| marty59 |
10-27-2012 12:09 PM |
Yes, they are saved!
2 Attachment(s)
Okay, let me tell you what I've got here!
The Zenith Space Command is actually a 27KC20Q chassis. Joe actually had it powered up from time to time so I have not been reluctant to turn ons but for short periods of time. Good news is that it plays and the electrolytics run cool. The bad news is that the CRT is "toast". The G1 grids are blued, they're cooked. It's too bad as this was an early replacement Sylvania "Color Bright 85" tube. With nothing to lose I had fun with my Sencore Rejuvinator. After some intense cycling I gave it the max. The red and green actually came up and will track but the blue gun is weak and done for. I could put a brightner on it but I don't believe it will last much longer...:tears:
Loaded with Bumble Bee's, will need recapped and some general attention but has potential. Has that "exclusive" genuine faux finish cabinet and besides a little crazing towards the front edge it is really nice! I don't believe those legs are original. The vertical output cathode cap had been "kinda" replaced and some tubes but no other hacks. I need a convergence cloverleaf for it, broken in two places. I prefer not to have to salvage it but I may have to be creative. Anybody have one?
As for the other Zenith, it's the 24NC31 chassis. The CRT is uniform/strong on all three guns after I cycled my tester on it and the tube went through a bit of a wake up. I found inside a "supposed" list of bad tubes that need replaced that was written on the back of a December 1978 calendar! "Mr. Repairman" also pulled the circuit breaker and upon my inspection the thermister is open. I'm not going to figure out any logic here. I do have the proper replacements and I'll check/replace the tubes myself of course!
Besides a general going through, needing a couple knobs and a clean up this set is not too bad either. It still has the original horizontal output tube! It's on "that list" to be replaced!
So how about those CRT's?? I'm glad you asked.
1). Zenith 21FJP22- Later 60's pull with the typical halo. Shows to have a minor cathode-G1 leakage/short on the red gun but otherwise very strong/uniform on all the guns. My Sencore does a good job on shorts but I'm not going to touch it.
2). RCA 21FJP22- Early 60's pull with the red lettering on the socket. Good/strong emission on all the guns. After just a little cycling of my tester, it now passes the life test! Strange thing about this one is that there's no bonded face and I can't verify if it ever had one or where it went? This tube had been sitting for who knows how long and before the now common practice of removing cataracts became known?? I don't know. Good news is the tube is more applicable as is and no PVA to deal with!
3). Zenith 21FBP22- Early EIA code RCA tube 1962. It tests strong on all the guns as is. Short story on this one!
But wait! There's more!! (If I haven't bored you yet) :D
My initial plan was aquiring all this for the spare CRT's and I knew someone in the area (non-VK'er but a tv guy) that wanted a restorable roundie. Well lo and behold he picked up an Olympic roundie combo. That's ok, just the way it worked out. He's not too close to me but I do want to check out his set and take a picture of it sometime.
I did enjoy the spur of the moment roadtrip! As mentioned earlier in this post, Joe is more of a radio guy and I hope to make it to St. Louis again.
In the meantime, I'm going to have some fun with these sets! One of these CRT's will go into the 27KC20. They do deserve some attention. Due to my space limitations something will have to give but not anytime soon. I am planning on going to the ETF next year so hopefully I'll have a plan in place with what I have by then.
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