Early Television Convention ...
 

I understand that the Early Television Convention is to be this weekend.
I can't attend but am interested.
What are you impressions of past conventions?
Really would like to see that museum.

Maybe those who do attend will post back some pictures with enough eye candy that will make us want to attend next year.

Carl

Carl,

Take a look at the museum site here:

http://www.earlytelevision.org/2010_convention.html

At the bottom of the page are links to pictures and some videos of the past 6 conventions, you can almost get the feel of being there.

If you're into TV you have to go at least once, it's the only place you will ever get to see, touch, and play with some of the earliest and rarest of TV technology.


Chuck

I think 85% of the people that attended a previous year return the next year. Most fly or drive long distances to get there. Steve opened up the museum on Friday nights because people wanted to come to the museum as soon as they got into town. I think it would be a good idea to write our VideoKarma IDs on our name tags this year so people can associate faces with VideoKarma.

Good idea. Otherwise, you may have no idea that the person sitting next to you is "zenith321" or whatever.

It's the only event of its kind. As Chuck says, everyone interested in old TVs should attend at least once.

Phil

I would really like to go, but it will have to be next year for me.

What is my impression? You don't know what you are missing until you go! You can get an idea if you look at their website.

I will have a name tag with my video karma handle and my avatar (my actual face may be behind a camera much of the time)

I thought seriously about going this year for the first time.
Restored my first TV a few months ago and am bitten by this hobby.
For years I worked on radios and looked on in admiration of you guys who do TV restoration -- well, and I still do.
So I'm basically a newbie to TV restoration. Been in to Radio restoration for several decades.

Probably watching the on-line video of the Conference will convenience me that I need to go in 2012 to learn and experience more of this hobby.

Carl

Anyone have any pic's of the convention they want to post?

editing - will be posting soon

Anything particularly interesting in the Silent Auction?

Carl

I didn't really see anything in the Silent auction, I had good luck in the live auction though.

Chris

Did any porthole TV's get auctioned off?

Carl

I saw one Zenith Porthole in the swapmeet for $200. There was something about the set that turned me off but I don't remember what it was. It may have been missing parts???? I think there was a Sentienial portable. You never know what's going to be there from year to year.

pix posted at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4200284...7623940231124/

Wow! Thanks for taking all the great pics :thmbsp:
I think I recognize a few of those shady characters :yes:

Lots of nice sets in the auction. Anyone know what the 2nd set from the left (green speaker grille) is ?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4200284...7623815544523/

It was only listed as an Admiral at the auction. It is probably the same chassis as the 10" I am working with right now, but the cabinet is really different.

On the way to ETF convention I pickep up a Trav-ler radio and Trav-ler TV. At the convention I bought an andrea from John at the Friday night get together. At the live auction I bought a reproduction lens hood for a mirror drum mechanical set. I have had an original mirror drum for several years and haven't done anything with it. I also picked up a 1939 Phico scope used for television and a 1940s scope.

It was good to see everyone again! -Richard :thmbsp:

That Andrea is pretty neat. What is the screen size on that one?

Andrea 12 inch from 1948. I picked up two 10 inch FADAs last year. Andrea and FADA was the same mnufacturer.

I ended up with that set. All I know is that it's an Admiral 10". There is a tube layout label in the cabinet and a serial number on the chassis but no chassis or model number. Any thoughts on if the green grill cloth is original? I've never seen an Admiral with this color cloth.

Chris

As much as I love to lust mightily over other folk's scores & neat old sets, I sure do wish that there would be more crowd shots where the Miscreants are identified...So as to put a name w/the handle !

Weird. That doesn't look anything like any Admiral chassis I've seen :scratch2: Those don't look like Admiral knobs either.
It does have that classic Admiral cabinet look though. Nice score :thmbsp:

I gotta say "Emerson"... that group of 5 25Z6s in the power supply IMHO, is very Emerson looking.:scratch2:

jr

Sandy, I am guilty of not taking people pictures at ETF. 1-Chuck A and Dave, 2-Chuck A, Darrel (tubesrule), Steve McVoy 4-Ken (Pearson) on right, 5-Dog, 6-Steve & Darrel

I still wanna say Admiral, as the hardware for the yoke is the same, as well as the same general chassis layout. I've never heard of Admiral using a hot chassis in their late 40s sets, though.

Interesting, could this be 100% Emerson? Or is this a Emerson chassis in an Admiral cabinet?

When I was in high school, I had one of these 10" Emerson consoles in my basement "shop". It looked exactly like the one in your picture, including the outward protrusion of the chassis/screen area. IIRC the grille cloth was gold instead of green. I am sure that it was 100% Emerson.:yes:

jr

I think the chassis angled upward slightly (but not enough that it would slide back, if the screws were not installed)

Ok, Is it possible this is a Emerson model 527, 1948? The description in my identification book reads "Maple wood console with slanted front". Anyone have a picture of a model 527?

Chris

It does just that, the chassis angles slightly upward.

This is confusing... My Photofact which is set 46 folder 25 (9/48) for the 571 and 606, shows a picture of a tabletop which is identified as model 571. The 75 years of television site says that the 571 and 606 are both consoles*...:scratch2:

jr

Add: How does the tube layout compare?

*Correction: 75 years does correctly identify the 571 as a table model

The tube layout is identical.

Found it!

Harry Posters' book "The Illustrated Price Guide To Vintage Televisions and Deco Radios" 1991, on page 18 shows it as an Emerson model 606. I think that the Emerson logo can almost be seen above the screen... has the front of yours been refinished?

jr

Richard, good seeing you again, as well as Ray, etc. Really like the Andrea
& hope museum knob pics help locate some for yours.
That Admiral is Emerson.
Was surprised so little interest in the Duo-vue sets, but there were lots of
good cheap parts sets.
The 10" console was rare - went to Craig for $5.
Several of the mini vans loaded 6 or more sets.
Next year see everyone there.............
Pearson

I was also surprised at the prices the auction brought. A fair amount of mid fifties tvs didn't go at all, and quite a few sets went for under twenty bucks. Of course, the bidding got a bit more competitive when something rarer came up. All in all, though, I think most sets went for less than fifty dollars each.

It's kind of a tough auction crowd. Many folks already have a lifetime supply of cheap 1950s consoles, so you won't get much competition there. Others fly in, which rules out buying anything that doesn't fit in a carry-on. I could hire Craters & Freighters to pick up a TV and ship it home, but nobody in his right mind would pay $150 to ship a $25 TV.

Phil

It appears I missed the swapmeet by a couple days, only discovered VK and the museum site afterward. My main purpose in joining is to get trader/market advice, esp. see who's looking for parts. With the death of analog tv broadcasts, I'm trying to figure out if anyone's even restoring the old tv's? I came upon a 1950 Dumont recently, but the "practical" member of our family wants it out of the house (garage) ASAP. Not in good shape, but it was such a "work of art" when I saw and grabbed it, I'd feel guilty sending it to the dump.

Thanks Jr for the detective work, I owe you one. This cabinet is in beautiful shape, it wouldnt surprise me if if had been refinished.

Chris

Yes,

The convention was a blast, had a great time like I did last year. It was great to get together with old friends again :)

The presentations about rebuilding the 15gp22 blew my mind :) I am still trying to wrap my head around some of the stuff that was said.

Can't wait for next year.

Matt