1964 Moto Console - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Charlie · #1 01-11-2006, 07:51 PM

I scored a 1964 Motorola 23" console this evening... kinda on accident. I stopped to talk to some neighbors, and he showed me an old Halliscrafters S-77A SW receiver. He told me he found it in a house at the end of our street... one that sustained a lot of damage from the hurricane. He told me he saw an old television in there, but since it was dark, wasn't sure what it was.

Being that I've always thought the old house was kinda neat, I was curious to see the insides, so we decided to go over there to look at the set. We brought the set outside and found it to be a Motorola from the 60's. I actually got the set in the front seat of the Duster and brought it home.

The chassis in the set is a TS-589, date stamped on the chassis was 4-64. The 23" CRT had been replaced and is date coded from 1975. Tube tested like new. Other than some dust, the chassis looks pretty good and complete. Looks like this will be an easy one to work on.

I don't plan to do anything to the set for now... got too many others to finish first. I just couldn't leave it in the old house since they will soon be coming to tear it down.... which is a shame because the house was really cool looking on the inside. Was one of the first homes on my street... built in the 30's.

Here's a shot of the set, the inside, and what's left of the house I found it in.

veg-o-matic · #2 01-11-2006, 09:16 PM

Wow, that's clean as a whistle inside! Nice score.

What was the sign in front of the house?

veg

Charlie · #3 01-11-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veg-o-matic

What was the sign in front of the house?
veg

Jefferson County Singles Club

RetroHacker · #4 01-12-2006, 03:17 PM

I've got a _very_ similar set in the basement that I found along the side of the road. Mine's a model 23BK157AS - I don't know what chassis is in there, I'd have to get a screwdriver and check. Mine doesn't work - or at least, it won't work, I haven't actually plugged it in. The damper tube is broken, and I don't have another one. It looks like something caused the damper to draw too much current and it just cracked from heat. Haven't done anything else with it. It looks about the same - only it doesn't have the legs on it, they probably got taken off at some point - there are threaded mounts for them on the bottom. Keep us posted on what you find out - might apply to mine

-Ian

Charlie · #5 01-12-2006, 03:40 PM

It's kinda hard to read the model on the set, but it looks like it says 23BK152AW. It's likely that the only diff between mine and yours is the cabinet. I might try pluggin it in later with the Variac and see what happens. Everything on the top of the chassis looks good. Haven't looked in the cage yet. After taking a closer look, I'll probably try. Hell... it might work as is!

jpdylon · #6 01-12-2006, 03:57 PM

I have some old sams that may have the moto you've got, or at least a preview packet. I'll let you know what I find.

Charlie · #7 01-12-2006, 04:53 PM

Thanks, but I already have folders 1-1700. I think this set is in folder 720. I just haven't taken the time to pull so I can avoid starting on another set before finishing the several others I have.

bgadow · #8 01-12-2006, 10:19 PM

A good save. I always hate to see a house like that go away. Something good came out of it, anyway.

I looked at a set from about this year awhile back. A guy in the next town was trying to get rid of his radio/tv collection & it included this basic tv in a different cabinet. Try as I might I couldn't get a price out of him, only "I'm not gonna give them away" and none of the collection was exciting enough to pay much for. I do own the 1960 version of this set, still using the old 21" tube. It needs a crt (and I have a NOS rebuild in the attic) but then should make for a decent performer.

veg-o-matic · #9 01-13-2006, 08:37 AM

Charles!

Is that a pink Dualette I see next to the Motorola?

Took me a while to notice it; asleep at the switch, I guess.

Oooooh.

veg

Charlie · #10 01-13-2006, 12:10 PM

Sure is, Bubba... but only half. And the half that's in the pic isn't so great. It's a parts set, the back half is missing, and the front half is somewhat busted up. I have a complete tan/brown Dualette with a weak CRT. i was hoping swap out the 17DKP4, but found out the pink set's tube is just as weak as the brown one. So, I'll just save the pink one in case I find I need any chassis parts.

It just occurred to me... the pink Sylvania looks like it would go well with the pink house!

Perhaps I should carry it down there and take their picture together.

RetroHacker · #11 01-14-2006, 11:37 AM

I just checked mine - and it's the same chassis. Only mine came with free spiders.

-Ian

Charlie · #12 01-14-2006, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroHacker

Only mine came with free spiders.
-Ian

I've been there before... once I brought home a late-50's Grundig console radio. Went to pull the radio chassis out, and nearly dropped everything... when a half dozen cock roaches came scattering out!

kx250rider · #13 01-14-2006, 12:30 PM

2 live rats ran out of a 16" RCA '49 combination TV once for me! They had been in there quiet for several days since I brought the TV home, and then I took the front bezel out to clean the tube face...... WOW SURPRISE!

I was so not-ready that by the time I realized it, they had run loose into my garage

Charles