An interesting 7" TV on eBay
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Phi...oAAOSwd~FezDgU
I believe this is a kit set, but I never saw it anywhere before. The configuration is very much like Automatic Radio, National, and Meck. Interesting set that should be restored and preserved. Probably the only one left.

:) Hi Joe ,

:scratch2: I could be wrong , but , I don't believe it is a kit set due to the language on the label pertaining to the warranty . The part about being "manufactured by us" implies to me that the set was built in a factory VS a homemade kit . I find it weird that it looks like a square section of the label was deliberately cut away , there is a serial number but the missing section of the label possibly contained the model number ?

Didn't Heathkit sell a 7" TV kit that was basically a kitted out national?... maybe it is one of those. The cabinet looks like a national without the horizontal board that covers the screen and speaker. Maybe Heathkit got half completed cabinets and instead of adding that board with screen and speaker cutouts simply lacquered it and cut the maker name off the label so owners wouldn't but national for parts and repair support.
Edit. nevermind I'm completely off base.

I know Heathkit did Raytheon kits, don't know about National

The number that is crossed out on the tube layout chart is “XA-701” which is the model number of the cloth covered Meck, according to the tv history site.

jr

Yep, definitely a Meck XA-701. I wonder why the label was defaced. Some collectors would think that would lower the value of the TV.

That's odd. This one obviously looks like it has an original dark finish. I actually never saw a cloth covered 7" Meck TV. Odd how the control decals are offset. It's one for the TV collector that needs to have them all.

;) A second look at the chassis reveals that the tube sockets are riveted to the chassis , If this were a kit I'd expect to see screws with nuts and lock washers VS the rivets ?

Yes. It's likely a factory Meck yet I've never seen one with that particular cabinet style. It has to be a very early version because it surely isn't a home brew, especially with the cabinet sticker. Why the sticker was cut is really odd. I'd like to look at the front panel close and see if there's signs of the original small brass nameplate.

Here's a thought. The front panel on the pix in the SAMS looks different than the one on eBay.. The grill is different and it is missing the Meck logo.

Do you think Meck made a special run for another company or retailer; hence, the missing logo and the modified serial number sticker?

Yes, I would say that's a good guess. I would figure it had some kind of a logo at one point. I'd like to inspect the front panel closely to see any signs of one.

Here's a photo of a 7" Meck with Cloth covered front cabinet

Is it possible that this TV was sold/given to a Meck employee under the condition that it did not have a front panel logo and didn't have the Meck name on the tube layout diagram on the bottom on the set?

My guess is that it's a Mirrortone brand TV made by Meck.

.

A similar 1949 model Meck TV is pictured at https://link.springer.com/content/pd...014-0778-x.pdf

rld-tv01, the picture in your referenced article looks just like the picture in the eBay ad. The grill arrangement is the same as well as the "missing" nameplate.

See Meck XB-702 picture and schematic at http://www.earlytelevision.org/pdf/m...01_rider_3.pdf

Aha! That's the first time I've seen those 3 Meck models. I'd like to find the portable version.
Well that solves it. It's a '49 Meck with the nameplate missing. It definitely one of the lesser seen 7" sets, although far from one of the most appealing.
Here's another example from the Net. This one is also missing the small brass plaque - or maybe it's the same set.
https://link.springer.com/content/pd...014-0778-x.pdf

The set in the article is obviously very special as it includes "tube semiconductors".

tube semiconductors?

huh? :confused::confused:

The only semiconductor I could find is the selenium rectifier in the power supply. They even use a tube for the video detector.

Meck XA-701
 

I have a Meck XA-701 that I just finished the restoration on. They are a pretty rare set and hopefully the buyer will restore it.
Mine has a metal grille on the front

I had to read your reply twice to make sure I understood it correctly. That is, I couldn't quite believe any television manufacturer would ever, even in the 1950s, rivet the set's tube sockets to the chassis. How on earth did they expect any TV repair shop to replace the tube sockets if they were solidly riveted in place? That is, I understand they could drill out the rivets to remove the defective socket, but that seems like an awful lot of work, not to mention the risk of damaging the chassis from the vibration of the drill. Using screws and nuts to mount tube sockets to the chassis makes a lot more sense, as all the technician would need to do would be to remove them from the holes on either side of the socket(s).

I had to read your reply twice to make sure I understood it correctly. Are you serious? Have you ever looked inside a radio or TV before? Ever looked at pictures of chassis right here in this forum?

Of course they were riveted in place.

.

Just wanted to add that a common issue with early electrostatics is intermittent audio/video static often due to these rivets. On my early-run VT-71 I brushed every rivet and applied wire glue over and around them. It solved the problem.

Most molded plastic sockets if the metal contacts wore out or the solder tab broke off you could replace individual metal contacts by removing all soldered leads and solder, flattening the contact and pushing it up from the bottom...I've done this many times. The plastic sockets only ever needed a full socket replacement if the plastic insulator arced through or was otherwise severely damaged....Which is pretty rare even among socket failures which are themselves rare.

The phenolic wafer sockets weren't as serviceable but were fairly reliable. The only times I have had to replace them were when in a set that had been so soaked in rodent urine that the socket insulator had become conductive and was burning from the B+ current, and a couple of times I wasn't gentle enough and ripped a solder lug off...most repairmen back then favored J-hooks or snipping the old lead and tack soldering the new one to the surface of the existing solder blob so they wouldn't rip lugs off a socket under their normal practices.

Riveting was the "norm" dating back to the earliest metal radio chassis in the 20's. You drilled the rivet out if socket was bad. No big deal as they were mostly dead soft brass usually plated.