Dumont RA102 "Clifton" restoration

[bandersen]

Buckle up - this is going to be a long ride!

A few months ago the legendary Elli Buk's collection was auctioned off over four days in Boston. Within that vast collection were many collectable early TVs including three rare Dumont Cliftons. The auction house was going to allow Internet bidding so that just left one hurdle - transportation. Sire I could use a commercial shipper, but that would get expensive and I was wary they would know how to handle a fragile TV.

As luck would have it, I have an old friend that makes an annual trip from coast to coast picking up and delivering vintage electronics. Better yet, he's not that far from Boston. So, I contacted him about the possibility of picking up, storing and delivering the sets. He agreed which just left one hurdle - actually winning one of the Cliftons!

No Cliftons the first day of the auction but I wanted to get my feet wet with the bidding process. First up, a GE 803 which I lost out on. Then, a nifty bakelite Crosley that I won Then, three lowly 7" Motorolas no one wanted at $250. The auctioneer lowered the bid to $150, $100 then $50 when I figured what the heck and got them. Good for parts if nothing else I figure.

That was it for day #1. Day #2 had a couple Cliftons on the block. I lost out on the first one to another VK member. The second came bundled with a bakelite 10" Emerson and National 7" TV-7W which at the time I didn't really want to deal with as not to overburden my friend but I figured I had to got for it. So I did and I won

Now I just had to pay up (they took credit cards) and bide my time for a couple months until they would arrive.



So many missing knobs The 7VT2 gold knobs are impossible to find. The blond knobs are tough too.


Finally, here's the Emerson, National and Dumont sandwich.