View Full Version : Got a "locomotive" for $15!


Kamakiri
01-25-2013, 07:24 AM
It was mis-listed on eBay, under antique phonographs, oddly enough.

Picked it up locally, and the guy said that it actually produced a raster, and the picture tube tested good! He knew what he was doing, to the extent that it was powered up on a variac. I'm not so brave as he, this isn't getting plugged in until a LOT of work is done. Good thing is that I know I have a decent starting point.

It was listed as a parts chassis, and only had a chassis shot. I kind of figured that the seller had an imperfect case along with it, but didn't want to bother to try to ship the case. I was right :) . There's a small chunk out of the top with a couple of vents attached, but I have the piece. Common for these sets, as we know. Repairing the cabinet will be easy, and almost invisible.

Time to search out some knobs :)

cwmoser
01-25-2013, 07:50 AM
I restored one of these GE 805's. They do clean up real nice.
One great tip someone gave me was to wash the rubber mask in
dishwashing detergent - mine came out with a light green patina
and looked like new (caveat - I never seen a new one).

You got a great project and it should play with great video and sound.

Underneath all that dirt and grim is a real diamond.

Carl

Dangler
01-25-2013, 09:53 AM
Got to be the find of the year so far:D

I'll bet Bob has a set of knobs for it.

Good luck with it.

cwmoser
01-25-2013, 10:11 AM
Got to be the find of the year so far:D

I'll bet Bob has a set of knobs for it.

Good luck with it.

Great find indeed. I paid a h*ll of a lot more for mine.

Mine was missing one knob that someone later sold me.

Note that the bottom left (channel selector) and the bottom right
knobs are similar and have finger assist for turning.

The top left and top right knobs are similar but do not
have the finger assist.

I did not know this when I purchased the missing lower right
knob on mine and obtained one like the top knobs. Still
it looks ok - just not like what was original to the TV.

Carl

ggregg
01-25-2013, 12:49 PM
Wow. Great find, good for you!!

ChrisW6ATV
01-26-2013, 02:34 PM
Excellent find, Tim! Mine was also cheap on Ebay, but not THAT low.

decojoe67
01-26-2013, 04:53 PM
Great deal! I had overlooked this set for years, but when I finally got one recently I realized how great a set it is! It's even more compact and small than it appears in pictures. They look like a real jewel when polished-up. Mine had a crack on top too that I secured well with JB-Weld. I heard a lot of people mention that they play so-so. I can only say that mine works excellent with no bend, roll, or distortion.

bars&tone
01-27-2013, 12:58 AM
Congratulations! Good Deal!

Eric H
01-27-2013, 01:05 AM
I have a less damaged cabinet than that, problem would be getting it to you in the same condition! May have some knobs too.

Kamakiri
01-28-2013, 08:44 PM
Oh, if you had some knobs, I would love you :D