even comes with a warranty on the picture tube. This will be a future project like so many others. Going to try to slide chassis out to make it easier to move around.

Kevin Kuehn · #2 08-27-2022, 01:09 PM

Definitely Worthy.

The 1960 replacement 19AP4 is promising as you know those are always the "big if".

Dj3928 · #3 08-27-2022, 07:53 PM

Congratulations,
I recently acquired a 1949 Dumont RA-105. Mine uses the 15” CRT and fortunately it checks good so I’m planning on restoring it also.
Looking forward to updates.

Phil Nelson · #4 08-27-2022, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdr-fml

It is a Dumont RA-112 and it appears to be pretty complete.

Those early DuMonts are outstanding TVs. This article describes how I restored my RA-113, which is very similar:

https://antiqueradio.org/DuMontRA-113Television.htm

Have fun!

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
https://antiqueradio.org/index.html

pdr-fml · #5 08-28-2022, 12:00 PM

That's a lot of great info. Thanks!

Penthode · #6 08-29-2022, 11:15 AM

For some reason this thread reminded me of a song I used to sing about a peanut when I was a kid. I substituted Dumont for peanut...

Saved a Dumont, saved a Dumont,
Saved a Dumont last night
Last night I saved a Dumont,
Saved a Dumont last night.

Cracked it open, cracked it open,
Cracked it open last night.
Last night I cracked it open,
Cracked it open last night.

It was rotten, it was rotten,
It was rotten last night,
Last night it was rotten,
It was rotten last night.

Fixed it anyway, fixed it anyway,
Fixed it anyway last night
Last night I fixed it anyway,
Fixed it anyway last night.

DavGoodlin · #7 08-29-2022, 04:41 PM

Great Save!!

DuMont was probably the best designed TV in the beginning, before Emerson stopped the innovation for a step back in design. Id like to find a 15" CRT for my RA105 , still looking.

pdr-fml · #8 08-29-2022, 05:33 PM

I bought this television without knowing the condition of the tube which is pretty dumb but today I checked for heater action with 4AAs and got a good glow. I couldn't really see the getter to check it out. One of these days I'm going to get a CRT tester. I read something about rigging up a little circuit to test if you didn't have a normal tester so I might try that.

Penthode · #9 08-29-2022, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdr-fml

I bought this television without knowing the condition of the tube which is pretty dumb but today I checked for heater action with 4AAs and got a good glow. I couldn't really see the getter to check it out. One of these days I'm going to get a CRT tester. I read something about rigging up a little circuit to test if you didn't have a normal tester so I might try that.

I don't think it was a bad decision buying with CRT unknown. It looks clean and complete and the CRT is a replacement.

That said, CRT testers abound these days. I have three (one bought and two given to me) and I keep one in the trunk of the car in case of emergencies (if you know what I mean).

dieseljeep · #10 08-29-2022, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

Great Save!!

DuMont was probably the best designed TV in the beginning, before Emerson stopped the innovation for a step back in design. Id like to find a 15" CRT for my RA105 , still looking.

I still have the set and the CRT! PM me.

pdr-fml · #11 09-09-2022, 09:43 PM

I invested in a B&K 440 CRT tester this week and went over it pretty good and replaced a few components. I tested it on a weak 10BP4 I have and sure enough it tested weak so I'm pretty confident that the tester is working ok. Put it on the 19AP4 in the Dumont RA-112A and happily the emissions is in the green although only by about 15 to 20%. The cutoff checks good too but only barely. So I'm definitely going to restore this set.

Penthode · #12 09-09-2022, 09:51 PM

Congratulations on the 19AP4.
We shall look forward to your reported progress!

Tube TV · #13 09-11-2022, 01:30 AM

If it were me I wouldn't pass up on it either. You've lucked out on the CRT. Don't worry about the emission being a bit low as it'll likely wake up more after it's had some hours of running on it.

Phil, yours sure looks nice with a teriffic picure.

pdr-fml · #14 09-24-2022, 01:04 PM

In process of recapping the DuMont and not sure if the pictured Mallory cap is a paper cap in disguise. It has a rubbery coating instead of the hard shell. There are several of these on the set.

Electronic M · #15 09-24-2022, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdr-fml

In process of recapping the DuMont and not sure if the pictured Mallory cap is a paper cap in disguise. It has a rubbery coating instead of the hard shell. There are several of these on the set.

It looks like a replacement cap. It would have originally been paper, and it's likely that replacement is paper too. I'd replace it based on the bulge in the side of it alone...Even if it tests good now that bulge is probably the result of a past failure.