Picked up a "new" TV!

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by Eric H

When I was working in a TV shop circa 1978-1981 we never had anything this old come in for repairs. We did fix a lot of Color sets from the 60's but that was about as old as it got.

My friend in West LA, who owns a shop that opened in 1936, has a few customers who still have color roundies in daily use today, and at least one Zenith console B&W late 50s set. Not TV collectors; original retired households. The oldest original owner/still-in-use set I have worked on, was a '49 Hoffman similar to yours, in about 1985. (wait a minute: Jeez... 1985 seems like last week, but it was more than 1/4 century ago !

Charles

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by Eric H

John, I have seen it once before on this Hoffman:
http://www.vintagetvsets.com/hoffman10.htm

It had a date inside for a repair made in 1980 and the set still worked a little bit when I got it.

When I was working in a TV shop circa 1978-1981 we never had anything this old come in for repairs. We did fix a lot of Color sets from the 60's but that was about as old as it got.

I never worked in a TV shop; but, back in the early '90's, someone gave me a mid '50's GE 21" console B&W. On the back, it still had a service shop receipt from '71 for an HV rectifier tube replacement.

I've got a friend, who started fixing TV's in '73, and he said that in the early days of his career, he was asked to fix a few '50's era B&W sets.

TV's were still fairly expensive, even as late as the '70''s, and people would come near having an older TV repaired instead of spending much more money on a new TV. This was especially true among older people and other people who were living on smaller incomes.

[JCFitz]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Me too, and I've had several sets that were Mouse infested including a Truetone that had three inches of Apricot pits inside and had a couple transformers eaten but was no where near this dirty.

The set was in use at least till the early 80's so maybe it was just really dirty to start with.

It was really disgusting but surprisingly in good shape under all that whatever it was.

I thought it was just Mouse pee but it may have been a combination of Nicotine, Mouse pee and dirt. The rust left after wire brushing by hand was very light and simply went away with some Rustoleum.

I posted a more detailed account of the cleaning on this page:
http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...55415&start=20

I'm waiting on some Micas for the Sylvania so maybe after I get that finished I can get this on the bench and see what's what, it has a half dozen newer Orange Drops in it already, probably from the 1977 repair.

Side note, the original CRT was a 20CP4D, Electromagnetically focused, the tub ein it now is Electrostatically focused and there was a jumper wire from the focus pin to the Cathode or possibly G2. I don't know what number this tube is, it's not marked, possibly a 20GP4?

Where can you get the Ascot Purple Cleaner you mention?

[dieseljeep]

The most common designation for a 20" self focused CRT was 20HP4. That CRT was probably the only one that the rebuilder had on hand at the time. The rebuilder I bought from would date the tube label at the time the tube was purchased.

[David Roper]

When I had just turned 11 I brought an Atwater Kent model 20 I had been given to a neighborhood TV repair guy. Yes, he looked at me like I was from Mars, but he was kind enough to give me a consolation gift: A 17" bakelite Admiral that he was probably a day away from throwing out. I suspect it had been traded in or abandoned not long before. I would much rather have had the Zenith porthole he had up on a shelf, but that was being repaired for a customer. This was in January of 1975.

[John Marinello]

Eric,

Some similarties with this set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MAJESTIC...item1c1a4fd6da

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by John Marinello

Eric,

Some similarties with this set?

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MAJESTIC...item1c1a4fd6da

Yes, virtually the same except for the name and cabinet.

The W-G was made by Majestic, or vice versa.

[Dan Starnes]

I also have never heard of that brand of set. Very interesting! Were they a nationally sold brand?

[Eric H]

BTW, These sets are "Color Ready" with a socket for the color wheel on the back apron.

I just realized I never posted any "After" pictures of my set here.

It still has it's control door which is a minor miracle considering what it was like when I got it.

[zenith2134]

Wow, Eric!! I am in awe at how well the AFTER turned out

The 'oddball' sets are the best IMO.