early 1950s Admiral TV - Videokarma.org TV - Video

willy3486 · #1 01-07-2015, 12:28 PM

Would this be worth getting? There is a person who has a early 50s Admiral blonde cabinet TV,record player,radio combo. The set even has the original paperwork and sales ad on it. The only issue is they painted the outside black. I have no desire for it but I hate to see it trashed. I can pick it up at a decent price but I hate to pick it up with no use for it. What would be a decent price for it. Would it be worth getting just for the parts? It looks complete and all there but someone may have tinkered with the tuner. Seems like some of the little bars that goes to each channel may have been pulled out and inside.It does look complete otherwise. Anyone in the Middle TN area interested? I can pick it up and hold it so that is not a issue. It looks similar to the link below the best I remember. I looked at it about March last year and I don't remember the model.
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73...87907e2704.jpg

Electronic M · #2 01-07-2015, 03:24 PM

It's probably worth 45$ in parts if the CRT is bad, maybe 125$ with a good CRT.

Admiral offered some sets like the Tele-bar in gloss black finish so the black could be original, or at least a factory correct finish option.

willy3486 · #3 01-07-2015, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electronic M

It's probably worth 45$ in parts if the CRT is bad, maybe 125$ with a good CRT.

Admiral offered some sets like the Tele-bar in gloss black finish so the black could be original, or at least a factory correct finish option.

As far as black its not original. You can look at it and tell and she also told me she painted it. It looked like it could have been mint. It was from a estate sale. I may go ahead and get it. Anyone want it in my area? I have a philco 49-1002 I picked up I want to restore first. Then I wouldn't mind having one of the 21 inch I think they were B+W zeniths from the early to mid 60s that were in a metal cabinet.

whatadish · #4 01-07-2015, 05:38 PM

I am a noob to vintage tv service but I thought you might like to see this. Just finished this last week. Picked it up for 60.00. Total recap and alignment...to the best of my rookie ability. Radio and turntable work awesome as well. This was my first tv restoration, yes that's a predicta 10L43 on my bench. Flyback resistance down around 275 but still getting about 10.75 kv at picture tube. Wrestling with vertical deflection issue right now. Picture tube tested new so decided to do board off recap. Got modulated horizontal but no vert deflection. I will post in correct area for that.

Telecruiser · #5 01-07-2015, 10:29 PM

Nice job. I had a blonde version of the Admiral back when I was a kid. A neighbor gave it to me. A friend and I moved it about a 1/2 mile to my house on my "little red wagon." It was a very unstable ride, but I didn't have a better way to move it. It was quite heavy. I was probably 13-14 at the time.

With a little bit of tweaking and a couple of tube replacements, it turned out to be a pretty good TV. The neighbor had changed out the speaker to a coaxial version, made by University if I recall correctly . It sounded pretty good!

Your set looks great. Thanks for jogging my memory banks.

willy3486 · #6 01-08-2015, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telecruiser

Nice job. I had a blonde version of the Admiral back when I was a kid. A neighbor gave it to me. A friend and I moved it about a 1/2 mile to my house on my "little red wagon." It was a very unstable ride, but I didn't have a better way to move it. It was quite heavy. I was probably 13-14 at the time.

With a little bit of tweaking and a couple of tube replacements, it turned out to be a pretty good TV. The neighbor had changed out the speaker to a coaxial version, made by University if I recall correctly . It sounded pretty good!

Your set looks great. Thanks for jogging my memory banks.

Great Story! The little red wagon pulling a TV reminds me of when I was young and got into electronics. That TV does look really good. I think this one would be excellent for restoration if I can figure on how to remove the added paint.

willy3486 · #7 01-28-2015, 03:55 PM

I have a question on this if anyone has one similar. Do you know how many inches from the front of the TV to the back? I may go get it Friday but the truck I have to use has a cover on it. Its a full size 1970 chevy. I will have to lay it down and slide it in will that hurt anything?

Kevin Kuehn · #8 01-28-2015, 04:12 PM

It's going to be close to 24" deep. I'd remove any protruding knobs and lay it on it's front on a thick blanket. The picture tube neck may get broken if you lay it on it's back side.

Reece · #9 01-31-2015, 09:34 PM

If you're in luck she used black LATEX paint on the set. That you may be able to "worry" off without hurting the lacquer finish underneath. Don't know what it is at the moment, someone here may have the answer, but something, ammonia? will take off latex paint and leave the base coat untouched.

willy3486 · #10 01-31-2015, 11:36 PM

Do these have veneer that can be refinished. Or is it the fake woodgrain over cheap plywood that you can not refinish?

Kevin Kuehn · #11 02-01-2015, 10:37 AM

Typically any fancy burl pattern on the front doors will be fake. The rest of the cabinet should be real wood.

edison64 · #12 02-01-2015, 02:53 PM

if it is a true blonde finish on the cabinet, you may be better just repainting it. As the blond wood finish, or pickled or limed oak, or whatever Their company call it, was mostly just off white paint with a form of toning lacquer over it. I have yet to see one that's been refinished that looks good as a blonde.most of the veneer used on the blonde sets was not of the grade that was used on the stained cabinets.you may want to just try and do a gloss black I've seen many sets with that factory finish and they look alright.

Kevin Kuehn · #13 02-01-2015, 03:16 PM

I forgot it was a blond painted black. Shouldn't be any fake(photo finish) wood.

willy3486 · #14 02-01-2015, 03:30 PM

It was originally blond from the factory. She painted it with a brush with black paint. I would love to redo it but then again I have another TV to redo. Personally I wish she would sell it to someone else. She has had it over a year and to me its not worth more than 20.

decojoe67 · #15 02-01-2015, 03:45 PM

The great thing about early Admiral TV's is they are such great performers. The restoration would be a complete "labor of love" because, even in excellent, restored condition, it would be valued low. The thing that would worry me is that the black paint likely ruined the blonde finish underneath. You'd have to create a sort-of faux blonde finish. I've seen it done before, not sure where, with either paints or stains and it does come out looking pretty good.