A Franken-Crafters

[Eric H]

I think (Know?) I have a Frankenstein Hallicrafters 7".

I don't even remember for sure where this one came from, it's supposed to be a Hallicrafters model 506, the front plate is marked Hallicrafters, but the bottom of the cabinet is stenciled in large yellow letters TV-71 and a date of 1948.

The TV-71 was the Delco branded set made by Hallicrafters, same set, slightly different cosmetics, or maybe just a different Brand Decal?

Seems someone made one set out of two, the screws holding the front panel in were pretty boogered up and the Grille was hot glued in place so I've no doubt it's been tampered with.

I spent an enormous amount of time and effort cleaning up the Brass grille from this set, it was completely black in spots from tarnish and corrosion, I soaked in in every caustic chemical available to the common man but finally soaking it in Vinegar and wire brushing it finally made it presentable.

The rest of the cabinet is nothing to write home about either, I have two of these and was trying to determine which one was the best candidate for restoration, the second set is much better and hasn't been hacked up so it will get the treatment, I may use the grille from the Frankenstein since it's already cleaned up.


These pictures are of the cleaned grille and set #2. The Brass on set #2 is in light years better condition than the Brass shown here was.
How amazing is it anyway to have a heavy sheet of real Brass used as trim on a set, that will never happen today, your lucky if you get some fake plastic chrome today.