Interesting Montgomery Ward 1684 portable tv

[pendulum]

Got this set today about an hour and a half away from me. I thought the set had an interesting styling to it and I haven't seen many montgomery wards sets around. This set seems like a pretty low end model, seeing how it doesn't even have uhf by 1963 -1964. The set also uses a somewhat oddball tube, a 16bnp4. Tests good but on the weaker side. I think the set must have been left in a damp environment because the inside of the cabinet has some surface rust. Looks like it only has a few paper capacitors. Will save to work on for when I am away at school but seems like a quick fix. I can't find any filter caps on this set though, which is odd. Set has a few tubes replaced but besides that it doesn't look like it was worked on. A lot of the tubes are made in Japan Wards branded tubes, which is interesting. This set is pretty close in age to the color Wards set I got

[dishdude]

Wow is that a weird set especially with the tubes scattered throughout the cabinet. Japanese made? Any indication by who?

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by dishdude

Wow is that a weird set especially with the tubes scattered throughout the cabinet. Japanese made? Any indication by who?

The set's the last of the Travler built sets. Made in Chicago or Indiana. Not the worst nor the best.

[pendulum]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

The set's the last of the Travler built sets. Made in Chicago or Indiana. Not the worst nor the best.

Thanks for the info, I never would have figured that out, though I assumed Montgomery Ward got others to build their sets. How were you able to tell, by the way?

[zeno]

Sure looks jap from the outside but one look at the
chassis screams USA.
A Jap set of this vintage would look packed & real messy.
Not to mention all those hex screws, not very Jap.

73 Zeno

[truetone36]

I used to have a Truetone set that was nearly identical to your set.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by pendulum

Thanks for the info, I never would have figured that out, though I assumed Montgomery Ward got others to build their sets. How were you able to tell, by the way?

I had a Travler branded set years ago, that was identical with the top and bottom chassis.

there was a label on top that boasted, "No Printed Circuits".
BTW, the electrolytic capacitors are under the lower chassis.

[dishdude]

I totally missed all the hex screws.

[Electronic M]

That is perhaps the most 40's looking 60's set I've ever seen.

[pendulum]

Recapped the set over the last week. Really simple restore, replaced all the super leaky ceramic caps, the 4 section electrolytic, and the open fusible resistor and the set came right up. I thought for sure the tube would be super dim, but it actually is very watchable. I did have to replace the 1b3, so maybe it was weak and causing low high voltage. Either way works good, looks much better than the photo I can take. Only problem, which I have had on other b/w sets, is there is hum when text comes on the screen. There is some dirt behind the safety glass, but I would have to remove the chassis and picture tube to get under it so some other time.

[zeno]

Try the side screws. Looks like the front hinges down & off.
Pull the nobs too.

73 Zeno