Hallicrafters T-506 scored

[bandersen]

I saw newhallone's post about an Admiral 20X122 for $30 up in Michigan. It's about 3 hrs away from me, but that's an awesome price so I contact the seller.

Someone beat me to it but... he has another set for sale. A Hallicrafters T-506. I grabbed a friend to keep me company and drove up to Grand Rapids, MI.
7 hours later, I'm finally back home

So here she is - pretty good shape. Just one knob missing - anyone have a spare ?


Needs a little refinishing, but nothing too bad.


Nice, original back. Except someone installed a 1/4" jack for an external speaker At least they did a clean job.


Ugh, more oxidized cadmium plating I think
The black knobs have gone all white with oxidation/mold too.


The chassis seems to be all original and unmolested other than that audio jack.


I popped the CRT in another set. My streak of good 7JP4s continues



Now for the icing on the cake. The seller has a bunch of old radios so I ask if he has any spare tubes for sale.
Yep, I got an 80 and 483 globe for my Sparton 931.
I just need one more 483 and I'm in business

[Sam Cogley]

I had no idea that Hallicrafters made TVs.

That white oxide crap on the brown knobs is easy to clean up - stop at the auto parts store and pick up some cleaner for plastic trim and convertible windows. late 40s/early 50s American Flyer train couplers form that white junk, too - that's where I learned to clean it up.

[newhallone]

Cool. I knew posting that would help someone out.

[Sandy G]

Yew DAWG !! Ah HATE Yew...(grin) Seriously, GREAT score !! W/a good 7JP4 like that, way over half the battle's won, I would think...Can't wait to see it up 'n' runnin'...

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by Sam Cogley

I had no idea that Hallicrafters made TVs.

That white oxide crap on the brown knobs is easy to clean up - stop at the auto parts store and pick up some cleaner for plastic trim and convertible windows. late 40s/early 50s American Flyer train couplers form that white junk, too - that's where I learned to clean it up.

Yep, they made TVs from 1948-1958

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1946-49-HALLICRAFTERS.htm
http://www.tvhistory.tv/1950-59-HALLICRAFTERS.htm

Thanks for the tip about cleaning the knobs.
Bob

[Phil Nelson]

Originally Posted by Sam Cogley

I had no idea that Hallicrafters made TVs.

I have three Hallis:

http://antiqueradio.org/halli505.htm
http://antiqueradio.org/hallit-67.htm
http://antiqueradio.org/HallicraftersT-54Television.htm

The 505 and T-54 have the same chassis as the 506, only different cabinets. The T-67 is a typical late 1940s 10-inch set, apart from the pushbutton tuner.

Phil

[Sam Cogley]

Originally Posted by bandersen

Yep, they made TVs from 1948-1958

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1946-49-HALLICRAFTERS.htm
http://www.tvhistory.tv/1950-59-HALLICRAFTERS.htm

Thanks for the tip about cleaning the knobs.
Bob

Even with that stuff, it's going to take a lot of elbow grease to get rid of it, and it will probably come back a time or two, though in lesser concentration. I got to the point where rubbing the crud down with the cleaner, then attacking it with a bristle brush in my Dremel was the only way I could cope with it.

[Phil Nelson]

Maybe that is one of the dreaded soy plastics that seem to keep breaking down, more or less, no matter what's done.

A couple of days ago, I heard an ocean scientist talking about modern plastic and how water creatures get sick from eating it. He noted that we have known how to make more degradable soy-based plastic since the 1930s.

"Damn straight," I said, "and I've got the rotting radio knobs in my workshop to prove it!"

Your knobs still have the original shape. As a last resort, if they continue to deteriorate, you could use one to make a model and then cast acrylic repros.

Phil

[Sandy G]

Thinking out loud here-Do you have access to one of those ultrasonic jewelry cleaning gizmotrons ? That MIGHT be what the doctor ordered... Again, just a thought...

[Charlie]

That's great... double win with set and tubes! That's a nice H-C! That chassis sure looks easy to rebuild!

Older Motorola knobs are bad about that funky white film as well. You get them cleaned up real good with soapy water and a toothbrush... and a few months later, they need it again!

I wonder... after getting them clean real good, perhaps coating them with some clear spray enamel paint would preserve them. I would try on one of the rear knobs first and see how they look several months later.

[Sam Cogley]

With the right chemical cleaner, that stuff should stop forming eventually.

[bandersen]

I cleaned up one of them using a toothbrush and lots of elbow grease. They're actually in really good condition under that white film.

Originally Posted by Sam Cogley

With the right chemical cleaner, that stuff should stop forming eventually.

That's what I'm hoping. That or a clear coat like Charlie suggested.

[Sam Cogley]

If you have a spare knob, try the clear coat. I'd be interested in the results, but I fear that the crap would form under it.

This isn't the type of crumbling, decaying mess that some plastics become. In my experience, the original plastic is just as strong as ever under that nasty waxy oxide.

[Reece]

I believe this stuff keeps exuding from the plastic. I have some radio knobs that do that and have a sickening stink like rancid butter or something. Don't think there's any permanent cure, just cleaning as necessary. And holding your nose.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by Reece

I believe this stuff keeps exuding from the plastic. I have some radio knobs that do that and have a sickening stink like rancid butter or something. Don't think there's any permanent cure, just cleaning as necessary. And holding your nose.

I'd say closer to vomit I have a couple boxes with 100s of knobs in each. It's pretty nasty when I need to go searching in them.

Once I get them all cleaned up, I going to try some simple treatments like Novus #1 and furniture polish. I'm a little leary of using something with a solvent like lacquer has cause it might melt the plastic surface.