Philco no picture - Videokarma.org TV - Video

jansentina · #1 09-04-2023, 04:24 PM

I bought this Philco TV. Plugged it in and it picks up radio stations but no picture at all. Doesn't even light up. It is model 50T-I400. It does have this pull chain inside but unsure of what that does. The chain is attached to the power box. Any help would be appreciated.

bandersen · #2 09-04-2023, 06:15 PM

It's not a pull chain. It's just there to keep the HV box cover from getting lost.
What servicing has been done to the TV? It will need an overhaul to work properly. Replacing all the paper caps at the very least.

It will look something like this underneath the chassis. Those black plastic "bumble bee" caps need to go. The eletrolytics caps should be replaced too.
It's a solid design, but a whole lot of caps to replace.

jansentina · #3 09-04-2023, 08:54 PM

Absolutely no servicing has been done. I don't know of anyone that works on tube radios here. I build computers but this is a different dog entirely. Where do I find replacement parts.

bandersen · #4 09-04-2023, 09:56 PM

Lots of places to get new caps. Mouser Electronics, Digi-Key and Allied Electronics are big online parts vendors. Just Radios, Antique Electronics Supplies, Tony's Capacitor Corner, etc. cater more to the hobby crowd.

mr_rye89 · #5 09-04-2023, 10:05 PM

I like to get electrolytic and film capacitors from Mouser or AES, a lot a tubes I get locally from Surplus City in Albuquerque. You also need to be comfortable around high voltages, able to solder, read a schematic, and test equipment is good too (Oscilloscope, HV probe, TV analyst, CRT tester, etc)

If I were you I would get an old tube radio and try to fix that first before attempting repair on a TV from 1950. A lot of old TVs and Radios are "hot chassis" and have no Isolation from the 120 volt outlet and can electrocute you. Do your research and watch Youtubers like Bob Anderson Mr. Carlson and Shango66

And early to mid 1960s black and white TVs are way the hell easier to get working than earlier TVs in my experience. I have an Admiral 19" TV with UHF and it just works, original capacitors and all. It's getting a recap anyways because of vertical geometry problems that show up when it runs for a while.