I recently rescued this little set from a basement along with the Scott 6T11. I searched all over but just couldn't find the back for it. Even so, I saw a lot of potential and brought it home.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3687/11141780825_7ba29703ba_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11141780825/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5538/11245930634_90536c8de2_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11245930634/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7349/11157770853_94b381aae7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11157770853/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5546/11245944215_41b694ffe2_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11245944215/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/11245942105_1525b5fc19_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11245942105/)

The replacement "ECHO Tube Co." 10ABP4 CRT tests like new :) I think it's a rebuild.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3790/11245913324_9a7bbe5b49_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11245913324/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7429/11157776163_7e1343d111_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11157776163/)

Sure enough, it cleaned up nicely. I think Sandy might say it's "cute as a bug's ear" :D
For sure it's my new favorite portable.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7297/11157617434_7ca27eb2de_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11157617434/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7338/11157624806_be7d27d6ac_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11157624806/)

I'd love to bring it back to life but can't a model # anywhere on it. I looked through all the Riders index but nothing matches. They were out of the TV business by 1960 so I figure it's gotta be around '57-'59.

Any ideas on the model ?
Also any thoughts about replacing that back ?
Maybe fabricate one from scratch or is there a similar model under another brand that might fit :scratch2:

Bob, this is a guess, no pics but its the only metal case shown. Not much info

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/sonora_rad_p_1759p175.html

Prob not as it states its a 17 inch portable. That's a big a#& portable.

Looking at that big honking sweep tube in there I wonder if this is another true AC/DC set?

I did some research and here's what I found out so far: Sonora declared bankruptcy in early 1957 and stopped production by a least then, if not earlier. In 1959 Trav'ler bought the name and announced they were going to begin selling products with the Sonora brand again. In other words, Sonoras were just re-branded Trav'lers after that point. I looked at some of the Trav'ler portables from 1959-60 and they sure are the same style as Bob's set.

I have a Sams index from 1962 and I cross refrenced the Trav'lers and Sonoras together. I was able to eliminate some of them, but this is a list of the Sams folders that I can't find any info on to know which models they cover and/or a picture to know if it's Bob's set: 413-2, 472-15, 497-2, 502-2, 541-2

Maybe somebody has these folders and can look to see if they match Bob's set.

I have a Sams index from 1962 and I cross refrenced the Trav'lers and Sonoras together. I was able to eliminate some of them, but this is a list of the Sams folders that I can't find any info on to know which models they cover and/or a picture to know if it's Bob's set: 413-2, 472-15, 497-2, 502-2, 541-2

Maybe somebody has these folders and can look to see if they match Bob's set.

Hmm. The only one that looks close is 413-2(models 1730-1731). But it's a 17 inch set. Any models listed that start with a 10?

That is a cute tv.... Boy they crammed a lota stuff into that little cabinet.....

You didn't find a turntable in there did you....?

Think I found it. :) I can scan or copy as needed.

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/Kuehn/SonoraTV_zps759f6828.jpg

Good job finding it! It must have been one of Sonora's last sets and Trav'ler used the design when they bought them out. Some of the Trav'ler sets used the same handle/antenna.

I had a 10" Truetone that used the same handle and antenna, i thought it was a Wells Gardner built set but perhaps not.

I like that set with everything so accessible!

It would be nice to work on compared to all the RCA's I have where you have to remove huge PCB shields and engage in other gymnastics to replace caps.

Think I found it. :) I can scan or copy as needed.

Awesome! I'd love to have a scan and I'll PM you my email address.

Can't WAIT to see the l'il feller up 'n' runnin'..

Now that I have the Sams, I see this set uses a 0.45 amp filament string. It should have a 8.4 VAC @ 0.45A 10ADP4 CRT , but instead I have a 6.3VAC @ 0.6A 10ABP4 :scratch2:

I ran into a similar issue with a Zenith bugeye set. The CRT worked OK, but certainly wasn't as bright as it could be.

Here it is next to an Admiral TS105 so you can really see how bulbous the front is.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2879/11260893333_50e4f798cc_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11260893333/)

Maybe I should keep an eye on eBay for a cabinet as empty ones do show up now and then like this Airline including knobs http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Television-Shell-1956-General-Electric-14-Portable-14TO14-/251393913708

Maybe I should keep an eye on eBay for a cabinet as empty ones do show up now and then like this Airline including knobs http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Television-Shell-1956-General-Electric-14-Portable-14TO14-/251393913708

Bob, that's a GE, with the bottom hacked out no less.

Oops. I saw an airplane on a knob and assumed it was an Airline.

In case anyone's interested, Echo Tube Co. was a rebuilder in Chicago.

Model 666? It probably didn't sell too well in the Bible Belt. Something about 666 being the devil's area code... :D

Model 666? It probably didn't sell too well in the Bible Belt. Something about 666 being the devil's area code... :D

It'd be kinda ironic if that was the red on black two tone cabinet model...:D

Looking at that big honking sweep tube in there I wonder if this is another true AC/DC set?

I looked at the Sams today. It has a voltage doubler. The circuitry is about the same as the larger Sonoras and Travlers. The only difference is the tubes are 450ma versions of the tubes used in the earlier models. Also, the pictures of the chassis, show Wards Airline branded tubes.
Another observation of mine, would be, who in their right mind would replace a CRT in a seven year old set, that cost under one hundred dollars new. :scratch2:

Bob, you probably noticed this but both tuner tubes seem to have gone to air.

A buddy of mine has the EXACT set in his basement, pink and cream too, but with the "Airline" name on it. I had eyed it's unique "buy-eye" look along with it's wire-type front feet years ago. It needs TLC, but has the back.

... Another observation of mine, would be, who in their right mind would replace a CRT in a seven year old set, that cost under one hundred dollars new. :scratch2:

No idea, but I assume they got it cheap - it's not even the right type !

Bob, you probably noticed this but both tuner tubes seem to have gone to air.

Yep, noticed that right away ;) The tip is even broken off one of them. Hopefully replacements are in my meager stash of .45 amp tubes. Now that the Dumont is off the bench, I'm going to do a little house cleaning then put this puppy up for a closer look.

No idea, but I assume they got it cheap - it's not even the right type !



Yep, noticed that right away ;) The tip is even broken off one of them. Hopefully replacements are in my meager stash of .45 amp tubes. Now that the Dumont is off the bench, I'm going to do a little house cleaning then put this puppy up for a closer look.

IIRC, the tuner uses a 6CL8 and a 4CB6. :yes:

So close - it's a 4BC5 ;) I'll have to venture into the frigid attic to look for them.

I used to use ECHO rebuilt tubes.. He sometimes used the brand PRECISION tube.
He was a one-two man outfit on the Southside of Chicago - somewhere around 63rd and Kedzie I think.
He was very much the expert. The place was a fascinating workplace. Crude but effective. His tubes always turned out beautifully. He prided himself on how broadcasters would bring studio CRTs to him to rebuild.
He would write the date of pickup on the tube. He would give a warranty of "a year, a month and a day. " just to cover the tech's butt if he couldn't get the dud tube back in time... Quite a character. I learned a lot from him.

So close - it's a 4BC5 ;) I'll have to venture into the frigid attic to look for them.
I looked at the schematic again! I didn't think, the tube makers, made a 4BC5, as it was a somewhat dated tube design at the time. There was a newer issue tube at the time, a 4CE5.
I think, the tuners were made by OAK, a Chicago firm. The UHF/VHF model has a 6U8A and a 6BK7A, plus of course a 3AF4. :yes:

I get the set up on the bench last night and took a closer look. It's like a big 3-D puzzle with parts tucked in every which way!

No wonder there are so many reference photos in the Sams service info.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7330/11342829714_a0cf1b0f70_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342829714/) http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2878/11342728525_b973ba5d3d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342728525/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3719/11342726875_13a75b7afd_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342726875/) http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/11342722775_f70d4bc4ce_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342722775/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/11342832194_127ef82a4a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342832194/)

Here are all the tubes. Five are "Super Wards Airline", three GE, one Sylvania and one unmarked
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/11342834004_4a78d90450_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342834004/)

I was puzzled at how to get the tubes out of the tapered shields for a while. Then I realized they split apart. Be careful not to cut yourself on the sharp edges!
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5528/11342724425_8d93fe2c22_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11342724425/)

Everything appears to be present and original except for whatever held the yoke on the CRT neck and the centering rings. Next, I'm going to do a resistance check on the yoke and transformers and continue cleaning.

That speaker looks a little suspiciously Japanese and non original - TV is very neat though, I like it a lot

Is that a 12DQ6 and is that what's called for? My 8" Emerson had a 6DQ6 when I got it, but it had been subbed in for the original correct 6BQ6.

That speaker looks a little suspiciously Japanese and non original - TV is very neat though, I like it a lot

Yes, it does have JAPAN stamped on it. Can't tell if it's original or not though.

Is that a 12DQ6 and is that what's called for? My 8" Emerson had a 6DQ6 when I got it, but it had been subbed in for the original correct 6BQ6.

It's a 17DQ6 and it is what's called for. Here's the whole lineup

4BC5
6CL8
6AN8
6U8
8AW8
8AW8
4DT6
8CM7
17DQ6
17AX4
1X2
10ADP4

Plus a couple 1N60 for video detector and horizontal AFC

Is that a 12DQ6 and is that what's called for? My 8" Emerson had a 6DQ6 when I got it, but it had been subbed in for the original correct 6BQ6.

My preference would be a 6DQ6, but both of the transformer powered, eight inch sets, the RCA and Emerson were originally equipped with a 6BQ6.

A 6AV5 could have done it without breakin' a sweat; 6DQ6 seems like extreme overkill.

I think it's fair to say the engineering on this set is a little shaky in general. For example they used a 47 ohm 10 watt dropper resistor in the 0.45 amp filament string. That comes out to 9.5 watts so they really should have used at least a 13 watt resistor or, better yet, a 15. Also, assuming 117 VAC, a 51 ohm dropper would be a better choice.

Anyway, I just finished ohming out all the transforms, choke, yoke, flyback etc. and they're all dead on so the restoration is a go :D

A 6AV5 could have done it without breakin' a sweat; 6DQ6 seems like extreme overkill.
The GE 9" sets use a 18A5, which is a simular design tube with a 300ma heater, operating on low B+. Also the GE has a 70 degree CRT, where the set in question is a 90 degree CRT and a voltage doubler power supply.

I removed the speaker so I could replace the caps underneath.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/11375483864_a78c55239e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11375483864/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/11375451916_c740bc0079_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11375451916/)

I don't recall seeing an Astron Corp cap before.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3778/11375487064_1a092e585d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11375487064/)

Astron sounds like a sub-division of Spacely Sprockets.

Isn't or wasn't Golden Voice (as on that speaker) the way that Motorola branded their speakers? Of course, anything is possible across the years and across the oceans.

Isn't or wasn't Golden Voice (as on that speaker) the way that Motorola branded their speakers? Of course, anything is possible across the years and across the oceans.

The speaker was probably removed from a scapped Motorola product. They were one of the first U.S. firms to use Japanese parts.
Regarding the Astron capacitor, many East coast firms, like Olympic used their products. :boring:

I pried off the HV cage and found the coating flaking off the flyback. I'll spread some HV silicone on it.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3819/11389797815_78f0298677_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11389797815/)

The power supply was very easy to recap. The new parts are much smaller and there is a convenient terminal strip with unused terminals for the diodes. I left out any series droppers for now. If the B+ ends up being to high, I'll increase the value of the fusistor.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/11389830244_69550ca0a3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11389830244/)

I was looking over your fine workmanship. It's amazing how small the new issue electrolytic and film caps are.
The Astron cap was a dual section, wasn't it? Also I see, there's another large paper electrolytic below.

The Astron was a single section 200uF @ 150 VDC. That plus a 140uF @ 300VDC, a couple diodes and a choke form the voltage doubler B+ supply. The other cap peeking out below is a three section electrolytic.

The Astron was a single section 200uF @ 150 VDC. That plus a 140uF @ 300VDC, a couple diodes and a choke form the voltage doubler B+ supply. The other cap peeking out below is a three section electrolytic.

I worked on a few 17" Sonoras, Sonora built airlines and a lot of Trav'lers.
Never a 10 inch, but I noticed, how similar the circuit is. The big bomber on the left of your original picture is the 140mfd @ 300 wvdc. What brand was that cap.? I see you reversed the location.

It was unmarked. It made more sense to have the 200uF closer to the AC line where one end connects while the 140uF hooks up to the seleniums on the right. I bet they would have done it that way originally if there was enough room.

It was unmarked. It made more sense to have the 200uF closer to the AC line where one end connects while the 140uF hooks up the the seleniums on the right. I bet they would have done it that way originally if there was enough room.
I should've said that, I would've done it the same way.
It was great that the terminal strip was there and it turned out, without having to install another one. :yes:

I finished replacing the last of the electrolytics tonight. This time it was an Astron three section and I did add a terminal strip.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/11430100285_5ca3fcc7c8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11430100285/)

I finished replacing the last of the electrolytics tonight. This time it was an Astron three section and I did add a terminal strip.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5513/11430100285_5ca3fcc7c8_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11430100285/)

It's amazing how much interest this set generated. Sometimes, you get satisfaction, getting back to the basics. Wait until you get the set working, with good picture and sound and unplug it. They make the strangest sound, when the caps discharge. You don't hear it, when you shut if off with the volume control. I never heard it on any other make, except Trav'lers.
BTW, the tuners are made by Sarkes Tarzian, according to Sams.

I'm enjoying working on it because it's something different. I have more Admirals, Motorolas and RCAs to get to and this is a nice break. It's also nice that it matches the Sams service info perfectly :)

I just finished recapping tonight and the set has really opened up with the much smaller new caps. Check out this comparison.

At the top is the original 0.5 uF @ 200v cap.

Below that are

0.47 @ 630V
0.47 @ 400v
0.47 @ 250v

Amazingly, the smallest one at the bottom is a new line from Panasonic - 0.47uF @ 450 volts!
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/11447217303_46688c2b88_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11447217303/)

Here's one of the two green 1N60 germanium diodes. This one is used in the sync circuit. The other is a detector hidden inside an IF can. I hope they're still good.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/11447215983_d4496f4ef4_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11447215983/)

This was the most annoying cap to get at. I had to bend back some metal tabs and unmount the contrast control to gt at it.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/11447215173_aa80abbafb_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11447215173/)

The horizontal wave shape coil was damaged but some epoxy cement fixed it right up.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/11447142026_7fc7df2afd_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11447142026/)

So here it is just about done. Tomorrow I'll recoat the flyback and start putting it back together. I had to order a couple oddball tubes types that should be hear in a few days. Soon I hope to hear that strange sound you described :yes:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/11447146286_5be4d794a7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11447146286/)

This has to be the smallest flyback I've encountered so far. The wire gauge is pretty thick though. Perhaps because it's an auto-transformer ? Meaning that there isn't a separate primary and secondary.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7383/11459892883_053dc10501_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11459892883/)

I recoated it with RTV-133 silicone smoothed out with a paper towel dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/11459720435_ed37b8cef3_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11459720435/)

[QUOTE=bandersen;3090167]This has to be the smallest flyback I've encountered so far. The wire gauge is pretty thick though. Perhaps because it's an auto-transformer ? Meaning that there isn't a separate primary and secondary.


I recoated it with RTV-133 silicone smoothed out with a paper towel dipped in isopropyl alcohol.
Is the RTV-133 available at home centers, or do you get it from one of the electronics distributors. :scratch2:

No, it's pretty expensive stuff ($65 for 10 oz!) and few places carry it. It's also rated for 20kV / mm and gross overkill. I'm sure there are less expensive silicones that would work just as well.

I found the service info for the Airline version on Ebay. The knobs are different, but in the same location.
http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=181104&d=1387685553

That location in Minneapolis is still a TV service shop.

Phil Nelson

Cool :)

I tried turning the controls at the back and found that one is frozen and the other two are crusty. Luckily, some DeOxit fixed them right up :) Some tubes I ordered haven't arrived yet so I'll just have to be patient and wait to power it up :sigh:
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2813/11490218705_211df8ec56_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11490218705/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/11490253024_be6827dab2_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11490253024/)

I found the service info for the Airline version on Ebay. The knobs are different, but in the same location.
http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=181104&d=1387685553

That's the 17" model, the one I worked on more often. :boring:

My tubes finally arrived :) As soon as I get the yoke wired back in I'll fire it up.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7416/11537247815_ef781a4c7f_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11537247815/)

[QUOTE=bandersen;3090629]My tubes finally arrived :) As soon as I get the yoke wired back in I'll fire it up.

Gosh Bob, as hard as we try, do we ever have all of the tubes that we need? Seems as though another orphan set shows up at the door and it needs yet another different tube!

Great thread and thanks for keeping us informed.

I have a few thousand tubes up in the attic, but very few 0.45A series strung type tubes.

The first power up was a mixed bag. Horrible buzzing sound out of the flyback area and no HV. So I popped of the HOT plate cap lead and fiddled around with the tuner. Eventually, I got some halfway decent sound. Next I'll double check my wiring the the horizontal area. I hope it's something simple.

First though I need to wrap some presents.

BTW I do hear that weird sound when I power it off :yes:

I stayed up late troubleshooting and it finally paid off.

First, I found this 8200 ohm power resistor was open. I cracked it open for a look inside and found a break in the wire towards one end.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3750/11543992166_c51d1133ac_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543992166/) http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/11543859685_9e8123f051_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543859685/)

The flyback was still making horrible squeals though so I fired up a scope. The waveforms are quite odd. There are bursts of 15kHz with long periods on no oscillation. Tweaking the horizontal hold and how wave shape controls improved it somewhat.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/11544001873_2a341a1660_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11544001873/) http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2833/11543989846_673399086a_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543989846/)

Eventually, I tracked the problem down to a bad 1N60 diode in the sync circuit. It was replaced with what I think is a 1N34.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/11543895914_a08165616f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543895914/)

That finally produced some HV so I hooked up the CRT. It took a long time to warm up since it's a .6A filament in a .45A string, but eventually a raster appeared.

Now I know why there was on ion trap magnet on the CRT. When it was rebuilt, they used a straight gun so it has a nice ion burn in the center :(
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7391/11543894874_ffa09ab9a4_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543894874/)

Shortly after I got the raster, I noticed a burning smell. Some sniffing led me to this fried resistor. I doubled checked my wiring and found I installed the 10uF capacitor backwards :o
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/11543894004_b12826ff24_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543894004/)

Replacing those components gave me a stable raster so I hooked up a signal source. Clearly the horizontal is out of whack.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/11543893444_951d6cb6e6_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543893444/)

Fighting with the hold and waveshape controls got me a stable image. The burn isn't too noticeable if you don't think about it.

I expect the CRT would be even brighter and sharper with a proper 6.3 @ 0.6A filament supply, but I think that would also make the ion burn worse faster.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5547/11543984746_0e79a9da05_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543984746/) http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/11543852485_2ddb407cde_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543852485/)

Not bad for such a simple set. Next I need to rig up some thing to hold the yoke in place. I think I can get by without the centering rings.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/11543853645_1109b9d8ee_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/11543853645/)

The horizontal osc, afc circuit is sort of a knock-off of the RCA sychroguide design, even down to the .01 cap across the phasing coil.
I see one of the tube suppliers has "dollar days", where a lot of those odd 450ma tubes that your set uses are a buck each.
A good time to pick up more spares.

I used to use ECHO rebuilt tubes.. He sometimes used the brand PRECISION tube.
He was a one-two man outfit on the Southside of Chicago - somewhere around 63rd and Kedzie I think.
He was very much the expert. The place was a fascinating workplace. Crude but effective. His tubes always turned out beautifully. He prided himself on how broadcasters would bring studio CRTs to him to rebuild.
He would write the date of pickup on the tube. He would give a warranty of "a year, a month and a day. " just to cover the tech's butt if he couldn't get the dud tube back in time... Quite a character. I learned a lot from him.

I wonder why he put a straight gun in this CRT ? Seems unlikely bent guns hard to get in the early 60s. Maybe it was just a mistake ?

I put an ad in the classifieds for a replacement.

I see one of the tube suppliers has "dollar days", where a lot of those odd 450ma tubes that your set uses are a buck each. A good time to pick up more spares.

Which one ?

I wonder why he put a straight gun in this CRT ? Seems unlikely bent guns hard to get in the early 60s. Maybe it was just a mistake ?

I put an ad in the classifieds for a replacement.



Which one ?
I thought, that's where you ordered the 4BC5's for a buck each. The 6CL8's were $3.00 each.
I mentioned the firm before. ESRC, located in Florida.
In going to order a mess of the dollar specials, myself. :thmbsp:
BTW, the prices are only good 'till 12/31/13.

Nope, I got my tubes from an eBay seller for $1.25 each. I only have one other .45A set, but I may order more tubes from ESRC anyway. Can't let a good sale go to waste :) Thanks for the tip.

http://www.esrcvacuumtubes.com/dollar_days.html

Nice troubleshooting.
Funny how an open sync diode (is that the clipper?) can let video in and screw up the sweep so bad it can really throw you off.

I have three of these sets in cream color with the Airline brand on them.

Nope, I got my tubes from an eBay seller for $1.25 each. I only have one other .45A set, but I may order more tubes from ESRC anyway. Can't let a good sale go to waste :) Thanks for the tip.

http://www.esrcvacuumtubes.com/dollar_days.html

They extended the offer until 6/30/14. I guess they have so many of these losers, that they're cluttering up the place. :D

Here's an Airline on ebay http://r.ebay.com/P6QsqU

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjI4WDY4MA==/z/SJ0AAMXQVT9S2vB-/$_3.JPG

Here's an Airline on ebay http://r.ebay.com/P6QsqU

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjI4WDY4MA==/z/SJ0AAMXQVT9S2vB-/$_3.JPG

$200 for that rust bucket!
I'd be hard pressed to pay 1% of the asking. I like the white painted stove handle.
The reason the volume and contrast knobs are so large, as they had to be removed to adjust the service controls. Vertical lin and ht, etc. :sigh:

banderson
My family had two of those metal Admiral TV's when I was a kid, one was red and white and I think the other one was 2 tone brown or copper.
When I got married, I got the red & white one. Wish I still had it.

Those Admirals do show up on ebay and craigslist so you might be able to find one.

I decided to put the set back together while I wait and see if any parts sets or spare CRTs turn up. Unfortunately, after playing about 10 minutes something snapped inside and the screen went dark although the sound was still OK. I checked in back and the damper was red plating :pity:

Eventually I'll get around to pulling it apart, just to satisfy my curiosity if nothing else, but for now it's back to other projects.
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5473/12092680144_678910aa7d_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/12092680144/)

I was poking around on ebay and stumbled across the Sams for the Airline version.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-AIRLINE-GRX-4030A-4130A-TELEVISION-SERVICE-MANUAL-PHOTOFACT-SCHEMATIC-FIX-/351562531317?hash=item51dac281f5:g:7~MAAOSw9mFWL~4 F

It's a GRX-4030A which lead me to finding it on tvhsitory.tv.

I still haven't gotten around to fixing mine, but at least now I know what the knobs look like. I wouldn't mind finding the Airline version too.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1957-Airline-GRX4030A.JPG

I was poking around on ebay and stumbled across the Sams for the Airline version.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1957-AIRLINE-GRX-4030A-4130A-TELEVISION-SERVICE-MANUAL-PHOTOFACT-SCHEMATIC-FIX-/351562531317?hash=item51dac281f5:g:7~MAAOSw9mFWL~4 F

It's a GRX-4030A which lead me to finding it on tvhsitory.tv.

I still haven't gotten around to fixing mine, but at least now I know what the knobs look like. I wouldn't mind finding the Airline version too.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1957-Airline-GRX4030A.JPG
I always found it interesting that some of the simplest TV's, radios and phonos get a lot of entries on this forum, which is great with me. I had to reread the entire thread, as it's been a while. :thmbsp:

Well, flash forward about 6 years and I finally scored the Airline version! :banana::banana:

Not the most eye catching color scheme, but it's in very good condition.

Now I finally know what the back and knobs look like. Seems that the back is identical to the front but without the center punched out.

The oddball 8.4VAC 10ADP4 CRT has a nice filament glow but 0 emissions. I'm guessing the cathode is open. I'll attempt to reweld it.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49584442076_6b1ba7aebf_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ixBe8J)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49584442111_1942c3620b_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ixBe9k)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49584675137_a112abfbf0_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ixCqq2)

Looks like it's seen very little servicing. Some of the tubes appear to be the original Airline branded ones including the CRT.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49583944918_5a1c55ee96_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ixyFm3)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49584674827_bf8df0773f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ixCqjF)

Here's the National Video datasheet for the 10ADP4


https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/201/1/10ADP4.pdf

They claim "The low filament current reduces the amount of heat produced and lends itself to a compact TV design."

Umm
Filament = 8.4 VAC @ 0.45A = 3.78W

compare that to the standard

6.3 VAC @ 0.6A = 3.78W

Yes, big savings :rolleyes:

That is a very nice example! I was surprised to see how far up in the North woods that one migrated. Probably some vacationer from IL dragged it up there. Now back in it's home town I believe. :thmbsp:

That's a nice little portable.

Plenty of ad copy has technically wrong baloney that is laughable but when it makes it to a datasheet it becomes a strange combination of sad and hilarious...

There's no denying that a 450ma vs 600ma series string saves some power when connected across the AC line. Only when you compare those two CRT's individually does that idea seem wacky. So I think the power saving claim holds some merit, at least to me. ;)

Ah yes, good point. I hadn't thought about the whole string - just the CRT itself.

The 450 saves power, but only when comparing single heater string sets... I'm pretty sure I have seen lower current strings in parallel on higher tube count AC/DC sets.

The 450 saves power, but only when comparing single heater string sets... For which many of those odd ball heater types were intended, according to tube manual lore. :D

I've been wondering about what appear to be burn marks on the carrying handle.

Just took another look at the original sale listing and I think they might be from the power cord!

Perhaps the nylon power cord plasticizer reacted with the handle ?

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49589276546_0a67309365_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iy31fE)

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49584900823_9ecdf3385f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ixDzva)

If they are not too deep and you can't find a chemical to safely clean it off one option would be to file it off with a fine file then get it down to some multiple of 1k grit sandpaper and finish with polish.

The first thing I thought seeing that picture was 'what kind of chain smoker carries a TV and a cig at the same time enough to make that burn pattern?' but the cord makes more sense.

Perhaps the nylon power cord plasticizer reacted with the handle ?
I've seen a lot of that over the years on small pocket transistor radios where they wrapped the earphone cord around the radio.

.

I've seen a lot of that over the years on small pocket transistor radios where they wrapped the earphone cord around the radio.

.
I have a Magnavox transistor table radio which has a big gouge in the back...right where the power cord rests on the plastic. I've also got some joysticks for old home computers with the same problem, it's quite a fascinating phenomenon.

That antenna looks pretty good on your Sonora set. Maybe you can borrow it until a better one appears?

Another option since you have 2 to these would be to make one perfect keeper and another to pass along to someone else.
I did that with a trio of GE 14" portables among other things.