The DuuuMont !

[M3-SRT8]

Well, I have the DuMont! It's a Model RA-105B-7 "Sussex" Console, in Mahogany. I dared to plug it in (gulp !) at the Seller's Home, because he assured Me that "it works." The 15" CRT came up after 30 secounds or so of warm up. It hadn't been turned on in 10 years. I didn't fiddle with the Brightness or Contrast, and the picture was fairly bright. No Signal, because we couldn't tune in a channel in the Cellar, sans antenna. No Ion Spot in the center of the CRT, which is good. I'm going to recap it, etc.

The Chassis is fairly clean, for something that's resided in a cellar for 20 years. No rust or corrosion to speak of. It should clean up nice. Wiring and rubber items, etc appear quite restorable. A number of Vacuum Tubes appear to be replacements (Raytheon & RCA, amongst others) and I detected a few other replacement parts from eons ago.

The Cabinet has taken more than a few knocks, but, it's all there. I'll be doing a complete Ground Up Resto on the Cabinet, just like the RCA 630TS.

The plastic (nylon?) Tuning Dial is loose in the Circular Bezel, and has a split in it. I might need a replacement. When the Set was plugged in, turning the Tuning Dial appeared to change signals.

Oh, and this Beast weighs a Ton. The construction is stout. Heck, I'll bet the rear screen stamping alone weighs 5 lbs...

What do You All think? BTW I posted this in ARF.

Appreciate the help I'm getting from the Members here.

Regards;

LJB

[Sandy G]

Great score ! Hope t'see pics of it playing soon...

[mattdavala]

Super great find! I also have a Dumont RA-105 colony console. Its in storage across the country from me. The CRT is weak, and the 15AP4 is a unobtanioum part and isn't rebuildable by Hawkeye. Maybe no guns available?

These TV's are built like tanks. Please post pictures if possible.

Best regards,
Matt D

[M3-SRT8]

Originally Posted by mattdavala

Super great find! I also have a Dumont RA-105 colony console. Its in storage across the country from me. The CRT is weak, and the 15AP4 is a unobtanioum part and isn't rebuildable by Hawkeye. Maybe no guns available?

These TV's are built like tanks. Please post pictures if possible.

Best regards,
Matt D

They ARE built. My 15AP4 lights up, no Ion Burn. If it gives up the Ghost, what are my options? Any Substitutes?

I'm going to totally recap the Set. I'll try to get a complete set of NOS DuMont Tubes as well.

One thing, though. The backlit, transparent Channel Indicator Dial is cracked. Is it reparable? Anybody have a spare?

LJB

[Old1625]

Yeah those old sets were very heavy. I carried a Zenith porthole up a flight of stairs about 15 years ago and thought it would be my last living act.

When I was young and strong a buddy and I horsed a very early Crosley console up a ladder onto the shed roof and into my bedroom window. (I couldn't get it up the stairs indoors. The house was built in 1790, and had some odd stuff going on, architectural-wise.) This set was a monster with several stages of pix IF, and a 17" screen hidden behind storm shutters when not in use. Gorgeous cabinet, and fantastic sound and clear, sharp picture--once I had done some major recapping. Nice set, but it took up quite a bit of floor space, and weighed nearly as much as a piano. During the time that set was in that room we build a floor-to-ceiling cabinet in the middle of the kitchen below. When I finally tired of the set and carried it across the hall to my brother's bedroom for him to use the ceiling in the kitchen went up about an inch. I went down cellar and lallied up the floor to make the cabinet once again meet the ceiling.

[M3-SRT8]

Originally Posted by mattdavala

Super great find! I also have a Dumont RA-105 colony console. Its in storage across the country from me. The CRT is weak, and the 15AP4 is a unobtanioum part and isn't rebuildable by Hawkeye. Maybe no guns available?

These TV's are built like tanks. Please post pictures if possible.

Best regards,
Matt D

I contacted Scotty at Hawkeye, and he says the 15DP4 IS rebuildable, for $265.00. That's good, Just in Case.

LJB

[RetroHacker]

Hmm. I can't believe nobody has said this before. But....


<grin>

But seriously, nice find!

-Ian

[M3-SRT8]

Originally Posted by RetroHacker

Hmm. I can't believe nobody has said this before. But....


<grin>

But seriously, nice find!

-Ian

Pics are coming. I just got the TV out of the trunk last night. It's in the Basement Workshop awaiting testing.

Damn, this Beast is Heavy. It's a preserved Time Machine inside...

LJB

[Tubejunke]

You are VERY lucky!! Great find.....

[John Marinello]

Originally Posted by M3-SRT8

They ARE built. My 15AP4 lights up, no Ion Burn. If it gives up the Ghost, what are my options? Any Substitutes?

I'm going to totally recap the Set. I'll try to get a complete set of NOS DuMont Tubes as well.

One thing, though. The backlit, transparent Channel Indicator Dial is cracked. Is it reparable? Anybody have a spare?

LJB

What are the specs on that tube? A 16DP4 is only 3/8" larger than a 15DP4, but you have a 15AP4?

[M3-SRT8]

OK, here's the latest. I recapped the Set, and we plugged it in. Audio has returned, the Mallory Tuner works on FM and TV, and I have a Raster, but kinda weak.

The 5500 ohm/25 Watt Wire Wound in the HV Cage is blown, so it's not developing full power. The Focus Control rheostat is junk, so I'll replace that as well. Some of the Tubes may be marginal or dead.

But, it's up, and holds hi voltage nice! When I heard that Relay close, probably for the first time in, what, 40 years, I was most encouraged.

Dick Slade, the TV Guru, has the Set now, and he's going through the chassis, looking for Gremlins.

I'll work on the Cabinet while he's doing the Electronics, for now.

LJB