Masks available for Motorola VT-1

[kbmuri]

Here's what I wrote the guy:

Originally Posted by kbmuri

The small tubes will stay in their sockets and can be best left there. The picture tube is the great concern. The shroud around the face of the tube, 50 years ago, used to hold the face snugly in place and shipping the set was less of a concern. Now that the shroud has deteriorated, the front of the tube is no longer secure. Shipping it in its present form will certainly snap the CRT's neck and the resulting implosion will probably do collateral damage. Subsequently, the broken front half of the tube will be free to bounce around inside the set for the remainder of the trip and destroy many or most of the remaining glass tubes, and probably other fragile components. The links I included below show graphically this problem.

So there are two ways you can go.

The best answer is to remove the CRT and pack it separately, double-boxed with lots of padding, and the rest of the TV should be sturdy enough as-is. Although I realize this is extra work not agreed upon. If you're comfortable doing this, I'll be happy to pay the extra materials and handling. If you haven't handled an antique picture tube before, then you'd better not go this route. They're pretty hazardous to carry around.

The second route would be to secure the CRT in place by packing maybe an entire roll of tissue paper or soft paper towels firmly all around (and hopefully in front of) the CRT and then stuffing the entire cabinet firmly with newspaper, thus immobilizing everything and preventing the CRT from moving in any way. If you take this approach, it would be better to remove all the small vacuum tubes and wrap each tube in each ball of newspaper that you use to stuff the cabinet. Just to allow you to pack the cabinet without bending the tube pins when inserting the newspaper, and also not having to pack carefully around the tubes. No need to write down where each tube goes -- that's what the Sams sheet is for. Then ship the set upright, with most of the packing in front and back.

Either method should get the set here safely. I hope this info helps and I hope to see the TV in good condition soon. Thanks!

Let's hope it gets here intact.

[kbmuri]

I also bought the blonde one. Am I obsessive-compulsive or what?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=280166525644

Great glue-smear on the face, eh? Now I'm in for two masks...

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by kbmuri

I also bought the blonde one. Am I obsessive-compulsive or what?

Yes you are, welcome to the club.

The goo will clean of with warm water but it takes some time and effort, it just sort of dissolves slowly. Hopefully it hasn't stained the gold paint.

Got my order in for one mask! (for now)

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by 7"estatdef

Both well packed and insured. Both had snapped crt necks when arrived.

This will happen every time when shipping a set with the tube installed, unless you're very lucky. Even RCA never shipped new TVs with CRTs installed until the 50s. The tube came separately and was installed in the house by the delivery technician. When I ship a set, I remove the tube and ship it separately in double-boxes, and I always use bubble wrap. Peanuts don't work because the tube will work its way to the edge of the box, leaving the glass against the hard cardboard on one side and all the peanuts on the other. Also, I NEVER NEVER NEVER use UPS. My experience is that they'll do damage somehow. US Mail Priority is what I've had the best luck with, and the most straight-forward insurance claims.

Charles

[kbmuri]

The seller agreed to ship the CRT separately, double-boxed. Pays to ask. I've asked the seller of the blonde one the same thing, haven't heard back yet.

Dark one should arrive in 4 or 5 days. Looks hopeful for ordering at least one mask. Hopefully two.

Here's a picture of the new and the old. The new is on the left.

[Konrad Schiecke]

On your website you state that you only take paypal. Is that correct? I am not a paypal person.
soundhead

Originally Posted by Konrad Schiecke

On your website you state that you only take paypal. Is that correct? I am not a paypal person.
soundhead

Send me an e-mail at [email protected] (remove xx xx from address first) and I'll send you a total along with my address. You can send a check or money order.

[Dave S]

For what its worth, I purchased a set of TRK pushbuttons from Renovated Radios a few weeks ago. I can vouch for Blacksmith's work and for his character. The quality of the mouldings was excellent, the price was fair and he believes in customer service. I have no financial interest in this operation, just figured I'd share this information in case anyone was wondering.

--Dave Sica

[stromberg6]

I have a VT-71 with the CRT "frozen" to the hardened mask material. Has anyone had experience removing a CRT stuck like this, and how did you do it? Don't want to screw up!
Kevin

Using a channel lock pliers, crush a part of the mask. Do it again on the other side. Keep doing it until the mask lets loose. I did one like that and it pretty much fell off of the tube after I broke part of it off.

[kbmuri]

The Mahogany VT-71 arrived in good condition. I'm glad I asked him to pull the CRT and wrap and box it separately. It looks like it survived the trip intact. Good candidate for a new repro mask. Question is just do I buy one or two. Keep y'all posted...

[kbmuri]

...and the Blonde one arrived today. It's a lot more rough. The CRT is, like, welded permanently to the front lens. Probably saved the CRT from being ship wrecked, but it sure is a mess. I'll try Eric H's warm-water soak plan and let stromberg6 know how it goes. I'm sure with the Forum's help, both will be back in action in no time...