Duplicating my 16GP4 plea!!!

[Chris K]

If anyone out there has any info on how I can get my hands on one of these...I've done the standard search alerts on FB Marketplace, local listings, eBay and got in touch with the ETF et al and I posted my same pleas on the Antique Radio Forum. Actually got a hit from someone who said he had one and local pickup would work but he couldn't have been further away from me on the other side of the USA.

Please think of me my VK friends! This is a project on a TV I absolutely love. I bought this RCA "Highland" model TV years ago from a single owner family. I tested the CRT at that time and it tested good for cutoff and emissions. I decided to delay restoration because I wanted to have the time to do it right and comprehensively. I did the restoration but, unfortunately, the 16GP4 had deteriorated over the 4 years I had it and...heartbreak. Lousy, weak picture. So another wait begins. If you happen to get a hint about one and don't particularly want it for yourself, please let me know.

[Jeff]

If you really want to find one that bad, put up a ransom of several thousand dollars. I wouldn't be surprised if someone has one new in the box, but they're keeping quiet.

[John Marinello]

Did you test the CRT again? I know some give the metal tubes a bad rap, but if a 60 y-o tube tests good, then they should test the same 4 years later... Unless it was kept out in the barn...

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by John Marinello

Did you test the CRT again? I know some give the metal tubes a bad rap, but if a 60 y-o tube tests good, then they should test the same 4 years later... Unless it was kept out in the barn...

Yes it has zero cutoff and emissions in the bad zone. I even gave it a shot with my Sencore Super Mack. Came back to life for a day or 2 but then back to very weak.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by Jeff

If you really want to find one that bad, put up a ransom of several thousand dollars. I wouldn't be surprised if someone has one new in the box, but they're keeping quiet.

Hey I'd be willing to pay that if it tests like NOS.

[Penthode]

What are you testing it with?

[Chris K]

Sencore Super Mack but it’s in service in the tv. That’s my frame of reference for it being weak. It tests with low emissions and no cutoff on the Sencore.

[Chris K]

There’s another KCS47 tv about 35 miles from my home but the seller doesn’t know if the tube is any good or anything about the TV. I’d need to buy the set. He’s asking $300 on FB Marketplace. Long drive just to test a CRT only to find it’s as bad or worse than my tv.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by Chris K

There’s another KCS47 tv about 35 miles from my home but the seller doesn’t know if the tube is any good or anything about the TV. I’d need to buy the set. He’s asking $300 on FB Marketplace. Long drive just to test a CRT only to find it’s as bad or worse than my tv.

Oh wow you're kidding me, you wouldn't drive 70 miles round trip to test the CRT? That doesn't sound very dedicated.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

Oh wow you're kidding me, you wouldn't drive 70 miles round trip to test the CRT? That doesn't sound very dedicated.

I've driven at least 240 miles or so to test a crt in a zenith porthole

[MuzzcoVW]

Originally Posted by Chris K

There’s another KCS47 tv about 35 miles from my home but the seller doesn’t know if the tube is any good or anything about the TV. I’d need to buy the set. He’s asking $300 on FB Marketplace. Long drive just to test a CRT only to find it’s as bad or worse than my tv.

Long drive!?!? Seriously? Last year I drove 1900 miles in two days to pick up a set I'd spent decades searching for. I wish I could find more stuff that close. IMO it's well worth the gamble

[MuzzcoVW]

I would keep putting out feelers. I find that members of our community list more items for sale this time of year, summer always seems like there's less listings for these sorts of hobbies.

[Alex KL-1]

Originally Posted by MuzzcoVW

Long drive!?!? Seriously? Last year I drove 1900 miles in two days to pick up a set I'd spent decades searching for. I wish I could find more stuff that close. IMO it's well worth the gamble

And I thinking that I drive a lot for sets (my maximum was 590mi/950km).

[Electronic M]

My commute to work is over 25 miles one way! I put around 400 miles a week on my cars. I've driven from Milwaukee to Birmingham and from Milwaukee to Sheridan Wyoming (both became vacations with other stuff on the trip) for sets I want bad enough.
Twice a year I drive close to 1000 miles round trip to the ETF in Ohio... during the first meet after COVID I was forbidden from staying in a hotel so I left home 8 hours before the 8AM meet, stayed until early afternoon and drove 8 hours back home...Helped that dad was with me and we could alternate who was driving and who was napping.

[Chris K]

OK OK OK I am sufficiently scolded and beg forgiveness! Trying to make arrangements with the seller for this weekend. All of you are correct...I can't voice desperation then be unwilling to take a few hours out of my weekend to check it out. Maybe my wife and I can hit New Hope PA on the way home!