I almost lost my Zenith 19r20 Royal R down the steps. I have had this set for 15 years or so and have moved it a few times with no troubles. Well I was bringing it down the basement steps to the shop to finally recap it and to make room upstairs for my 64 Zenith Roundie so it doesn't have to sit in my screen porch overwinter. So on the way down the chassis decides To pop off the knobs and head for the floor. I managed to catch it thankfully. The sets not too big but a little awkward and heavy for the back. My leg was scratched up but I think everything else is ok. I know I never took out those screws on the bottom. So they must have been out a long time. So moral is to double check the mounting screws! And get help.:thmbsp:

I second this motion. I once bought a Hoffman console about 60 miles from my house and went to pick it up in my truck. After I got home, I discovered that the chassis mounting bolts were missing. The chassis had shifted, and came very close to stressing the (good) crt to where it might have broken.

I guess that the last TV serviceman that worked on the set was too lazy to replace them. I have seen missing screws on many a TV back, but this was the first time all of the chassis mounting screws were missing.

Another thing to check on a set that's been "parked" on a semi-enclosed porch is that you don't have a nice bigazz wasp or hornet's nest to argue with on the way down or up the stairs...

I have not had that(bees/wasps) happen to me. However, I did sit on a porch swing when I was a child that had a yellow jacket nest under it. Got stung several times.

I remember somebody here told the tale of loading up an old console radio-a Big Black Dial Zenith, or somesuch- in his van, setting off triumphantly for home, & nearly being eaten alive by dozens of angry wasps...Damn near wrecked, nearly tore his van-and old radio-all up. And RIGHT NOW is the primo time for them critters, too.

That's happened to all of us. I can't remember ever having a (damage-resulting) chassis bolt accident, but it's been close. I'd say, overall, about 80% of all TVs are missing at least a couple chassis bolts, and also back cover screws. There's nothing like having the back swing loose like a pendulum on one remaining screw, and shear the neck off the tube. THAT's happened to me a few times...

Charles

I once lost a 12UP4 CRT from not bolting a chassis back down. I pulled the chassis from a Zenith "Claridge" table model TV, Ran into several issues so I slid the chassis back into the cabinet and set it aside on the floor to work on later. 2 months went by before I had time to work on the TV again, When I lifted the TV (from the front) to move it to my bench the chassis slid out the back and crash!!! It was only a foot or so off the ground but the impact was enough to kill the crt and it immediately went to air. This was a rebuilt 12UP4 from Hawkeye I bought from a guy for $180.00 just a few months before. I always check the chassis bolts now.
Jim

Yesterday I received a 1948 Philco 48-700 tv via UPS. The bottom bolts were gone and UPS delivered the TV on its side. The 7GP4 and several tubes were broken. So I will have to get a replacement CRT.

Great advice,, always check the gear out before moving.
Dan