50s Philco TV 52-T1842 Recent Find

[liammc00]

I just picked this TV up from a flea market for next to nothing. Seems to be in good cosmetic condition for it's age except for the power cord that is more electrical l tape then installation left on it. I don't any personal experience with TV this old. Frist things first I will need to get a CRT tester before I put work into the set to find out it has a dead CRT. Once I get a CRT tester and if the tube is good enough to make a watchable picture I first put a power cord on the set and try to power it up with auto transformers I have. I will try to fix the set but my skills on old TVs from this area are not the greatest so it will be a challenge. If the tube is bad I will sell the set on to someone else unless I get very looky and get a good deal on another tube. I will get a CRT tester but that maybe a while and going to be in process of moving soon so I won't be touching any big projects. I will report back once obtain a CRT tester and am able to get started working on it.

[Electronic M]

These Philco split chassis sets are good beginner restoration TVs. Because the split chassis the chassis are small and light and about as convenient to work on as a small console radio chassis. They generally respond well to a recap, and perform well once working, and are good watcher sets. They do have a lot of caps especially paper caps...Granted if the original Sprague bumblebee caps are in it those resold on eBay will probably pay for the new caps plus the cost of the set plus whatever other parts it needs.
If you are not used to working on tube electronics I recommend getting a 40s era 5 tube table radio to recap first as practice. Learning how to identify parts of that vintage, how to recap multi-section FP twist lock electrolytic caps, trace a schematic etc in a tube set is far easier in a table radio than a TV.

[Phil Nelson]

Yes, that looks like a good first-TV project. Here are some restoration articles that may help you get started:

https://antiqueradio.org/howfixtv.htm

https://antiqueradio.org/FirstStepsInRestoration.htm

https://antiqueradio.org/recap.htm

Also, here is a page with a bunch of TV restoration articles:

https://antiqueradio.org/televisions.htm

None of those sets is identical to yours, but if you skim a couple of those case studies, you'll get an idea what's normally required to bring a vintage TV back to life.

Take your time, make notes, and take photos as you go.

Have fun!

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
https://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[liammc00]

I Should have mentioned that I do have some experience on tube radios and record players. However my point to point skills leave little bit to be desired I must say. the last peace of tube equipment I have worked on was a 1947 Westinghouse am/fm tube radio. The radio works pretty well I must say. The radio dose pick up station better then some newer radios I have used.

[Electronic M]

That's good. A monochrome TV is basically like working on 3-5 of those at once (granted a Philco split chassis you can do half at a time) and having sweep circuits that are finicky about having the right value of cap installed.

Avoid disturbing tuner and video IF alignment in TVs. You can only align it with specific TV alignment gear and it's an involved process.

[liammc00]

I opened the back on the TV to take a look see. The set looks in pretty good shape but pretty high hour as all of the tubes deflection/power supply/HV have been changed. On the 2nd chassis Wich has the tunner all but 4 tubes have been changed. As fare as the CRT gose I think it's original but not 100% sure as the only identification is the tube number no brand name. So I'm going to hold off until get CRT tester as I have feeling the TV was pulled out of service doto a weak CRT.

[nasadowsk]

What’s the CRT in it? Some are common, some aren’t.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by nasadowsk

What’s the CRT in it? Some are common, some aren’t.

Judging from the picture, I can't tell if it's a 17 or a 20". If it's a 17", it's a 17BP4 and a 20", it a 20CP4, both EZ tubes to source.

[Phil]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

Judging from the picture, I can't tell if it's a 17 or a 20". If it's a 17", it's a 17BP4 and a 20", it a 20CP4, both EZ tubes to source.

I'm not so sure about that. I've been looking for a spare 17BP4 for one of my favorite sets for about 6 years and haven't found a single decent one. The tube that is in it will likely outlive me anyway.

[liammc00]

the set dose usea 17BP4