Suddenly there's a bunch of TV's on eBay at sane prices.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Motorola-Television-/220726860074?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336458992a

That's the same cabinet as my "Frankenrola" set (http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=248580). I saved all the pictures for future reference.

I put a lowball offer in on this item, and it was instantly accepted (....??).

One more project to throw on the pile!

Let's see if it arrives in one piece...

Glad you got it, many of the sets on ebay are wayyyyy overpriced! I hope you have better luck with the shipping then iv'e had...

So...yeah.

I hope you guys are sitting down for this--it showed up wrecked (the cabinet, anyway). But for a bent control shaft, the chassis seems ok (quick preliminary check). I'll probably be able to do a passable job gluing the thing back together (lots of epoxy and fiberglass) one day (when tinkering time is at less of a premium), but it remains to be seen how terrible the cracks will look. The knobs were smashed to smithereens, more or less.

Oh, well--live and learn. I certainly won't be making this mistake again. The seller is looking into getting compensation from "insurance coverage".:sigh:

Still not entirely sure what it is...I think it is a 17T-something. The label is missing. The chassis is marked "TS-314" (I think--the stamp is pretty smudged) and it has a 17" CRT.

Follow the eBay link at the beginning of this post to see the "BEFORE" pictures!!

....double sigh...

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzNjc5NTYwNWYtYzQ5Zi00MjljLWFlM zktM2RkMmE5NDE3NDFj&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzZGRhMWY5YmItOWRiNC00Y2M1LTk2M zAtYmU0ODkzM2YyOTZi&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzZDdlYzY3ZDctYWUxNy00MjI3LTg4M TgtY2Y3NTY5MGQyYjc3&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzMDllNmZmYzMtMjVkOS00MDE0LWIwN zQtMDNjZTQwNDg3ZmQw&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzMmNhNzBjYzktYjgzMi00ODhhLWJmY 2ItZmMxNzBmZTIwM2Yx&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzMzU5OGJmYWEtNjMxOC00ODBlLWI0N zMtMjY4YWNlZmE1MjQ4&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzNWJjMWY3ZTAtNzQ5Yy00Mzg4LTg0Z TctNDczNThmYTRmZDcy&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzODNmNjJhMTktMjRkZi00M2I2LWFiZ jYtMDVjYTA3ZjUyMDdi&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzYzg4NWQxN2ItMjEzNy00OGFhLWExZ jctZjczODIzNTJlNmRm&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzZWRmMGQ4ODctNmJmNS00Njg3LTk0N jQtNzE2Yzc2NzI4YzAz&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzZWYyYzc2ZmEtZDQzNC00YmNkLWFhM WMtZWJmNGQxNWM1MzVh&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzNmQzMWRlYzctZjlhZC00NDU1LWI2N DEtNDAxMzNhZTk2YTBl&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzZjk3YjY5MmItY2JhMC00Y2Q1LWI3M zYtZTk2MDI2OWEzNWRj&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6H4E9TueHnzM2ZjMTZhMjUtZWZiZi00NzllLTk5Z TYtNTcxNTIyMmMxOGRj&hl=en

can't see the pics.

indeed, bakelite rarely survives shipping esp old TV's I aways pass unless is close enough to pick up.

Ouch....

Ugh. I imagine mine survived because it was shipped without a chassis.

I believe this is the set - 17T5E

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1952-Motorola-17T5E.JPG

I thought it was the 17T5E too--but the "tvhistory" site notes that it has a TS-196 chassis, whereas mine seems to have a TS-314. That's why I'm not so sure...I don't have a supply of schematics to compare the two.

There are what appear to be two gigantic bright red resistors poking up above the chassis. I don't think they are a later modification (they look "factory" to me), and the one on the left is actually socketed (using those fittings that some radios use to connect the loop antenna--you can just see one of them in the photo).

The chassis also seems to lack a power transformer. Clues to the identity, perhaps...?

I've got a spare cabinet for one of these, if you want it. It's slightly different, but I think it'll work. see pic below.

Hi Adam--PM sent.

TS-314 is the correct chassis for model 17T5E according to Beitman's service info for 1952.

Much obliged for an extremely fast and definitive reply--well done!:yes:

Stuff needs to be packed so you can toss the box down a flight of stairs and feel certain that it won't get broken...

Ok on the other side of the coin, check this one out. They must have some good drugs out there.

Item number: 350434860127

Hey! They lowered the price. it used to be $1399 IIRC :screwy:

So...yeah.
I hope you guys are sitting down for this--

Sorry to see that. And it's all too common. I wouldn't want to tell you how many times this happened to me before I finally wised up. Don't hold your breath on receiving any insurance settlement (but please do let us know if it does work out for you!) They usually disallow if it wasn't packed according to their recommendations. And sellers don't EVER seem to read those recommendations.

--Dave

When the seller sez something like this:

"I can't promise safe arrival. The biggest box I have for it will only allow a couple inches of padding at best. And this sucker is HEAVY +60 lbs."

It is NOT a good sign. :no:
jr

Ok on the other side of the coin, check this one out. They must have some good drugs out there.

Item number: 350434860127

I want what he's smoking:smoke:
ebay can be good or bad....many times I inquired about a item on craigslist, and a common answer is " I saw one like it on ebay that was going for ---dollars....so thats why I'm asking ---- for it.

I want what he's smoking:smoke:
ebay can be good or bad....many times I inquired about a item on craigslist, and a common answer is " I saw one like it on ebay that was going for ---dollars....so thats why I'm asking ---- for it.

It started at $1200, When it get's down to $50 maybe I'll bid.