Hi guys wanted to share this Philco TV with you all, I picked it up off craigslist last week. The seller is actually an antique TV collector and has worked on many vintage TV and radio sets. This set is fully restored and the finish is original, great shape for its age. I know they made this chassis up to '52, but this chassis is a '47 as there are a few differences from the later chassis years. I have a 1950 GE 16C116 that I wanted to restore, well this guy is going to help me restore the set. It will be my first TV restoration, I am very excited. Hope you enjoy the pictures, this Philco set is a table top, I just have it sitting on a vintage stand. Thanks guys, any comments would be great.
Jon

Hi Jon, very nice set but it's a 1950 model, that's what the 50 in the model number stands for.

Philco didn't make a set until the 48 model year and none of them were split chassis.

There's some info here: http://www.tvhistory.tv/1946-49-PHILCO.htm
and here: http://www.tvhistory.tv/1950-59-PHILCO.htm

Very Impressive. I've got a 50T-1104, but my cabinet back isn't in nearly as good of shape as yours. I bought it back in '92 and had never done a TV before. At that time Harry Poster was still restoring sets, so I sent the chasis to him for restoration. Therefore I can't claim that set as my 1st restoration. Mine played good for several yrs afterwards but eventually developed weak sound. I finally dug into the a few months ago and think I've got it sraightened out. It does have a good pic, and guests always seem to want to see that set play.

Doug

That back isn't original -- it's made of pegboard. You could make one like that too.

Really? I never noticed that in the pics. Yes, I could make myself a new back. I think the next time I goto Lowes, I'll get me a sheet a pegboard. Thanks for the advice Tom. My back was in bad shape when I bought the set.
Doug

The back is not original, the original was falling apart, but the original cap that shielded the end of the CRT that is sticking out is original, riveted to the new board.

Doug66, I like the cabinet your chassis sits in, your set looks good, strong picture as well. I was lucky with this one, the CRT is a RCA that has tested strong, I also have another Philco CRT for this set if the RCA tube ever has problems.

AND Eric H are you sure they never made this chassis before 1950, I do agree with you, but the previous owner stated that this chassis was made 1947 , 50 in the model number designates 1950, just like Philco's radio model years, so I do agree, but the owner said there were several differences in the chassis compared to the schematic for the 1950 chassis. I really want to know the year when people ask me about this Philco TV, it is the first Philco Television in my collection. Thanks
Jon

When I bought mine, I sent the entire chasis and CRT upto Harry Poster for restoration. About 2 months after I got it back from him I started having problem in the tuner, so I sent it back to him without the CRT. While he had it I located a rebuilt CRT from a place called Vintage TV & Radio (I think they are out of business now). I ordered one for a backup and also found a used one as well. When the set came back I tried installing the rebuilt one in just to see how it would work. The instructions said "Do not use ion trap." Well I never coiuld get good focus, so I put the old one back in. My rebuilt one plus the used one are in my attic in case I ever need them. I don't then I ever opened the box that the used one came in, and it's been in my attic for 15 yrs now!
However, I do like that idea about replacing the back. I am definately going to do that with mine.
Doug

I was thinking earlier that was a split chassis set but it's not.

There are several models using this chassis or a similar one but they are all in 1950 models.
The earlier sets have a chassis with a different knob layout and are quite different physically.

How about some pictures of the insides?

Thank you for your help Eric, I will work on loading up some pictures of the inside this week
Jon

Nice set. Your cabinet is in very nice condition. These are pretty heavy sets, but it looks like your stand can handle it.
I have the same model in a blonde cabinet. Here are some pics of the original back and chassis. I've never actually pulled the chassis out so this is all I've seen of it.

Wow, nice set Bob, I have to say I really appreciate your restoration videos, your restoration videos got me into tv's when I started to watch your TV restorations as I was already a new guy at the radio hobby. I find it very interesting, and have learned a lot from your videos, thank you for that.

Your Philco set looks real nice, I like the blond cabinet, these sets are heavy indeed. I bought this TV already restored, the best part of it is that the seller is a TV and radio collector and restorer. We talked for quite a while and I had told him about my 1950 GE Model 16C116 I wanted to restore. Since I am still very new with this hobby the seller offered to help me restore the GE TV I have. I can't wait to restore the set as it will be my first TV to dig into, I know GE's are not the most collectible, but this set I have was a one owner set, and the cabinet as well as the chassis is in great shape.

I really enjoy this Philco 50T-1402, I just finished watching several of the 1943 Three Stooges episodes on this Philco, felt like I was back in the early 50's.

Thanks Bob, oh and I have to say my favorite set that I am now looking for (thanks to your restoration video on it) is the Admiral 24A12, I really enjoyed that restoration series, I have learned a lot from that and others that you have done.

Jon

Don't use pegboard like that pic on the top - that's just simply a tacky and ugly looking easy way out.

Use 1/8" hardboard available at Home Depot and strategically drill every hole and cutout, just like the original that Bandersen shows. The hardboard color is perfect and its thickness is spot on. Smooth on one side, and coarse on the other - just like backboards. If you take your time you could make a replacement that would be difficult to detect as a replacement.

Home Depot hardboard: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... ogId=10053

Comes in 4' x 8' size too.

[quote="Nortonics"]Don't use pegboard like that pic on the top - that's just simply a tacky and ugly looking easy way out.


Doug66 do it however you want. In the end, no one will be looking at the back of your set, its a TV, usually people watch it from the front, its a great replacement that will not take a few months to complete. And it is always great when someone has nothing to say but rude remarks about your TV that took you so long to restore. And its not a easy way out, it serves its purpose just fine.

Always OK to do it your own way. Some folks insist on stuffing the original caps with the new ones, while most of the rest of us don't do that. There may be some sets where it is really worthwhile to try to make a reproduction back cover that looks as much like the original as possible, but most people wouldn't bother for this one. Most of these sets are not priceless pieces of history -- you may or may not find a new home for it when it's time for you to pass it along. So bottom line is to restore it in whatever manner you would most enjoy.

well Nortonics didn't have to be stuck up about a simple back cover, but to each his own I guess. I like this set it is a great performer, still could use a bit of fine adjustment for the picture, I will post back with some chassis pictures this weekend.

It wouldn't take a few months, it would only take about 10 hours of hard work! Plus several more of planning and getting stuff. Here is the back I made for one of my sets. The cover over the CRT is a small pie plate.

Now that was my second try. Here is the first one.

The pie plate is a great idea! I'll have to remember that next time I have a set with a broken dome or a missing back.

Nicely done. I haven't tried replicating a back yet, but I will someday.
I've been archiving photos of backs as I stumble across them, in the meantime. Mostly from ebay listings.

You'll find them here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N ... 507988345/

Wow Tom, that second back looks great!
Did you do the first one while you were in Kindergarten?
Just kidding.

How do you drill a clean hole in hardboard, seems to always kind of mush up on me, I think they were punched out originally but that's not really an option for the do it yourselfer.

I bought at least two different types of drills and used the one that made the cleanest holes. I also drilled it from the side that created the cleanest edge on the outward facing side of the Masonite. I did a bunch of test drilling on some scrap Masonite first. I followed up with a file.

The first back was just to do some heat testing of the set. There is a problem with high voltage fade with heat on that particular model.

I am afraid that we are hijacking this thread. I hope that no one minds too much.