Rare Hallicrafters CTC4 clone resurrected from the dead.

[ohohyodafarted]

Originally Posted by Phil Nelson

An inspiring tale. Crumbled cabinet, fire, mud daubers -- something for everyone!

In these basket-case stories, it's alway interesting how many components can be salvaged. Some people might have taken one look at that chassis and left it for dead. You replaced many things, but a number of the original components survived and are still working well.

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

Thanks Phill,
You are correct. Even a basket case can be made to function again if you have the patients and desire to address all the issues one at a time. It also helps to have a diverse set of skills and friends that can help you when there is something you need to farm out. IE: the creation of a replica back on a CNC router table, or somebody in the electroplating business. My skill level in electronics is at best hobbiest level. Many of the guys here are certainly light years ahead of me when it comes to electronic theory, but even a guy like myself, can get buy with the help of the rest of the community, for which I am humbly greatful.

[ohohyodafarted]

A heartfelt thank you for all the kind comments from all of you. It is humbling to say the least when you get compliments from people who understand this area of electronics so much better than I do. But the neet thing is that the process of understanding this stuff is an evolutionary process. And little by little I pick something up from you guys that helps me through the more difficult issues. The great part about this community of tv nuts is that we are helping to pass along our skill set to others.

Thanks and thanks again!!!

[Eric H]

Wow Bob, that is just amazing work, even the inside looks factory original!

You basically built a cabinet from scratch!
Have you asked Ed Reitan what number is stamped into his cabinet (where the 2 is on yours) If you have the number two set made it's unlikely there were many produced.

[ggregg]

The photos speak for themselves. What a set!!

[Sandy G]

Ya Done Good !!

[Einar72]

You should be very proud of your work, Bob! That Halli received the best of care in your ER!

[Sandy G]

Even the Hallicrafters book don't show the 21" TV... You know more than chuck Dachis !

[tvdude1]

Hats of to you BOB nice work.

[joemama99]

Amazing,just amazing...congratulations!!

[tubetwister]

Kudo`s # 24 amazing project.

[AUdubon5425]

Wow. Just wow.

[miniman82]

How's the alignment holding up? I should probably go through it again at some point, that first go around was kinda weird. Picture looks pretty good for now though, I'm impressed!

[ohohyodafarted]

I wanted to check the HV setting this morning. And while adjusting the HV control (burried above the power transformer) the raster suddenly went dead. Sound but no picture. I fiddled and fiddled with no luck finding the problem.. So....disconnect everything, unbolt the chassis, and drag the chassis downstairs to the basement lab.

IN the process of trying to find the no-raster problem I discovered that all my B+ voltages were running to high. And upon investigation, I discovered that I screwed up. Not very unusual, I screw up all the time.

I found that I have the B+ dropping resister wired improperly. I will fix that tomorrow. So I put the input AC on my variac and brought the line voltage down to 100vac which is now giving me the correct B+ So then I figured that with the B+ at 350 where it belongs I should reset the HV pot again. In so doing my hand bumped the end of the delay line and VIOLA I had my video back. There was a bad solder joint where the delay line lead is soldered to the terminal strip. Somebody had just tack soldered the lead on the terminal lug and the lead was never hooked through the hole in the lug.

So tomorrow I will address the issue with the B+ dropping resistor and put the chassis back in the cabinet and hopefully, I will be done for good this time.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Wow, Bob. That restoration about tops the cake. I'm very humbled by your level of dedication, patients, and attention to detail.

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

Even the Hallicrafters book don't show the 21" TV... You know more than chuck Dachis !

Hallicrafters is a mysterious company. I have had several radios (home radios; not ham sets), which have non-existent model numbers in any Hallicrafters lit. Someplace I also have a Hallicrafters 9" color TV with built-in VCR; made in the 90s or so. It's really a Funai, but I kept it from the trash due to the badge.

Charles