Interchanging backs on Admiral Bakelite consoles

[Phil Nelson]

I have a 10" Admiral 24A12 console with the Bakelite cabinet, missing its back cover.

A VK member has the back from a 20X122, which appears to have similar but slightly different dimensions.

24A12 mounting holes:

Top side-to-side: 14-5/8"
Bottom side-to-side: 16-1/8"
Top to bottom: 9-13/16"

20X122 mounting holes:

Top side-to-side: 14-1/4"
Bottom side-to-side: 15-1/2"
Top to bottom: 9-11/16"

Here's a photo of his cover:



I'm wondering if anyone has tried swapping back covers and knows offhand whether the cover will work. The cover has slots instead of holes, so the difference in the bottom holes shouldn't matter. I'm not so sure about the other dimensions.

I know that not every Bakelite console used the same back cover. Mine with the 20A1 chassis has a square access hole for the antenna partway up the cover.



The 20X122 has the square access hole near the bottom. That difference wouldn't bother me if I knew that the back would fit otherwise.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[bandersen]

I have both sets, but can't check right now because they're hard to get at. I'll be doing some rearranging very soon though and will try to remember to compare them.

[WISCOJIM]

I've got a couple of backs out at the storage building, will photograph them next time I'm out there.

As I recall, they do have different "cut-outs" in the back mesh for the different models.

[oldtvsandtoy]

Phil here is a picture of the back for my Admiral 24A12 10" bakelite tv. The chassis is not in the set because I am working on the sound problem. Hope this helps.

[Phil Nelson]

Thanks. I know what the 24A12 back looks like. The question is whether the other VK members' 20X122 back will fit (in which case, I'll buy it). No sense shipping an item across the country if you can't use it.

Phil Nelson

[WISCOJIM]

For reference, here are the two backs on two of my sets. My other 3 sets are missing their backs.

My 20X122 back doesn't match the picture Phil has in the first post in this thread. Mine has a large round hole in it.

I'm not sure the 24A12 back is correct either although it does match the one oldtvsandtoy showed us. The lower right cutout doesn't line up with anything on the chassis, it lines up with the high voltage cage.

Also, these backs are both wider than what you'd find on the 20X12N tabletop version of this set. That cabinet is a little bit narrower. I have no back for that set either.

[decojoe67]

That set is one that almost always is missing the back.

[Phil Nelson]

I can't do this sort of geometry in my head, so I cut a cardboard template using the 20X122 dimensions that I was given (first post). I included the diagonal channels.

Close, but no cigar. Using the channels, I could probably hang it off the top two screws, but there's no way to mount it with all four screws.

Guess I'll pass on the 20X122 back and keep looking. I'd rather see that one used in a set where it really works.

I had initially thought (hoped) that Admiral used the same back in several models to save a few bucks, but apparently that was not the case.

Thanks for the info.

Phil Nelson

[wiseguy]

I have a HV cage/Cover with power cord you can have if yours is missing, I am pretty sure its the same one for that series of Chassis

[Phil Nelson]

If it's from a 20A1 chassis, send me a PM (or go to http://antiqueradio.org/contact.htm) and let's work out a deal.

If it's from another Admiral chassis, the back of the HV cage is 5” wide, with holes near the top 4-1/2” apart. The top part of the HV cover is 7-3/16 inches front to back. Apparently the HV covers aren't all interchangeable, just as the back covers aren't.

Regards,

Phil Nelson

[wiseguy]

here is a pic of the cage cover, I'll try and send to your other email
I thought it was from a 20a1 chassis..if you can use it then I will just mail it to you, but it is the Size you say Above.
Terry