Cleaning out a TV repair shop basement
 

Last Saturday I journeyed to Indiana to pick up a load of 25 CRTs off ebay....The seller told me he found 25 more and had a bunch of sets so I was fairly stoked.

I wanted to rent a bigger van, but those Enterprise charges mileage on, which would have more than doubled rental cost.
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We got there in the later part of the afternoon, and ventured inside. The upper half did not have many TVs and all were SS era sets (I did grab a CTC-68 RCA console for someone I know, and as a support for the plywood that the upper level sat on).

The basement was a real trip. The way to get sets in and out is an 'elevator' consisting of the lift mech off of a fork lift with a piece of ply wood on it...Which is a decent bit smaller than the opening in the floor for it (I wish I took a picture of it). A stairway also exists, but it is not easy to use even without carrying a set... The building is deeper than it is wide and the basement is split in half the long way by a stone wall that obviously had a human sized hole knocked in it to access the other half...The half with access to the ground floor was in better shape and had most of the sets, as well as magazine racks from a bus station he used to own, video game cabinets, stuff from when it was a carpet store, and other things I can only vaguely guess at from memory. He said the basement was 5000 SQFT, and that space was lit by ~6 incandescent bulbs...Needless to say there was not much more light than needed to not trip and fall on yer face (if I go back I plan to bring the biggest, brightest mother of a flashlight I can find)...I could not really get almost any photos down there without the camera taking a black rectangle and calling it a picture. The other side of the basement had a dirt floor and contained the extra 25 tubes which I got a picture of (I got a few of those), and a doorway the the back room. In the top corner of that doorway was either the most peculiar mold flower ever or the shell of what used to be a 3-4" diameter spider. There in the back room were the original lot of CRTs and 2-4 sets (including the motorola 23" table model). I got most (basically all the nicer ones) of those tubes in the back room. There is still some 23V and 25V rectangular deltagun CRTs that I want there. There were no roundy colors there or AFAIK any sets pre-1962 (and maybe not even that old)...Mid 60's to late 70's mostly color appeared to be dominant. There are 2-5 console TVs left (more could be buried) and somewhere around 12-20 table tops. Roughly half the sets did not have the backs on or anywhere I could find/get to them....I did see some backs but too much digging would be needed. He said much of the arcade and bus stand stuff was going to go soon so if I go again it should be easier to get to stuff.

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We left around 9:45pm local time, tired and with not quite with a whole van load. It was all we could do to pack it all well. We got home between 2-3Am central time.

Here are some pictures of the packing job which did well...No tubes went to air, no sets were noticeably damaged, and nothing much moved during the trip so the pack job photographed next morning is a good representation of what it was when we left.
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Picture/post limit reached.

Continued.
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Each box contains a CRT (mostly the colors and better CRTs).
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An admiral color and a 4 tube color Zenith chassis for parts use.
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The metal cabinet 23" tube color Zenith table set was backless and necked as found, but since I had a new CRT for it I took it anyway.

Pic limit hit again.

I love Zeniths, Jap color sets, and non RCA sets. I left a number of non-rcas and some RCAs that I wanted among other things (some of which I did not get a decent look at) like TV shop advertising items. Think I should go back for another load? :D
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In the background is the misfit 16" color CRT...It had a hole in it's neck when found and was set aside to leave there, but at the end it got grabbed and loaded by mistake. Any creative ideas for disposal? :D
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The bottom set is an extremely rare set: Zenith's first 13" color set. It is the lower trim model missing bottom, back, pencil box door, and knobs...I have the higher trim model in better but shabby shape so they might sorta match. :D
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8332/2...03694f7f_n.jpgDSCN2152 by Tom Carlson, on Flickr

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pic limit.

So do you have any plans for the fall and winter? LOL

WOW! Quite a haul!

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Bottom of the 23" metal table top tube color Motorola...The first tube color moto I've ever had.
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The bad part is that all the sets are covered in dust that smells moldy, and the wood sets have mold (granted I think I can clean it). It was 80-90 degrees in there and I was sweating like a pig....I drank, easily a gallon of water while there, and did not particularly need to pee afterwards.
When I got out of the shop my shirt was ruined and my arms and face were so dirty I decided not to eat till we could find a place with a washroom to wash up. Below is the last pic of me in that T-shirt...I changed shirts when I washed up. While I was washing I was singing Zappa's "Let's Make the Water Turn Black"....And black that water did turn. :D
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It took me most of Sunday to unload, return the rental, wash all the CRTs with sponge + soapy bleach water, test the roundy tubes, wash the out sides of the sets, clean the shed and put it all in there, FINALLY shower, and treat the folks to Olive Garden for dinner as thanks.

Since then I've managed to test all the CRTs and give the good a second Windex clean, and storage in the basement. All the tubes were on carpet and almost no face scratches were found.

Most CRTs were good, but 3 17" 120 degree tubes were dead, both 16" delta gun color jugs one or two TINY ones I got for test jig jugs, and 2 of the roundys had heater leads break at or near the glass (which I plan to try to fix). Some have rust stains that I've been working on (mostly successfully) cleaning off.

Where the sets are stored now, after last nights re-sort to keep the mower out of the rain.
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I've not had the chance to test the CRTs in the sets, or the sets themselves yet. I need to take all apart and wash them (plus cataract the moto CRT) before the goodhousekeeping-seal-of-approval to bring them inside is given.

The guy I bought them from needs to get the building empty by the end of October to rent it out, and needs all those sets gone. I want to go once more, get pictures of what I can't get posted then put his contact info out (he wants me to do so) so what I can't get might be saved. If anyone wants to rent a van (I'm a couple months too young to rent) and split the van and gas cost with me (I get first choice on sets) I'd be willing to do a team pick. I gave him $100 for all I could load, and I think he would let me do it again for that or less.

So what do you think of my haul? Think I should go back there, or am I nucking futz?

Lol, Thanks!

My to do list has roughly doubled (granted I really crunched it the last couple of years).

Just a couple bits of the advertising stuff would probably have paid for the bigger truck. Nice haul.

Chip

BTW some of the sets I may be open to selling or bringing to the ETF. Same goes for the CRTs. If you have a burning interest in anything I'd consider leting stuff go (though the 23" table top sets, Panasonic set, and roundy CRTs I really want to keep currently).

I'd be quite interested in buying the RCA color set on top in this pic :)

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Are the three dead 17" tubes the short neck Predicta tubes (17DRP4?)

I think the Predicta tubes used a different socket than other similar tubes so possibly that could be the issue?

Yes and no...They are sort neck, but newer and to square to fit a predicta.

Tim I'll get the CRT in that tested, the set on a variac, more pictures and a price posted when I can...You could get the 19" RCA cheaper if that matters (I like the bigger one less).

My highest compliments! Great job: you deserve a metal.

Me too! Especially if it is in a white case with the silver trim band. That was our first color tv we had in the family. An RCA CTC22B. CRT is an odd one with the blue gun on the bottom.

HOLY MOLY! I hope you know that you are living my dream. That is, becoming a "hunter/gatherer." Hunting out old TV's all over the country and gathering them into my collection and restoring them. Good luck with all of 'em!

The solid state damper diode (clips in like a fuse) was usually the first thing to fail in those. If it has the double-diode replacement it's probably good.

The Panasonic was the only one I wanted! :lmao:

I did a pick like that, and remember the T and jeans being exactly the same, so dirty you had to wash off before washing off. nice score but now you have to figure out a way to store it all. That is the problem.

The CRT is a 15LP22, a low focus voltage Einzell lens CRT. Even on the 18" and smaller CRT's of that type, had the blue gun on the bottom.
When those sets were new, they had an excellant, sharp picture. After a long while, you couldn't get sharp focus, no matter where the focus jumper was connected.

Great rescue job. this always happens when its freakin' hot too!

When shop closed near work in August 2014, my truck was filled inside and in the bed with 90 subwoofer boxes with NOS tubes. I made space in the attic of my garage. Dry and you can access them via 12 foot ladder, like a library.

What you've got here is a booby tube trap. :D

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When I scavenged the Radio/TV Lab on West Irving Park in Chicago several years ago I spent 19 days filling my van to the roof 11 times in mid-December with no heat or lights in the building.

.

Hehehe, i was gonna say "Tooby trap".... :D

SR

I think Tilex mold and mildew killer ought to take care of the wood sets. I use it in the bathroom all the time and once on a radio's speaker grille cloth. Cleaned it up nicely.

Damn that's a nice haul. Of course you would be nuts for getting more, but revel in that, I would do it if I could. Store some of this stuff outside if you need to, just cover it up and maybe build a shed to hold the overflow.

I often have actual dreams about wandering around places like this, odd cavernous abandoned buildings, and (often poorly lit) antique shops that seem to go on forever....There is an anime where one of the characters says "This place looks like the inside of (forgot the character's name) mind."...That place in a way looks a lot like the inside of my mind.



A pick like this is the Olympics of TV collecting, it is hard labor in miserable conditions (muphy's law or something must state that the weather can never be especially good for something like this), with a steep time table. I mostly was in move quickly mode and barely was able to take it all in.

I may try that sun and bleach kills mold so I plan to dismantle the sets to separate chassis, cab, CRT and clean all very well. I am nuts enough to go back. Dirty somewhat incomplete sets of the type I really like are more interesting to me than perfect examples of sets I sorta like.

I don't have monies for another shed. I plan to get them clean enough to store in the basement, and reshuffel the basement to fit them....There should be plenty of space even for a second or third pick if I do it right.

One thing I forgot to mention: I spotted an early 70s Panasonic in one pic. Very cool set to me. I don't think many were made.

to kill mold you must take away its food source.that would be moisture and humidity.after it goes dormant,you may clean it it.12 years in the mold removal business.diplomas out the ying-yang studying mold,air quality,etc.dry air circulating is your best solution to mold.starve it and them treat it.simple

One of the Immutable Laws of the Universe is that anytime you embark on a project like this, it will ALWAYS be either a Zillion degrees, or below zero. At least you didn't mention a torrential downpour, or stirring up the ever present Wasper Nest. Those are a couple of the corollaries to the Immutable Law.... Rattle-Headed Copper Moccasins, or some other Gawdawful snake can figure in on these expeditions frequently, as well..

Wow.Tom.What a collection of goodies you got.Those CRTs are the most important grab there since they are top of the list .I feel your back pain here.This reminds me of cleaning out my friends shops which was 3 different shops at different times over the years.I still have some stuff in the garage and basement here which includes service manuals,parts galore.My back hurt for weeks after those moves with a Chevy Caprice Station wagon plus the van from work for the bigger stuff.

I would be alittle nervous carrying those CRTs but you had them secured good there.

That's not an expedition...that's an EXCAVATION! Well done!!!!

Have you heard of Clear Shell?
 

Its made by Zep and sold at Home Depot. Its a mold and fungus inhibitor. It does not remove the stain color like bleach does. Another substance I've heard is hydrogen peroxide but I haven't tried it.
So far the Clear Shell has worked well on the paneling in my basement.

I variaced all sets from this lot on sunday and none produced raster.
It is a white one. All the tubes lit, but it seems there is no B+. I'm going to pull the back and test the CRT tonight. I wanted to take pictures and test last night, but my camera battery died, and I ran out of time.

I want $120 for that 13" RCA. Last one I saw was around $120 (and I would have bought that had I not been saving funds for a Zenith I had to have), and it almost made the exceptions list on the ' I'd consider selling some of these post'.

I worked on a few CTC22's, a good effort by RCA compared to others. As the low-focus 13-14" color sets of the late 60's go, only that Zenith under it made a picture just as good.

The Sears-Toshibas-Sanyos and other budget small screens seemed like you could only get them to look so good, no matter how much you fussed with tube subbing and set-up adjustments, yet the owners claimed it "looked as good as before" after you fixed the original issue.

I got the back off the RCA, the CRT is not very healthy in the green department unless heater voltage is raised, otherwise it is strong. I have a strong spare CRT I'd throw in for another $50.
If no one chimes in before noon central time that they definitely want to buy the TV or the CRT at the ETF then, I'll leave them at home...

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I feel sorry about that bottom set .

Aside from missing the back it should be fine. I have a spare (what I believe to be) Zenith CC black matrix CRT, that tests good, to install in it.

I really wanted it till I saw it was necked (likely before I was born)...Waffled a minute, then remembered I had 2 spare CRTs for it from there, and decided to take it anyway.

The RCA CTC22, I had 1968 to 1970, had an excellent, even when I sold it. It had a few hours on it, but nothing like the average. I replaced 5, 5GH8's in it before sold.
When I bought, for resale, used CTC22's, they never seemed to have the picture mine had.
I have a CTC51K, which is a hybrid that uses, essentially the same CRT, but designated 14V, 1974 model. That picture is OK, but just doesn't sparkle.
I glad they went to high focus voltage CRT's, even in the small sets. Unless, there's a fault in the focus circuit or the CRT is sick, good focus can always be achieved. Even on the GE PortaColors with HV focus. :thmbsp:

During the weekend I finally gave all the sets from there the full clean they needed to come inside....That entailed opening all the sets removing chassis and CRT shields hosing each piece down thoroughly letting it all dry in the sun, and reassembling most of the sets. All the TVs had good CRTs except 2.
The Zenith 15Y6C15 had the plastic CRT base destroyed, and initially one of the pins knocked out, but after testing and some after dark blind fumbling about half have been knocked off. Most broke deep in the glass so I'm thinking of crunching that 15NP22 rather than trying to kludge a new base (which I think is not possible with the state it is in)...I have a better spare anyway. I'm debating whether to keep the 15Y6C15 for parts or restore it...One of the convergence board coil forms is broken and the tuner out jack ripped off the tuner...It is also missing every conceivable cover: bottom, back, pencil box, HV, tuner cover, etc...I suppose I could make the chassis work and use it to test my test jig...Maybe make a ugly shock hazard runner/beater out of it.
https://c4.staticflickr.com/9/8332/2...03694f7f_n.jpgDSCN2152 by Tom Carlson, on Flickr
The other problem CRT is in the 'Truetone' badged NEC...That one is rather weak at it's rated 6.3V heater voltage but comes up reasonably into the green at 8.4V...It is missing the back, knobs, tubes, and the tuner has several random hanging wires. I don't know if I should scrap it or restore it, what say you?
https://c3.staticflickr.com/9/8061/2...990b52e3_n.jpgDSCN2150 by Tom Carlson, on Flickr

The Hitatchi also feigned a bad CRT till it woke up from dormancy on the second test. https://c6.staticflickr.com/9/8452/2...c3ff30c5_n.jpgDSCN2147 by Tom Carlson, on Flickr

I now better know the score on the two roundys with snapped off leads...I was able to reattach leads successfully to stubs on both tubes....One had a glass evacuation nipple the other had a metal evacuation nipple...Until I noticed the one had a metal nipple (that caused a mental reversal) I held out the most hope for it. The tube with the metal nipple is VERY gassy (there was blue glow the size of my thumb in it and the tester exhibited the familiar 'neon bulb action'), and is definitely not going to be usable...I'm debating crunching it up to save space...If anyone wants a free DUD roundy CRT now is the time to ask for it.
Now I'm sure your wondering about the other roundy CRT that was previously un-testable....That one tests VERY strong on my home made universal CRT adapter...All I have to do is install the new bakelite base I got at the ETF and it should be ready to install in a set...I plan to put that one in my 29JC20 to replace the flaky one currently in that set.

The moto got cataracted just before the ETF. It's original tinted glass was destroyed in the process sadly...I was able to harvest a tinted glass for it off of a Zenith 25XP22 I got at the ETF, and that set is currently waiting reassembly and recap work in the basement.
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The necked Zenith now has a new CRT in it, and is waiting for repairs. I found the front half of the electron gun inside the CRT. The necking must have been quite violent...Not only did it snap the neck and front half of the gun it also launched the front half of the gun with enough force to put a hole in the shadow mask...I took pictures before I crunched the necked CRT.

I'm beginning to wish I had sold tim the CTC-22 cheaply...That chassis is a COLOSSAL pain to extract from the cabinet...all the stinkin nuts that bolt the control panel/chassis to the face are VERY hard to get at with the chassis in, yet help hold the chassis in (an annoying catch-22). After cleaning that set I purposefully left it apart, and plan to keep it apart till I've got it working properly....I don't want to have to pull the chassis again. :thumbsdn:

The Panasonic is missing it's damper...I'm going to have to get a sam's for it since the top cap lead for that wacky damper was not attached anywhere.

Lastly the Zenith console...I was able to get most of the mold and tobacco odor out of the wood, but it still smells a bit. I swapped it's CRT into the metal set since it was better than my 2 other compatible loose spare CRTs. This set uses almost the exact same chassis as the table set, and I like the table set better. Would anyone be interested in purchasing that console (it is missing the back, bottom, HV cage cover, 3 tubes and the VHF fine tune knob), or should I dump the cabinet and keep the rest? I'd give it away with a lousy CRT, or take $65 to up-grade it to a good CRT.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8466/2...70fc6f83_n.jpgDSCN2148 by Tom Carlson, on Flickr

What's the Panasonic model number? I can look through my Sams.

Very nice........Thank you for sharing them!!!!

:)

Tom on your panasonic if there are 9A8's and 16A9's and maybe a 29KQ6 horiz. output then your damper will likely be a 30AE3 (base 9CB) the sets had two 300 ma. heater strings. Hope this helps. All the best, Tom.J