I took a trip last weekend to NY to the home of William Fahrenfeld's granddaughter. I went to pick up William's first television, an RCA TRK-5. When I arrived and saw the set for the first time I was speechless. I spent a short time speaking with the family about William, the TRK-5, and their history. I am still working with the family to write a history to share with the collector community.

This is William at age 24.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1502_zps029c8935.jpg

I have spent the last five days cleaning and photographing the set. I have no plans to electronically restore the set. There are only a couple of aesthetic things I plan on fixing, more on that later. For now the set is in many pieces, once I fix those few issues I'll put the set back together.

TRK-5 deconstructed.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1499_zps9843f634.jpg

The cabinet.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1480_zpsbe96addd.jpg

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1488_zpsd4e410dd.jpg

What a wonderful find and in the condition the photos show. I will let others argue about restoration and settle for William's vision of buying a set like this and what he thought would come of it. Only he knows and maybe told the family for you to enlighten us later. Congrats.

Hi VTS1134;
Congratulations, How did you ever Run into this, or become aquainted / Find out about it ??? What is the History of Your finding this ?? Please fill us in more.. I would be interested in more close up pictures of the Chassis both out side and bottom inside.. When was this built ?? And what CRT Tube does it use ??
THANK YOU Marty

I think these sets were from 1938-40.

The cabinet is in absolutely amazing condition! It obviously has been well cared for by people that recognized its historic value.

Dave

What a treasure, like the proverbial "57 Chevy in a barn"
That speaker looks like 12 inch and probably had fantastic TV sound.

Beautiful set!!! Soooo jealous!! I have dreams about finding one of these. Sadly, its not going to happen around here. Congrats!!

Congratulations! Great find! I'm looking forward to hearing more of the story as well.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1502_zps029c8935.jpg

o.O

Handsome guy, but who shoved him in the mud on the way to the photo shoot?

Congratulations, I have been looking for a TRK5 or TRK9 like your find for many years. It seems you have been extremely lucky recently in your TV finds. Like the others I am interested in how you tracked it down.

Richard

My first hurdle in putting the set back together is the radio bezel. The bezel has shrunk from it's original size. The shrinkage has cracked the bezel around the top left mounting screw.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1461_zps83743801.jpg

I'm not quite sure how to remount the bezel. Should I drill a new mounting location to take the strain off of the bezel in that area? Should I simply leave that screw out of the front? What do you guys think?

The next issue is cleaning the dial glass. I have cleaned the rest of the bezel, but I didn't touch the back part of the glass. I was haunted by visions of me wiping the decals of off the glass so I left it alone, but it could definitely use a cleaning. Were my fears warranted, or can I simply buff the back of the glass with a damp cloth?

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1472_zps9587c977.jpg

The last issue with the bezel area are the push buttons, they are long gone. The tenite just couldn't hold out for 74 years. I am going to have to order reproduction replacements. Does any one know if the radio bezel has to be off of the set to install them?

Congratulations, I have been looking for a TRK5 or TRK9 like your find for many years. It seems you have been extremely lucky recently in your TV finds. Like the others I am interested in how you tracked it down.

Richard

I think I have been very lucky recently. I can't say exactly how I found the set, it sort of fell into my lap with the help of a friend. I have been seeking to acquire a TRK-12 since I saw a picture of one three years ago, but I couldn't say no to a TRK-5.

Congratulations, I have been looking for a TRK5 or TRK9 like your find for many years. It seems you have been extremely lucky recently in your TV finds. Like the others I am interested in how you tracked it down.

Richard

my great grandma had a trk 9 complete when she moved
she threw it in the trash!

I need a new reproduction of the whole dail and bezel ,I bought the set at local flea market for $20 bucks..3 years ago and needed a new bezel and dial glass badly..it suffers the same plastic diease and the push buttons are shot also! Jody

I'm not quite sure how to remount the bezel. Should I drill a new mounting location to take the strain off of the bezel in that area? Should I simply leave that screw out of the front? What do you guys think?

John,
I wouldn't drill any new mounting holes. This would only be a temporary solution as the tenite will continue to shrink and crack around the new hole location. There's nothing you can do. Either leave the screw out or just put it back in barely snug so it can move a little. That's all I do with them.

This bezel was used on a handful of RCA radios at the time but they are nearly as hard to find as the tv's and usually in just as poor condition.

The next issue is cleaning the dial glass. I have cleaned the rest of the bezel, but I didn't touch the back part of the glass. I was haunted by visions of me wiping the decals of off the glass so I left it alone, but it could definitely use a cleaning. Were my fears warranted, or can I simply buff the back of the glass with a damp cloth?

Just use a soft brush like those for cleaning a camera lens. Never use any liquid on the printed side.

The last issue with the bezel area are the push buttons, they are long gone. The tenite just couldn't hold out for 74 years. I am going to have to order reproduction replacements. Does any one know if the radio bezel has to be off of the set to install them?

The bezel does have to be off to install the buttons. The small lip on the bottom edge of the buttons catches the back side of the bezel to keep the buttons from coming out too far, that is if the bezel isn't so distorted that they'll come out anyway.


What are the brand and date codes on the tubes and crt? It would be interesting to determine how long the set was in general use.

Darryl

There is a producer of bezels (old time reproductions? in CA) for Philco radios that sells through Radiodaze. Maybe they would comission one.

I'd go for it...a bit pricey,..but worth it:banana::banana:let me know when ones available:yes::yes:Jody

That would be worth having a new bezel made by CAD/CAM, and I bet it could be done on a low production scale. I know a hobbyist who is recently retired from a career in mil-spec machining, and he has "made" perfect reproduction laser-cut pocket watch parts, antique car parts, etc. He could probably do it, but I'd have to get his permission to give out his name. He just spent more on a hobby workshop in his barn, than it would cost to build a whole 5000-square foot house. He installed all the technology he knew at work, and has it all set up.

Charles

There may be a 3D printing option on the bezel, too. But no-one knows if that stuff will last 70 years, either.

I'm not any kind of qualified restorer, but that won't stop me from sharing a thought: Perhaps a thin sheet (1/16" or less) of aluminum, brass, etc. in the original outline of the bezel, with the original bezel aligned as required and mounted to the 'shim'. Paint to match original bezel as much as possible. Attach shim to original wood holes, (hiding the finish issue) and attach bezel to shim in a manner that allows 'creep' without 'crack'. That may be black plastic or nylon phillips machine screws in to tapped holes or soldered-on threaded plates, or the like. The plastic/nylon would give a bit, allowing original bezel to move without cracking more.

If the black nylon screw head looks out of place, then perhaps use a flat-head screw and affix a sacrificial black steel phillips head (only) to it... basically as decoration.

Yeah it's a lot of work, but you've got a pretty good head start overall!
Nice example.

Chip

I would put in a plea to at least ATTEMPT to do an electrical restoration, as well...You might get lucky & end up w/a WORKING pre-war TV...How KEWL would THAT be ?!?

What are the brand and date codes on the tubes and crt? It would be interesting to determine how long the set was in general use.

Darryl

I've never read date codes on tubes before. Where would I find them?

I was able to find some date code info on the net. I could only find out what the first two digits of the three digit code stand for. Every tube in both the radio and television chassis, except for one, are RCA branded and coded KE5, XE1, XE2, or XE3. That means 1938, and 1939 OEM for the first two digits, does the last number indicate month? The only exception in the set is the horizontal output tube which is branded National Union. The only coding I can find on that tube is an "F". I don't have a tube tester so I don't know how well used they are, but maybe the set was used so little that the tubes are all original?

I've never read date codes on tubes before. Where would I find them?

RCA codes of the era where 2 or 3 characters long. The first character was the year such as R-1939, X-1940, Y-1941 followed by the letter E for OEM, followed by the month; 1-Jan-Feb, 2-Mar-April, etc. The XE1 for example is 1940, OEM, Jan-Feb. The KE5 is 1943, OEM, Sep-Oct.

I was able to find some date code info on the net. I could only find out what the first two digits of the three digit code stand for. Every tube in both the radio and television chassis, except for one, are RCA branded and coded KE5, XE1, XE2, or XE3. That means 1938, and 1939 OEM for the first two digits, does the last number indicate month? The only exception in the set is the horizontal output tube which is branded National Union. The only coding I can find on that tube is an "F". I don't have a tube tester so I don't know how well used they are, but maybe the set was used so little that the tubes are all original?

Unless the National Union tube is new enough to be labeled under the EIA codes (247 would appear somewhere on the tube for NU) there's no way I am aware of to date it. The fact that all the other tubes appear to be original except the KE5, would suggest the set was not serviced much past the late 1940's.

There is a producer of bezels (old time reproductions? in CA) for Philco radios that sells through Radiodaze. Maybe they would comission one.
Larry Bordanaro has been very ill and it is uncertain if he will continue making reproductions. Ed (blacksmith) at Renovated Radios has done some bezels but both these guys need fairly good originals to start with since they do exact copies. They can create successive master to straighten and shape a bad original, but the worse it is, the longer and more tedious this becomes.

Ed has investigated 3D printers but none of them give a good surface finish so the entire part would need to be sanded and polished (if the material is hard enough to accept a polish) and if it is intricate this can be difficult if not impossible. CNC can't make these swirled plastic parts unless you can find some swirled plastic material to start with. A CNC part could be used by Ed or Larry to then make a mold to cast parts, but even a CNC part takes considerable amount of sanding and polishing to create the mirror finish.

Reproduction pushbuttons are available here:

http://www.renovatedradios.com/parts.html#pushbuttons

There are a number of RCA radios that use similar bezels. The difference is that the TRK-5 bezel uses aluminum pieces around the eye tube and electric tuning light, while the bezels from other RCA radios either have no pieces or have pieces that are silver. It is easy to remove the painted pieces from the old bezel and put them on the replacement bezel, though.

Here are some of the RCA radios with similar bezels:

98T, chassis RC-386A
98K2, chassis RC-386A

97K2, chassis RC-351K
97T2, chassis RC-351K

96E2, chassis RC-351L
96K5, chassis RC-351L
96T7, chassis RC-351L

Hi All;
VTS1134, You should be able to find another member in the Area of where you live who has a tube Tester, that could help you, determine how good the tubes are.. I have one that would do the trick but I live way tooo far away..
THANK YOU Marty

Marty-
I have a local shop in my area where I test all of my tubes so I'm covered there.

I have the reproduction pushbuttons ordered and they are on the way. Since I have to wait for the pushbuttons to arrive before I install the radio chassis and bezel, I'll put that on the back burner.

On to the television chassis. Looking over the underside of the chassis I can see that there was repair work done to the horizontal output circuit. That could account for the replacement horizontal output tube.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1513_zpsba7b8df7.jpg

Can any one spot anything else out of place?

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1512_zps4753e9da.jpg

The television chassis has suffered some damage. The fine tuning portion of the channel selector shaft has broken off.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1510_zpseb649683.jpg

I am able to turn the fine tuning control from what's left of the shaft, however it simply spins freely, the shaft must be broken internally as the fine tuning capacitor (C9) does not move. I thought perhaps the capacitor could be seized, which would account for the breakage, but I can adjust it manually.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1516_zps64b82a65.jpg

I am considering a repair to this part of the set depending on difficulty, and whether or not an original shaft can be found, or the original repaired.

John,
Those replaced caps are the horizontal deflection coupling caps and are always bad. They did take a while to go bad originally which suggest this set was used for quite some time. It's too bad that the original caps are gone as it's quite easy to restuff them with modern 3000V caps. You'll need to find caps of the correct size or cardboard tubes that can be dyed to match to use for restuffing.

The two large caps on the opposite side of the board with the yellow and green heavy wires going between them are the vertical deflection coupling caps are are most likely bad.

Your fine tuning control is working correctly. The shaft is supposed to turn freely. If you look at your picture of the trimmer cap, the aluminum piece on the end is cup shaped. The black rubber piece is attached to the end of the brass shaft that goes through the main tuning shaft and is shaped to fit the cup. To adjust the fine tuning you have to push in on the shaft to make the rubber piece turn the trimmer cap.

The fine tuning shaft can be fairly easily replicated although it's a little difficult to install since it's rather long and you have to remove the trimmer to get it in.

Just wanted to throw in my own .02:

If it were my set, I would seriously just leave it all as is. It appears to be unmolested with a decent (though slightly alligatored) finish. It has almost all of its original tubes for crying out loud! I would think it more prudent to preserve this set as "all original" as possible. Maybe find a HO tube that is an RCA from the right era, replace the horizontal coupling caps with what was originally in there, etc. Just to make it as stock as possible.

I just don't feel there is much to be gained from restoring such a rare set. I think the tuner would need to be modified to receive analog signals anyway. With less than 20 of these sets surviving-and all that are documented on the internet seem to have been heavily hacked up at some point; I would think it would be far more important to keep one of these in its 1939 splendor.

Think about it.

Just wanted to throw in my own .02:

If it were my set, I would seriously just leave it all as is. It appears to be unmolested with a decent (though slightly alligatored) finish. It has almost all of its original tubes for crying out loud! I would think it more prudent to preserve this set as "all original" as possible. Maybe find a HO tube that is an RCA from the right era, replace the horizontal coupling caps with what was originally in there, etc. Just to make it as stock as possible.

I just don't feel there is much to be gained from restoring such a rare set. I think the tuner would need to be modified to receive analog signals anyway. With less than 20 of these sets surviving-and all that are documented on the internet seem to have been heavily hacked up at some point; I would think it would be far more important to keep one of these in its 1939 splendor.

Think about it.

I've already thought about it. On my original post I said I have no plans on electronically restoring this set. I also feel there is not much to be gained from making this set function again. I live close enough to the ETF museum to take a drive over to see one working if I really need to see one function. I am going to make the few repairs needed to the set, replace non-original parts with originals, and call it a day. I have restored sets for display, this will be a non-working original set for display.
I would very much like to find original capacitors to replace the replacements if anyone has them.

We may have some original capacitors (bad, of course). Send me a list of what you need and I'll check.

The two caps in question are both .005 mfd 3,000 volt caps. Bad caps are no problem, as long as they are period correct.

Took another long look under the television chassis this morning and spotted two more replacement capacitors, C71 and C73. It appears there was some problems in the vertical at one point or another as well. I'm sure capacitors of this vintage are not your every day item but I'm searching for them non the less. The four capacitors I need are:
2-.005 mfd 3,000 volt (mentioned above)
1- .25 mfd 200 volt
1- .1 mfd 400 volt
Again, these capacitors need not be functional, just period correct. If any one has these capacitors, or just advice on where I might be able to look and find them, I'd be grateful.

The cardboard sleeved low voltage caps that RCA used were in all of their radios and tv's of the era and are easy to find. Those high voltage caps were only used in the TT-5 and TRK-5 so unless Steve comes up with something the chances of finding originals is extremely slim.

Thanks Darryl.
I also need a replacement horizontal output tube- 6F8. RCA branded, date coded XE_. I asked my local guy that I get all of my tubes from but he doesn't have any RCA XE_ coded 6F8s. Again this tube does not need to be functional, just needs to look the part.

Here are a couple of pictures. The black and white one is from 1939, the color one modern. I suspect that RCA may have used more than one style originally.

Steve,
I think those are the same cap, just a difference in lighting. The high voltage caps always seem to have that dark tan, extremely hard material used for sealing the ends.

Darryl

Reproduction pushbuttons are available here:

http://www.renovatedradios.com/parts.html#pushbuttons

There are a number of RCA radios that use similar bezels. The difference is that the TRK-5 bezel uses aluminum pieces around the eye tube and electric tuning light, while the bezels from other RCA radios either have no pieces or have pieces that are silver. It is easy to remove the painted pieces from the old bezel and put them on the replacement bezel, though.

Here are some of the RCA radios with similar bezels:

98T, chassis RC-386A
98K2, chassis RC-386A

97K2, chassis RC-351K
97T2, chassis RC-351K

96E2, chassis RC-351L
96K5, chassis RC-351L
96T7, chassis RC-351L

I received the repro pushbuttons in the mail yesterday from renovatedradios.com. I'll have to fabricate the mounting rod that holds them onto the radio bezel, more on that later. I also need to create the pushbutton labels for each button. Chuck Azzalina's site has a good shot of the labels that he made for his TRK-5.

http://www.myvintagetv.com/trk5_pushbuttons.jpg

Has anyone else made labels for a TRK-5, or any of the radio models Steve mentioned that use a similar bezel? Does any one have original labels for any of these models that they could photograph for color and font reference?

Progress has been slow with the set, but slow and steady wins the race.
I managed to find a replacement for the only non period correct dated RCA tube in the set. I was hoping to find a 1940 dated (XE_) tube to match the rest, but a 1939 dated RCA OEM tube is definitely close enough.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/e70c6cf0-223b-4187-aa46-53b6650e22d2_zpsdaffd03b.jpg?t=1363303646

I recently purchased reproduction radio push buttons as they were completely missing. The connecting rod that holds the buttons onto the radio bezel was also missing so I fabricated a replacement rod as well. After installing them onto the set I was unhappy with the results. I just couldn't stand having such a visible part of the set not being original when the rest is almost perfect. Long story short I returned the replicas and started searching for originals. I managed to find them on an RCA radio of the same time period. Here is the radio bezel with the push buttons on it, this picture shows the connecting rod and the snap ring that holds it in place.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1623_zps3e5ad1c2.jpg

It was tough getting all of the push buttons off of the connecting rod as it had rusted a bit. After some lubrication and elbow grease the buttons were removed from the donor radio bezel.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1628_zpsb076dfc8.jpg

Unfortunately as you can see in the picture one of the plastic covers was snapped in half. I also managed to find NOS push button labels including a "television" label to complete the bezel. I tried to use New York stations that would have been on the air in the 1939-1944 time period. I wonder what station William and his family listened to when they bought the set. I was one label and plastic cover short so I added a KDKA label in honor of the set's new home.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1643_zpsf33f1824.jpg

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1662_zps2c44fa5c.jpg

The set is looking great! Keep an eye for RCA radios with a good bezel. It's possible. I have come across them here and there.
Thanks for sharing all the pics. I've been a radio/TV collector for many years and the TRK-5 is the "Holy Grail" to me. The TRK-9 has a more impressive cabinet, but it's rather large. The TRK-5 truly has the proportions of a radio console of the era which makes it so great to me. I give you credit for keeping it original. I would be dying to see the set come to life again!
Here's a video on YT of one playing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNIkWOa16wo

The set is looking great! Keep an eye for RCA radios with a good bezel. It's possible. I have come across them here and there. Thanks for sharing all the pics.


I'm perfectly happy with the bezel. It has shrunk a bit and cracked on the upper left hand side around a screw, but other than that it's quite acceptable I think.
I think this hobby is so much better when we all share. I know how much I love seeing pictures when other's share them.

I'm perfectly happy with the bezel. It has shrunk a bit and cracked on the upper left hand side around a screw, but other than that it's quite acceptable I think.
I think this hobby is so much better when we all share. I know how much I love seeing pictures when other's share them.
I agree that your bezel is fine as-is. I meant to say that you just might come across a set with a perfect bezel (as tough as it may be) for a decent price and you could just swap. I am really looking forward to seeing all assembled! Good luck with it.

Made a bit more progress to the set today. The original safety glass in front of the CRT face had developed spots between the layers of glass. I had a local glass shop custom cut me a new piece of safety glass for the set. I also had the paint color matched in a small sample sized can of paint. I purchased a paint sprayer for the paint, and finally I had a local decal shop print off a paint mask for the CRT "window."

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1589_zps2f713c58.jpg

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1588_zps6f0ded85.jpg

After 4 coats of paint the mask looks pretty solid. I had to use an X-Acto knife to cut around the edge of the decal to release the paint. After some clean up with the knife the reproduction part looks really good.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1593_zps508fecce.jpg

The color is off by just a slight bit, but you would have to have an original bezel side by side to notice at all.
With this fix the "top half" of the set is complete. I only have a few repairs to the television chassis to go and I can share complete pictures and call the set finished.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1595_zps913d18b3.jpg

I managed to finish the TRK-5 (for now). The last two steps were replacing two of the capacitors with originals (thank you to Steve McVoy for these), and replacing the fine tuning shaft (thank you to Darryl for help with this). I had a fine tuning shaft retooled from a solid piece of brass. I thought about "aging" the shaft to make it look like the other shafts on the set, but I decided I have lots of time and I'll let the piece age gracefully. I put the whole set back together tonight and I can finally share pictures of the whole set with all of you.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1666_zpsf2d80aca.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1666_zpsf2d80aca.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1671_zpsd0d527d9.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1671_zpsd0d527d9.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1670_zps94f041a4.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1670_zps94f041a4.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1672_zps460db259.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1672_zps460db259.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1673_zps86ee5ccb.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1673_zps86ee5ccb.jpg.html)

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1675_zpsfc3c53ac.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1675_zpsfc3c53ac.jpg.html)

I also managed to find an original advertisement for the TRK-5 from 1939 that I had framed to hang above the set. I think it makes a nice touch.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w438/vts1134/TRK-5/DSC_1676_zps555887dc.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/vts1134/media/TRK-5/DSC_1676_zps555887dc.jpg.html)

That set looks fantastic.

Fantastic John!

Great job john, if you squink your eyes when you look at the last two pictures of the set it looks like its smiling.

Great job john, if you squink your eyes when you look at the last two pictures of the set it looks like its smiling.

If you turn the camera around to see my face, I am smiling along with it.

Very nicely done. Looks great!

It looks like the ratio of electronic circuitry volume to display size has now swung entirely the opposite direction... to the detriment of repairability, though.

Chip

I was looking for chassis pics on the trk5, but all of the links are broken, I had the same problem on Audiokarma, it took me a while to fix them all when Photobucket became greedy.