1952 Motorola Bakelite tv

[Radiotronman]

My next set I chose to restore is a 1952 Bakelite Motorola 17" set. It has the optional UHF tuner in the middle of the set. It's a very unusual set in the way it's laid out. I put in what capacitors I have and will order the rest. The flyback is mounted underneath with a spring loaded access door on top to reach the 1G3 rectifier.

[Radiotronman]

Here is the underside of the chassis. This uses a 17hp4, which is philco branded. Obviously changed at one point. I'll need to fabricate a yoke cover because the old one is dusentigrating.

[jr_tech]

Unusual, for sure! What jug does it use? It almost looks too flat-sided for a 17".

jr

[Radiotronman]

It uses a 17HP4.

[Radiotronman]

Here is the underside with the flyback cover removed.

[Radiotronman]

Here is the odd spring loaded door to reach the hv rectifier from the top of the chassis.

[Eric H]

Neat, I love Bakelite sets. There's one on eBay right now that I thought had the wrong knobs but apparently not.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Neat, I love Bakelite sets. There's one on eBay right now that I thought had the wrong knobs but apparently not.

I posted that one on ARF. It's pricey, but in real nice condition. That bakelite all polished-up, on a hairpin-legged table with a nice set of rabbit-ears on top -you have a real classic mid-century piece!

[Radiotronman]

Here's a little better picture of the set. The UHF tuner is the gold knob in the center.

[Boobtubeman]

I still got one of these sets sitting in the trunk of my car in the garage..

SR

[bandersen]

I have one too (model 17T3) but the CRT is necked

[Radiotronman]

That's a bummer on your crt. Hopefully you find a replacement for it. This set is built like a tank and uses a thick Bakelite cabinet. The UHF tuner assembly and flyback cover is made out of copper, which is different to see. St. Louis didn't get a UHF station until '65/66, so either this came from another city or there was a heck of a salesperson behind the counter that day. It's possible they bought the UHF tuner later, but I doubt it.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Radiotronman

St. Louis didn't get a UHF station until '65/66, so either this came from another city or there was a heck of a salesperson behind the counter that day. It's possible they bought the UHF tuner later, but I doubt it.

A list in the Jan '54 Radio Electronics shows KSTM ch 36 in St Louis and WTVI ch 54 Listed as St Louis-Belleville. Like many of the early UHF pioneers, I suspect that they did not survive long (or changed channels) after more VHF stations were put on the air in the area.

jr

A little history of "The Big Mo" here:

http://www.dougquick.com/stlouisTVghosts2.html
.

[Radiotronman]

The cabinet is polished and the parts are in order.

[Radiotronman]

Here is the chassis ready for new parts. You can see the copper UHF tuner in the center.