Cleaning out a TV repair shop basement

[zenithfan1]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

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).

The Panasonic was the only one I wanted!

[DaveWM]

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.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Bill R

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.

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.

[DavGoodlin]

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.

[Kevin Kuehn]

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

[WISCOJIM]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

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

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.

.

[Boobtubeman]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

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

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

SR

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

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 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.

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

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.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by TUD1

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!

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.

Originally Posted by Titan1a

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

Originally Posted by DaveWM

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.

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

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.

Originally Posted by WISCOJIM

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.
.

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.

Originally Posted by Jon A.

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 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.

[Jon A.]

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.

[sampson159]

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

[Sandy G]

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..

[centralradio]

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.

[electronjohn]

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

[kf4rca]

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.