DuMont Blonde Revere Restoration - Page 2 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

kvflyer · #16 10-09-2013, 09:57 AM

Sorry to arrive late at the party but let me say as well that that is a very nice set. Glad that things are going well with it and I look forward to following more progress.

Thanks for taking the time to share with us.

IsthmusTV · #17 10-10-2013, 09:44 AM

Well, the VDC CRT arrived a day ahead of schedule. The good news is that it made it in one piece and it tests like new!

The not so good news is that I don't think it's a 17BP4. It's got an extra pin on the base (number 6) and the neck looks to be about an inch shorter than the 17AP4. I'm guessing that this may be an electrostatic focus version of the CRT, something like a 17BKP4. But from what I can see in my tube manual, all the electrostatic focus versions are 90 degree tubes, not 70 degree tubes. But the overall length of the 90 degree tubes is much shorter than this one. I may just have to try it and see what happens.

Meanwhile, I tweaked the horizontal waveform which cured some instability. Now it's textbook

bandersen · #18 10-10-2013, 11:41 AM

That extra pin might not be connected to anything electrically. Some CRTS have that to help the CRT socket hold on. Got my fingers crossed

IsthmusTV · #19 10-10-2013, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bandersen

That extra pin might not be connected to anything electrically. Some CRTS have that to help the CRT socket hold on. Got my fingers crossed

Hi Bob,

Thanks. Eric H thought the same thing. The shorter neck isn't a problem since it won't need the ion trap. I'll give it a try!

IsthmusTV · #20 10-11-2013, 01:51 PM

I received my NOS 6AL7 "indicator tube" so the DuMont now has it's green eye glowing properly. I still need to check/replace the resistor in its connector.

Here, Ginger explains to the Skipper how good they look on a 1950's DuMont

I'm not sure I'll have much time to play old TV this weekend, but I'm very curious to find out if the VDC CRT is going to work!

-Clark

holmesuser01 · #21 10-11-2013, 03:04 PM

I imagine that in 1964-66, there were still a few 1950 DuMonts in use. It looks great!

sean · #22 10-11-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holmesuser01

I imagine that in 1964-66, there were still a few 1950 DuMonts in use. It looks great!

Somewhere I have an issue of PF Reporter from the mid-1960s that has an article about working on the RA-109 sets. It was written by a TV repairman who had a customer that still used one regularly and would have him service it.

IsthmusTV · #23 10-14-2013, 12:50 PM

I did a bit more work on the DuMont. I replaced the few remaining paper caps, including the ones hiding in the small shielded compartment. I also replaced a few more resistors, including the 3.3K in the socket for the 6AL7 indicator tube, which ahd drifted to more the 5K:

I had planned to try the VDC CRT in the set, but I was unable to remove the yoke. It's such a tight fit, that it wouldn't slide over the repaired base of the 17AP4. I was afraid that something like this might happen when I was repairing the base and I thought I had done a good job of keeping things compact. Even after removing the electrical tape, no dice. I was afraid that if I tried too hard that I might damage the yoke, the base or worse. So I abandoned the idea for now. Since the old CRT is making a very nice picture, I can afford to wait. I think what I will need to do is to carefully grind down parts of the base with a Dremel tool. At least I know that the repair I made with the black, sensor safe RTV is nice and sturdy:

With everything back together, the picture is rock solid and the audio is excellent-- lots of bass with the big speaker.

Phil Nelson · #24 10-14-2013, 02:13 PM

Wow, that picture is outstanding. There is nothing like a DuMont! I can understand your wanting to try out the other CRT, but this one may look good for a very long time. I hope you can put this TV in a place where it gets watched regularly. Between the "big screen" and tasty audio, this model makes a great daily driver.

Regards,

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

IsthmusTV · #25 10-14-2013, 04:08 PM

Thanks! I'm really in love with this set. In my mind, the early DuMonts certainly live up to their reputation.

Another drawback to no being able to remove the CRT is that I can't clean the back of the safety glass or the front of the CRT. It's not too bad, but there is some noticeable crud in there. That may eventually motivate me to remove the CRT, more so than trying out the VDC CRT.

I do want to find just the right spot for this set, so that it can be thoroughly enjoyed. I'm finding that having doors makes that a bit more challenging. This will be the fifth set in the living room or dining room. I think I'm approaching critical mass!

-Clark

tvtimeisfun · #26 10-14-2013, 06:39 PM

This is a great looking restoration wish I was the lucky person watching old shows on that set great job well done....Timothy

decojoe67 · #27 10-14-2013, 09:26 PM

Nice job. There is nothing like that clear soft b/w picture of a vintage TV when it's restored correctly. There's something so much better about it than even a new flat screen!

IsthmusTV · #28 10-15-2013, 02:03 PM

Thanks for the nice comments, Timothy and Joe! I'm looking forward to watching many classic B&W movies on it this winter.

edison64 · #29 10-15-2013, 09:15 PM

That picture looks amazing Any chance on doing a YouTube

kramden66 · #30 10-16-2013, 10:27 AM

since the crt tests good and really looks good I wouldn't worry about replacing it , cleaning it I would lay the set on its face , remove the crt with yoke and bracket stull attatched , clean and put it back in , I was going to do this to my ra-109 but since I can't lay it on its face and the glass metal tube is a bit more fragile I gave up.

mike