Did everyone get drunk and pass out this weekend? :drunk: Kinda been quiet!

Today I'm trying to get the heat working in the Galaxie. All the vacuum lines behind the controls are dry rotted and leaking... and they are a pain trying to change out! :gigglemad: I never realized there was so much crap under the dash of a 35 year old car! I thought they were supposed to be easy to work on!

Hey Charlie, I'm still around :D

New cars are MUCH easier to work on under the dash! More modular components.
Sometime hard to find a good ground for your test light though because everything is plastic :mad:

I swore off fixing TV's till after Thanksgiving at least, but here I am recapping my Sentinel 7"
Maybe there's a 12 step program for this?

Gotta get outside this weekend and mow the leaves off the lawn :p:

Eric

I'm still looking for someone willing to finish up my Predicta Holiday :dunno:

Originally posted by Kamakiri
I'm still looking for someone willing to finish up my Predicta Holiday :dunno:

Me too, damn I hate working on that thing!

i am recapping a admiral 30a15,lots of interesting things on it happening..i think i have a bad mica cap in the horz sync area..
this set uses "tubular"ceramic type caps,instead of disc..
found out the audio cable to the power supply/audio out chassis has to be attached for grounding purposes,i had some strange video i.f probems which made me think the flyback somehow was leaking into the i.f area..:)
so far so good now..
also get this..!! there was an area around under the chassis that had been smoked,well i found that one of the terminal strips had been arcing from one point to a ground lug!! it almost looked like the terminal strip was conductive,but because of it being in the h-output area tied to close to ground lug all i can think of it is arcing because of the close distance,anyone else seen this on this chassis?
the power supply/audio chassis is on the lower part of the cart,
i hope everyone else's basement/work area gets as messy as mine during a project,i tend to tear around for parts during a project..hehe

i decided to stop and make donuts for everyone here..:)
terry

Terry,

I don't know how you got the set to run without the audio chassis hooked up since it also contains the main power xfmer. :dunno:

Here is one of my 30A13's. This set is really cute and one of the favorites in my entire collection. The previous owner had recapped it, re-tubed it, refinished it, and put in a like new 10FP4 aluminized. It quit and I guess he sold it cheap out of desperation/frustration. I got it for a song at the Rochester AWA meet a few years ago and when I got it home discovered that the big wirewound tubular power resistor in the HV cage was open. I was able to replace it without even pulling the chassis. The set makes a terrific picture, but is kinda finniky. The contrast control is an RF gain control and affects E-V-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, from sound volume, to sync. :)

Mine has an electrodynamic speaker, does yours?

Rob

Here's a shot of the front.

hehe.. the power supply is hooked up,the cable assy is long enough to reach up to the main chassis on my cart..
it is a cool looking set,i was going to give up on the B&W sets but am bored..here is a pic of the cabinet..and yes this set has a electromagnet speaker also..i like your set rob..nice cabinet..
:)~~
terry

Hi Terry,

I have the model you have also. It is awaiting my attention in the shop. I am missing the square wood piece in the middle of the grille, but I'm sure I can make a replacement.

40's TV sets with electromagnet speakers are awfully rare. I only have them in these two Admirals and the 3" Pilot.

Compared to your CT-100 these B&W's aren't much of a challenge eh!? ;)

Rob

Hi Rob, Terry.

My 24A12 Bakelite set uses a PM speaker even though it has two chassis and is about the same year?
I notice the power connector cable goes in at a different location to so it must be a different chassis.

Terry, I had an 8200? ohm resistor right off the horiz coil
(I think), went way up in value and caused big problems with locking it in.

BTW, did you see this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=734851223

I'm guessing that is a slightly later model and not some hack job with the wrong set inside?

Eric,

I think that is a 'hack job' with probably the original chassis and a larger CRT installed with a different mask.

I forgot about my 24A12(?). Is that the tabletop 10" bakelite???
I have one of these awaiting my attention and it also has an EM loudspeaker.

Rob

Rob, my 24A12 is the small floor model Bakelite, there are so many different model of this it gets confusing.

Eric,

Darned right it gets confusing. Especially for us entry level old timers. In the floor bakelite consolette I have two models. One has green mask around the 10BP4 and has two chassis like the 30A13 above, but slightly newer design, with 5 or 6" PM speaker. The other floor consolette also in the same bakelite case has a gold surround the 10BP4 and a single chassis, 5 ot 6" PM speaker. The same chassis as in my 10" bakelite tabletop, but that has EM speaker. Both single chassis models use a 5U4 sticking out the top of the power xfmer (I seem to recall).

I could never keep all the Admiral chassis numbers straight in my head. Say 19A11 and I immediately know what you are talking about. 30A13, yes most of the time i'll remember. 24AX12, I scratch my head and nod like I know. Beyond that. :dunno:

Rob

Rob/Terry,

Those are some interesting looking Admirals. At first glance, they almost look as if the top front slides in and out... kinda like telescope steering in an expensive car. Hmmm.... telescope viewing?

Hey Guys,
Thanks for posting the pictures of the Admiral. :) This model was the first tv my family ever owned. I still remember my dad unpacking the Admiral and setting it up in the living room. That was in 1949. Yikes! I remember unscrewing that wooden plate on the speaker grill. My folks were not pleased. We replaced it several years later with a 21" Admiral my dad built into the wall.

Steve, you don't suppose Robs set with the missing wood center is your... Naaah :D

Rob, another set with an Electromagnet speaker is the Philco 7"
I think the RCA 721TS does also, as well as an electromagnetic Ion trap.

Eric,

Hmmmm. You might be right. I haven't looked inside my RCA 721TS yet since I got it 2 years ago from the Karmameister.

I don't own any 7" vintage Philco TV's like the 50-702 (envy) so I wouldn't know about those. :(

Rob

Rob, you've had a 721 for two years and haven't done anything to it?!?!?

Good lord man, grab a pot of Coffee and a soldering iron and get busy! :yippy:

Eric,

I just have too many irons in the fire. BTW, big announcement coming shortly. :)

:zoom: :boink: :yippy:

Rob

is it going to be a boy .. or girl?? hehehe
(the big news you talked about in your last post..)..
:)
terry

Rob,
Did you say you had to many "ions" in the fire.
:uzi: So, shoot me for the bad pun.

Originally posted by Eric H
Rob, another set with an Electromagnet speaker is the Philco 7"
I think the RCA 721TS does also, as well as an electromagnetic Ion trap.

My console RCA 721TCS has a 12-inch electromagnetic speaker, as well as electromagnetic ion trap and focus coil.

Originally posted by wiseguy
is it going to be a boy .. or girl?? hehehe
(the big news you talked about in your last post..)..
:)
terry

Terry,

I'm completely innocent. That was kama's post I believe.

Rob

Yes, I'm also still here. I've got a large group of house guests at the moment (it seems like I'm running a hotel for my girlfriend's family). No one is paying rent and they always seem to need my help with something just as I'm heading downstairs to the workbench. At the moment, I've got a customer's CTC4 chassis on the bench waiting for word from Wintron Technologies about the possibility of getting a custom-made exact replacement for the Flyback and a Bendix chassis for another customer. I told the Bendix set's owner that there was an RCA color chassis ahead of his Bendix before he shipped it, so he's expecting about a month's lead-time on his restoration. I guess I'll ask one of my "guests" to help me pack the CTC4 for storage until the new flyback is ready (it would be the third time I've asked him). Of course, he'll want his CD player fixed next in exchange for his help with steadying that RCA chassis while I bubble-wrap it. I think my gf is about to become an ex since she expects consideration from me that she's demonstrated herself to be unwilling to reciprocate. I say "No more rent-free boarders." and they bring their luggage in as soon as I leave the house for more than an hour. No idea when I'll have time to restore any of my own sets, because the customers' sets are first in line, but I'm not really worried as long as I can still get parts when I have time to work on them.

I got a clicker from a friend yesterday. He didn't know exactly when it was from, but he figured it was old enough for me to want!

It only has one button to change the channel. Made for RCA. Anyone seen one like this or have an idea when it was from? I would guess late 60's to early 70's? The button pulls backwards to click it. Doesn't look interesting at all, but it seems to function. Perhaps someone out there could use it.

Charlie

Originally posted by jshorva65
Yes, I'm also still here. I've got a large group of house guests at the moment (it seems like I'm running a hotel for my girlfriend's family). No one is paying rent ...

John,

Sounds like you have found yourself in a completely intolerable situation. I certainly wouldn't be putting up with that nonsense. If you own the house or the lease is in your name, in Canada you call the cops and accuse someone of criminal tresspass and they are off the property instantly. This is a serious offense. Such action might put a damper on your relationship with the GF however, although it sounds like you don't really need one with all that 'baggage'.

Not trying to tell you what to do, but geeze, I don't like the sound of what you are going through at all. :(

Let us know how this resolves. We need you happy and concentrating on those vintage TV restorations! :)

Rob

For the most part, I can deal with my GF's family in small doses. Extended stays like this week's situation are another story. I'm happy to report that the guests have gone home after 4 days here and even did a fair job of cleaning up after themselves. GF's daughter had outpatient knee surgery on Monday morning. Since the previous owner of my house was an older man who used a wheelchair, the extra-large shower with the pull-down seat is still installed in my downstairs bathroom. Next, Jan is going in for surgery that could have waited until after the Holidays, so I'll be helping her get back on her feet. Last week, we had the send-off for her son who was joining the Army. He's coming home for the Holidays after Basic Training, so he'll be somewhat helpful in fetching things for Jan while she's laid up. The issue is that it's one thing after another. About once a month, someone from her family spends a night sleeping on our couch after having words with his or her spouse. I can sometimes get some cheap work out of them to earn their keep for the night. I don't do well with ladders, so I convinced one relative to do some repairs on my rain gutters fairly cheap. These are the kind of people who'll paint your whole house for a few cases of cheap beer as long as you remember to not buy the beer until after the job is done. I really see the GF and me headed for a split sometime soon, though. She's a nice woman, but she's a little more "needy" than I can handle while I'm trying to get a business established. She'll probably end up rooming with her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. Jan and I almost split earlier this week, and Tom overheard some of the discussion. Tom volunteered to accept her as a roommate if we did split. Like I said, she's a great person but with a lot more baggage than I can help carry at this point in my life. I'll keep you posted.

John,

I wish you well. Your story makes me appreciate my quiet existence even more. All I have to worry about is the occasional quickly settled misunderstanding between my two darling cats (mother and son siblings), after which one or both of them ends up spending the night on my couch. :)

Unfortunately I cannot get any cheap work out of them at all, despite treats. They make for a lot more vacuuming than would otherwise be necessary, but I sure love 'em.

Rob

Believe me guys I am not unsympathetic to family or relationship problems. But with all due respect and sensitivity, I think we're starting to stray from vintage television.

Rob, John,

SteveD is right on. You guys stop this off-topic chatter or I will be forced to delete your posts.

Thank you Steve for bringing this to my attention! :)

Rob
Vintage TV Moderator

First, I think the nature of the thread itself leads to some off-topic chatter, and maybe the thead should be part of the section of AK that's specifically intended for off-topic posts. Perhaps the thread should be kept in vintage tv but subtitled as borderline off-topic.

Returning to the topic at hand, I've been working on solutions to some engineering questions related to vintage electronics that don't necessarily require several hours of uninterrupted bench time. Ultimately, I hope to find ways to save picture tubes that were once considered unsalvageable and to make reproductions available for a broader spectrum of parts than the backs and high-voltage cages I've already developed. I'm still waiting for results on reproduction flybacks.

Originally posted by jshorva65
Ultimately, I hope to find ways to save picture tubes that were once considered unsalvageable and to make reproductions available for a broader spectrum of parts than the backs and high-voltage cages I've already developed. I'm still waiting for results on reproduction flybacks.

Don't forget Yokes.

Yokes and other inductive and/or magnetic components are of interest. Flybacks are the first step since I have a set in the shop right now that needs one. Any immediate need for a specific type of yoke? The make and part number appear to be all the information that my source needs in order to produce a part. They do yokes in addition to flybacks, but I believe I'm the first in quite a few years to request reproduction of vintage parts.

JohnS, All,

SteveD was right in mentioning that this thread which started out by Charlie posting about vintage automobile climate controls, and just seemed to develop a life of its own about other 'stuff' not purely TV related is off-topic. Since I'd hate to quench what I see is a great light-hearted exchange going on here I would suggest that anyone like John who has just posted serious vintage TV stuff, in this case about reproduction vintage TV parts, should consider starting a thread on that subject and move their appropriate comments now in this thread, over to the new one. Likewise i guess those nice 30A13 Admiral pictures should go over to "Show us your vintage B&W sets". However.....

I'd like to leave this thread going and let it take its course. I could make it 'sticky' and change the name to "hey!" or "wuzup?" or something, then we'd all know it was for shooting the breeze, and could 'keep it on topic'. Waddayathink? :)

Part of my rationale is that anyone who thinks filling their house full of non-working 50+ year old consoles is a cool thing to do has to have a different view of the world right? ;) Such views might be more eccentric than you'd find in a general off-topic discussion forum and should therefore get their own forum.

Respectfully submitted,
Rob (I was born eccentric) TV

Rob and everyone else,

Sorry... I started this mess unintentionally. Things here in the vintage tv department got somewhat quiet for a couple of days. I guess I was curious of where everybody went. I had been working on the heat in the car, and figured everyone else was probably doing other work at home as well.

There are sooo many days in which we have great posts with interesting pictures of sets that make our mouths water and our eyes light up! I was starting to miss seeing everyone putting new posts in Vintage Television, and figured that asking "Where did everybody go?" would get the ball rolling again. Just didn't realize the ball would roll out of control.

Charlie

Hey Rob,
I think an informal thread about the trials and tribulations of us collectors is a cool idea. I'm sure there are plenty of problems that we all share that are both tv related and just plain "shit happens":mad: stuff, that other forum members might enjoy hearing about, and perhaps replying to with advice or their own similar stories. ie: I replied in the middle of the recent Admiral postings about our families first tv. It wasn't a technical reply but kinda related to the subject. I appreciate John's plight. There hasn't been any new posting in the color tv thread for a while and I miss the exchanges.

Charlie, I think this has been a great thread, I was wondering where everybody had gone too.

We perhaps drifted a bit off the subject of old TV's but there have been some good posts on that subject too.

BTW, what is the deal with the voting for a thread, I have voted on some but the only ones I see that has ratings are the "Show us your..." threads?


<tv content> The transformer in this GE I'm working on seems to be shorted, I removed it completely from the chassis and powered it up through a 150 watt bulb and the bulb lights brightly, an amp meter shows a 1.00 amp draw with no load? (using the bulb)
The Sams says it's 2 ohms across the primarys which is pretty close so maybe I have a shorted secondary?

I don't have the nerve to hook the trans directly to line voltage and see what happens, perhaps I will take it to work and do that, blow their circuit breakers and not mine. :D

Usually I can power an entire set up with the 150 w bulb.</tv content>

Eric

Eric,

If you find that the short is in a secondary winding, and find which one it's in, perhaps you could eliminate that particular winding from the chassis connections. Then, if you happen to have another old transformer laying around that has a secondary winding with the same value or pretty close as your shorted winding, you could wire that one into the circuit where the shorted winding was.

This, of course will depend on a couple of other things... First, whether or not the short in the origional winding is within itself or possibly shorted to one of the other windings. This idea would only apply if the short is within one winding itself. Second, if you do have another transformer with a winding close to or the same as the shorted one, will the size of that transformer be too big to place somewhere in the cabinet since this will put two trasnformers in the set?

Man, that was a mouthful... did I get the idea across? Sometimes I can see something in my mind so clearly, but have trouble putting it in words!

You guys think this will work? Or would it cause other problems?:dunno:

Originally posted by Eric H
Charlie, I think this has been a great thread, I was wondering where everybody had gone too.

We perhaps drifted a bit off the subject of old TV's but there have been some good posts on that subject too.

BTW, what is the deal with the voting for a thread, I have voted on some but the only ones I see that has ratings are the "Show us your..." threads?


<tv content> The transformer in this GE I'm working on seems to be shorted, I removed it completely from the chassis and powered it up through a 150 watt bulb and the bulb lights brightly, an amp meter shows a 1.00 amp draw with no load? (using the bulb)
The Sams says it's 2 ohms across the primarys which is pretty close so maybe I have a shorted secondary?

I don't have the nerve to hook the trans directly to line voltage and see what happens, perhaps I will take it to work and do that, blow their circuit breakers and not mine. :D

Usually I can power an entire set up with the 150 w bulb.</tv content>

Eric

Eric,

If you have removed all secondary loads, i.e. tubes that use the filament windings, the rectifier tube, that uses the HV winding and can light a 100 watt lamp in series with the AC line input (primary winding) you either have a short in a socket on the chassis somewhere, or your transformer has a short inside. If it is the transformer, remove it from the chassis, take off the end bells and perhaps you will be able to find the short. For testing purposes the series lamp is great. You can also place 120 volts across the HV B+ winding and the transformer will be less stressed if there is an internal sort. If the xfmer is good you would read a voltage on the 120 volt primary winding which is equal to the step up ratio of the 120 to the HV. Maybe about 120 volts divided by six, or 20 volts AC, if the primary is good.

You really should have posted that question in the "My GE has a shorted power transformer forum"! :)

All,

I'm going to stick this thread to the top of the line and re-name it. It will be our own TV forum general discussion thread. Topics do not have to be TV related as long as they are posted by someone who have themselves, or personally know someone that has seen a TV, preferably of some vintage. Until I get a round tuit, please continue to post off-topic discussions here.

I do not know how one rates a thread, or where our 5 stars came from. I don't think those stars is anything bad though. :)

Thanx all for great conversations and posts.

Rob

I'll pull the ends off this thing Monday at work ,I don't have a decent flat head screwdriver here at the house and those dang screws are tight!

I washed this set out with the hose, (see the attn:charlie thread)
and got some water inside the trannie, possibly this caused the short.

Originally when I powered it up the bulb would flicker and flash like the trans was frying. I baked it in the oven to dry it and now it's a steady light but far too much current is flowing.

I have a tranny from a 7" Admiral that might be about right, can't remember if it has a 5 volt winding though.

I have another from a KCS 47 RCA but it has about 375 volts coming out of it as opposed to the 275 called for in the GE, things might start popping with that much juice:p:

A transformer with a shorted secondary CANNOT be used in the circuit because the short is INSIDE the transformer and cannot be cleared by merely disconnecting the loads from the affected winding. If the short is in one of the filament windings, then the winding may be removed and re-wound since the filament windings are the outermost windings. Power transformer anatomy follows some simple conventions. The 120V primary winding is almost always the innermost winding, followed by the HV secondary winding, then the lower-voltage secondaries (bias windings - common in guitar and hi-fi amp transformers), then the filament windings. Rewinding an entire transformer is feasible, but it is quite time-consuming and very labor intensive. It involves taking the core apart and building a jig (rotating block with a crank - like a simplified fishing reel) to hold the windings. Slit the layers of paper, unwind and count the turns of each winding, take notes and make sketches. Obtain magnet wire of the proper sizes to match the original windings and use paper like the original (heavy Kraft paper) to separate the layers of windings. Neatness counts and it takes practice. Refer to "Construction Practices and Data Tables" section of an old copy of The Radio Amateur's Handbook. I have the 1975 edition which still featured a fair amount of tube data. I hope this helps.

John,

I was not suggesting that a transformer with a shorted winding could be used simply by disconnecting the load from that winding. I was merely trying to suggest a troubleshooting technique. A shorted socket, or other circuit fault can make the transformer look like it has a shorted winding unless disconnected from the transformer.

Are my communications skills that bad? :(

Rob

Addendum: Oh, I see that you must have been referring to CharlieT's reply. John is right Charlie. If any individual winding within the xfmer has an internal short to itself, the transformer cannot be used at all, unless this short can be found and cut open. Otherwise smoke will come out. Just disconnecting that winding from the circuit won't help.

Sure reduces confusion by addressing people by name don't you think? :)

Ok fellas... I see where ya'll are coming from. Just out of curiousity, about how many hours does it take to rewind an average power transformer? Sounds like a good day's work! Perhaps rainy day activities.

Charlie,

It may be that water got you in this trouble in the fist place. If you make a new transformer, do it on a dry day! :)

Actually if it went shorted because of water (washing the chassis)it is most likely the HV winding in which case I'd say forget it. Find a replacement. I don't make my own automobile tires for the same reason. My time is too valuable versus what it costs.

You might be able to save it though. Pull the end bells and look see. Sometimes it shorts where the connections are and can be quite easily repaired.

Rob