no can do on the knob, sorry.

Thanks for look'in.

Steve

I guess most would call it business. I am here for a month to watch my grandson because his mom and dad are scientists and they are out in the field doing research. Truth be known, it is pleasure or "Holiday". I will most likely have what you need in capacitors. Resistors, I have plenty 1-watt values but almost no 2-watt jobs. But, there is a place about 35 minutes away that sells resistors. I have some electrolytic caps too. Not FP Twist-Lock but discrete values. Take your time and you can send the list via PM...

The electronics restoration begins...

Lifes disapointing moments As you can see from the following pictures I'm going to be replacing a lot of cloth wiring,
lots of dried out and frayed insulation! Anyone know of good sources for it?

The radio/amplifier connector.


This is the CRT cables coming out of the HV chassis, more mashed up cloth wire to be replaced.


HV Chassis, dirt and dust thru-out


Audio amp:
top


bottom, one curious point to note: There are no large green 2000 ohm ww resisters in the amp like my 8PCS41 had?


Picture of the restored 8PCS41 amp. I'm not to concerned about the three missing resistor, they don't
appear in any of the RCA or SAMS manuals. These must have been a late design change from RCA in the later model
projection sets.


TV RF/IF chassis
top


bottom there are many black beauty caps replaced in the late 50's


Optical drum, the mirror is dirty but in pretty good shape!


Group shot, The main transformer board is not pictured. I've already cleaned it up and checked it out, it's ready to go
and has been installed back into the cabinet.


Most all of the chassis' had service tags on them.
The owner's info:
Fi Urban
5804 Artesian Ave.
Chicago Ill
648PTK
Last serviced 12/15/57

Well after doing some internet detective work, here's a picture of the 648PTK's original home.

It was built in 1929, owner back then was Fizal Urban. From the fancy appearance of the house
and the $1200 price tag on the TV set when it was new I'd say MR. Urban must have been doing well back then.

Steve

Worked on cleaning up the Amplifier chassis. scrubbed the chassis and sanded and repainted the transformer cover.
My plan is to get the power supply, amplifier and radio chassis' going first. Then move on to the television section last.
Before:


After

That's My Boy, Steve. Good work, as always...

It's a start Lee, got a way to go. I'm hoping by mid November to be listening to the 3 band radio and playing a phonograph thru it.

Steve

Those cadmium resistors tend to open, and, short out. I'd replace it completely.
I've had three fail, and, have one in my 1946 641 tv combination there one resistor shorted, and, two others openned up. It uses the same amp.
In fact, that short also blew out the field coil in the spkr.
I now have my radio playing, but, have been very dissappointed in reception, and, haven't yet gotten around to phonograph, and, tv chassis.
Bill Cahill

Working on the optics today cleaning and painting the drum. cleaning the main spherical mirror.
Mouse poop has etched areas of the silvering, at some point I'll send it out but for now it will work.

Here are some before shots of the mouse house.


Drum tilted holder casting.


Dirty mirrorMouse Pee and Poo


Cleaned mirror, not perfect but it will work for testing once the electronics get powered up. In the upper right you can see the mouse damage etched into the silvering.

The refinished optical drum (optics not installed).




Optics back in.

Did you ever get the mirrors on you other set re-silvered? If so, how did it turn out?

Not yet, there's always a better place for the money to go these days Someday!

Steve

I worked on the main multi-cable today, not real pretty but it's electrically safe.

Steve,

Do you mind sharing what you painted the transformer with?

Thanks.

Lots of sanding, primer and Rusholeum Satan Black.

Steve

Rustoleum Satin Black, #7777. Not too shiny, not to flat. Just about right and I always have lots of it around my work bench. Great for auto restoration as well; brackets, air cleaners, etc. Great job. Don't forget to start the list of caps you need...

Steve-what a great thread with all your wonderful photos and the transformation of that RCA keeper.
Well done Sir !!

Looking good Steve, I really enjoy following your threads and seeing the transformations of the basket cases you take on! The photo of that apartment where the original owner of the RCA lived, suits the grand style of the set itself. That RCA must have been a real statement back then.... and still is
Cheers
Glen

Thanks Don and Steve for the paint advice. Steve, this is another unbelievable restoration thread to watch. Thank you.