Hi all,

I have agreed to buy a nice Dumont RA-113 "Burlingame" which is located about 100 miles away. I was hoping that I could lay the set face down with its doors shut on a heavy blanket without removing any of the innards. But I just read Phil Nelson's excellent article on his RA-113 and now I'm not so sure. Could I remove just the chassis and leave the CRT and yoke/focus assembly installed? I'm transporting in a Subaru Outback wagon so there isn't a lot of space.

Also, anyone know about how much these things weigh? The seller thinks about 150 lbs. I'm starting to wonder what I got myself into...

Thanks,

Clark

Hi Clark,

I picked up one of these back in October of 2011. Was a freebee, but missing one of the front doors. CRT is shot, generally has seen a hard life. 150lbs sounds about correct. I'd think hauling on it's face would be fine once you verify everything is securely mounted to the cabinet. The CRT fits in a bezel to the front of the cabinet, so it should not be able to move much once the set is on its face. Pulling the chassis is fairly simple, if only to lighten the load. The chassis is mounted to a piece of plywood that slides vertically into a track in the cabinet.

The chassis is mounted on a sturdy board that slides into slot in the cabinet wall. I wouldn't be too worried about the chassis flopping around or causing havoc while the set lies on its face. It's worth reaching in to make sure the tubes are securely seated.

The bell of the CRT is its heaviest part; that would be lying against the curved bezel on the front of the cabinet. Not the worst way for that piece to travel.

The yoke is suspended from the top of the cabinet with a bracket. If the set is on its face, that somewhat heavy piece will be hanging in a direction they never intended. If it was loose for some reason, there might be some danger of it working sideways and putting force on the fragile CRT neck. Before I moved the set face down, I'd at least reach up and feel that thing to make sure it's securely mounted without a lot of wiggle room.

I'd remove the knobs if you transport it face down. No reason not to.

My biggest concern would be the combined weight of everything mashing down on the front of the cabinet, which wasn't intended to support the TV's full weight. I have transported heavy TVs face down without problems. Each one's a little different. I would definitely remove the two knobs from the front doors before trying this.

An Outback wagon seems like a tight fit. I don't think I could get one in and out of an Outback without two helpers: one guy in the back and one on each side in the front (reaching through the back doors) to provide lift on the corners while you slide it in.

I doubt it weighs more than 150 pounds. We just moved my CT-100, which the manufacturer gives as 175 pounds. That TV feels quite a bit heavier than the RA-113.

One option would be to remove the CRT and yoke and put them in the front seat. But the whole thing might ride OK face down if everything's secure and you avoid potholes.

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

...One option would be to remove the CRT and yoke and put them in the front seat.
Just want to be xtra careful going thru intersections. Don't wanta get T-boned with that CRT next to you.:eek:

Yeah, any CRT transported lose should be restrained and wrapped in a heavy blanket to help contain glass shards.

Thanks everyone for the excellent input. I think a tight fit may be an understatement. I'm going to measure to make sure that I have adequate width in the cargo area to accommodate the cabinet laying face down. The Riders lists the width at 26 and 3/4" so I think I should be OK. Does that sound accurate? And of course I'll have the rear seats folded down to accommodate the height of the cabinet.

Removing the CRT makes me nervous, so unless there's a sign of something loose, I'm going to leave it in.

Thanks again,

Clark

I think I'd be more afraid of scratching up the doors more than anything else. It's really easy to slide the chassis out so might as well do that.

I moved several console tv's in my pickup, face down on a single mattress, not the box spring. It allows lots of spring, none of the harsh ride makes it to the tube. You could put it in your car, then double up a couple of lawn chair mats so you have a few inches of fluffy-ness under the ends of the cabinet, no force on the tube or glass face. I think you'll be ok.

The only trouble you would ever have is if there is some loose item inside the crt, then it messes up yer phosphorous if its riding face down.... B&W sets only.

More good suggestions. I don't have a mattress that I could use, but I do have lawn chair mats and some dense foam kneeling pads that I can use. I will definitely remove the chassis to lighten the load. I'll probably make the run this weekend. I'll report on how things go.

After a 240 mile round trip to Kenosha, the RA-113 is safely home. Everything worked out smoothly with the transport. As planned, I pulled the chassis and put in on the front seat and lay the rest face down on blankets and other padding in the cargo area. Here a are few photos. I paid $55.

I was surprised to see that it has a 17AP4 and not a 17BP4 since it has a later serial number. The base of the CRT is broken and loose. I feared the worse, but it woke right up at 6V after 15 minutes! It's got great cutoff control and a good life test, too! The back has no dimple since none is needed for the shorter tube. The chassis looks pretty unmolested. I'll need to find a new base for the CRT.

Finally, here are a couple of shots after I did some initial cleaning and put it back together. The knobs are all there and cleaned up nicely. The decals are in good shape, too.

I'll start a new thread when I start restoring this set. It probably won't be until fall sometime. I'm psyched to have my first DuMont!

Thanks again for the advice,

Clark

Lookin' very good! Best of luck with the resto

That's very nice looking, clean and all there. Not hacked up by some butcher in the past. For the broken Bakelite base on the picture tube, you could possibly get one from another dud tube or maybe from an old picture brightener, swap it over. Just a thought. Hope you continue with the restoration...

I have that same set in mahogany. I'm barely underway with my restoration. There's plenty of room to work in there.

Nice looking set, I really like the looks of early DuMonts. Sounds like you got a great deal and got it home safe. Good job!

Wow, a blonde. You got a great deal. The CRT alone is worth more than $55 in my book, even with a broken base.

Phil Nelson

As for the broken tube socket on the CRT, if it were mine, I'd just use some hot melt glue or such to stabilize the socket (maybe wrap some good quality tape around it), and exercise a bit more care when plugging in the mate. VS trying to remove that old socket and risking breaking a wire lead off at the glass seal.
http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=179630&d=1375567243

Thanks for all the encouraging comments. I'm glad I went ahead with the purchase, although yesterday about half way there I had my doubts. It's strange, apparently the seller had been trying to peddle this on Craigslist for almost two months with no responses. He did have it listed in "collectables" and not "antiques." But I think that most of us search all the categories anyway.

And wa2ise, I was thinking the same thing. I've never replaced the base on a CRT and I'd be afraid that I'd break off one of those delicate wires. Particularly since it seems that the connections are still solid. I found one of the pieces of the base that broke off, so I might try gluing it on as well. I was thinking of using black sensor-safe RTV silicone.

BTW, the InducTuner is not frozen. It's a little stiff but turns freely. I still plan to disassemble it to remove the old grease and relube it. Not surprisingly, the dial string for the indicator is broken.

-Clark

The dial string on mine is original, and looks fine. Doesn't slip at all.

Yours must be an early production. Mine has (I think) the OEM 17BP4 in it, with the bump in the back.

You won't be sorry you got it.

A little off topic here, but I saw the word "transporting" and though, of course, of Star Trek's transporter. Wonder if it could keep the air out of the vacuum tubes as they materialize at the new location... :scratch2: :D

A little off topic here, but I saw the word "transporting" and though, of course, of Star Trek's transporter. Wonder if it could keep the air out of the vacuum tubes as they materialize at the new location... :scratch2: :D

On Star Trek: Voyager Tom Paris had a replicated television set, so according to the writers of that series, yeah, it could be done.

As for the broken tube socket on the CRT, if it were mine, I'd just use some hot melt glue or such to stabilize the socket (maybe wrap some good quality tape around it), and exercise a bit more care when plugging in the mate. VS trying to remove that old socket and risking breaking a wire lead off at the glass seal.I like that plan. Once the set is restored, it's not like you're not going to be unplugging the CRT every day. And you'd feel pretty awful if you broke a lead or did something else that made the tube unusable.

Phil "can't rebuild 'em nowadays" Nelson

Beautiful set. I am on the hunt for a Dumont RA-108A Mansfield. Someday I will find it :dammit: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anybody have any idea who may have rebuilt the CRT in this thread? Does the printing on the base remind anybody of Sylvania's base printing color?

Actually, I think the CRT is the original DuMont 17AP4. The missing piece of the base that I recovered has "DuMont" printed on it.

I haven't had time to do anything with the set yet. I'm going to try the route of stabilizing the cracked base with some sort of glue or instead of trying to replace it. I just need to be careful that whatever I do doesn't make it difficult (or impossible) to remove the yoke and focus coil.

-Clark

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that tube base says DuMont Teletron. That's a great looking set.

OEM DuMont. Thats even better. Did DuMont build their own CRT's?

My RA-113 is full of white print RCA's. I don't recall anything printed on the base of the CRT.

OEM DuMont. Thats even better. Did DuMont build their own CRT's?

For sure... DuMont was one of the pioneers of Oscilloscope and Television CRT design and production. Here is the famous "lady with the two big jugs" with a couple of very early, large electrostatic deflection DuMont Television CRTs.

http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=169908&d=1301008843

jr

I must have alzheimers. I KNEW that DuMont built CRT's... Aaraugh...

Well, I finally had a little time to work on vintage TVs (rainy Sunday). I went ahead and repaired/stabilized the broken CRT base as best I could. I used black sensor safe RTV and some good quality electrical tape. I replaced the piece of broken base I found in the cabinet. It was a good guide for positioning the base correctly. It's not the prettiest repair but it seems nice and secure and the CRT still tests fine :thmbsp:
http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd366/IsthmusTV/P1030320_zps3355da67.jpg (http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/IsthmusTV/media/P1030320_zps3355da67.jpg.html)

I pulled the chassis which is now on my bench. I'm looking for a hard copy of the Sams (119-5) and then I'll place a cap order. It should be a fun fall/winter project!

-Clark

I have a scan of Sams 119-5, if that's any help. Send me a PM with your email address and I'll email it.

Regards,

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

Good luck. A RA-113 is being dropped off at my place tomorrow and I'll probably start on it this weekend.

Phil, thanks again for the scan of the Sams. I already got the Riders from ETF so I think I'm all set.

And Bob, that's great that you'll be working on an RA-113 too. I'm already looking forward to the excellent videos that I'm sure you'll make :yes:

-Clark