21CT55 alive

[Dave A]

I went back to my 21CT55 this weekend after two years of other things to do. It is recapped and I did a wholesale tube replacement as they were tired. A variac power up went fine but the pic was garbage. I am using a DVD through a Drake modulator with variable RF out. An AGC tweek fixed the garbage video and setting the Drake for a good RF output helped. Convergence is for another day with the left side quite out of whack. My problem is the CRT settings. It has RGB screen, BG gain, BG background in that order. I can get close from the factory manual instructions but when I go back to fine tune I send it way off. Does any owner have any shortcut tricks to this? Pic to follow as I figure out the settings.

[etype2]

Try a ATSC 1.0 converter with broadcast signal. Post photos.

[Electronic M]

Greyscal is tricky. I had to follow the procedure 2-3 times. It still mistracks a bit as brightness changes. I had to settle for it tracks usably within a range of brightness I would actually watch.

[Dave A]

Having problems with pic attachments. Let's try a separate post. My Drake RF system is sending a great signal. Working on a small media player for tests, videos, Indian head, crosshatch, etc. Tom..thanks for the note. I plod on. Marshall...converter is working when the skies agree here in the stix. More pics to follow.

A little history. I found this set from a tourist at Rochester maybe 15 years ago. He said he had a color set. I drove 15 miles to see it and got it for $200 and put in the back of my Taurus wagon. It was working at the time but wonky with a great 21AXP22. I sent it to Chuck A for a recap and it came back like new. Time passed and it was not happy so I did a full tube replacement and that worked. A little AGC touchup helped with all the new tubes. It is still needing convergence. The AXP still tests like new on the Beltron.

I auctioned my last CT100 at ETF and it is happily home at the Indiana Historical Society. They can figure out the 15GP22 issue. I have it's rarer big brother and I am most happy watching my bit of history.

[etype2]

An Evening With Fred Astaire looking good on your 21CT55. You stole it!

I don’t know why, but sometimes alternate signal sources cause havoc on the old sets. Have no idea if that’s your problem.

[Dave A]

Convergence is a bear. Lot's of errors on the left and bottom. I pulled the CTC3 convergence box today and it seems ok and all controls move something. The transformer seems ok. Caps are original ok via esr test and can be fixed if needed. The mystery is the wiring. The factory manual shows only three connections at the 8 pin connector. Mine has five connections including a large amp 20k or so resistor unmarked. I will get a pic.

Marshall, the Fred Astaire is a poor VHS copy. My late friend, Ed Reitan, did the RCA color restoration but his full restoration is captive with the estate for now. Disney did air it once and that is where the VHS copies come from.

[etype2]

To avoid any confusion, when I said “you stole it”, meaning a bargain price for the 21CT55. I was gifted with a burned DVD of that same show and I think the entire show is on Vimeo. Your screenshot compares favorably.