Sylvania Saratoga Restoration - Page 8 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

miniman82 · #**106** 07-11-2012, 10:52 PM

I don't want to come off like a jerk here, but this set will never have 21-CT-55 quality video. It simply doesn't have good enough circuits, the best it can hope to do is match a CTC-4 since that's where most of the circuits come from. I suppose it might actually do a little better than a 4 though, since there are additional stages of amplification in the chroma chain and additional tuning transformers. But it is still a narrowband set, so matching a '55 isn't going to happen (technically speaking). I still maintain however that a lot of the quality of the picture in these early sets is due to the CRT, and not the circuits driving it. In other words, the only reason my 21-CT-55 'looks' better to me is due to the fact that the colors are more saturated vs a later 21AXP22. I promise that if I put the CRT from the 21-CT-55 in my CTC-4, the results would be quite dramatic.

DavGoodlin · #**107** 07-12-2012, 07:42 AM

There is something uber-cool about that big S sylvania used and the placement on this TV. What color!

miniman82 · #**108** 10-08-2012, 08:03 PM

Final pictures, I'm calling this one done at long last. Still a piece of metal to tack on to the right leg, but whatever. I polished up the rest of the brass, so this is as far as it's likely to go. Very handsom set, if I do say so myself.

old_tv_nut · #**109** 10-08-2012, 08:32 PM

Nice! What kind of speaker system is in this? The dark spots in the grille cloth look oddly asymmetrical.

miniman82 · #**110** 10-08-2012, 09:55 PM

A midrange speaker and a tweeter, that's all. Has decent sound, just wish there was something that could be done about the missing photo finish.

David Roper · #**111** 10-08-2012, 09:57 PM

An oval and a round? The oval looks a little cockeyed; maybe it's an illusion.

Kevin Kuehn · #**112** 10-08-2012, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miniman82

just wish there was something that could be done about the missing photo finish.

How about a paint marker, or artists oil's or acrylics with small brush? The artist paints are heavy bodied and you can actually level a chip or scratch with them. At least it keeps the bare wood from showing through. And if you make a boo boo you can wipe it off and try again.

Steve D. · #**113** 10-09-2012, 12:05 PM

Nick,

I know how meticulous your are w/your restorations. I think Kevin's suggestions in the above post are a good solution to at least covering the nicks in the faux finish. Excellent work on this rare set.

-Steve

stromberg6 · #**114** 10-09-2012, 04:37 PM

Point about early vs later 21AX's well taken, Nick. The CTC-4 may not be broad-band, but I agree that our early tubes do make quite a difference. When I watch my 4, it's in a pitch-black basement area. Not the brightest tube, for sure. The avatar is from the 4.
Kevin

consoleguy67 · #**115** 10-09-2012, 04:39 PM

That set looks great. Can we see a picture on it, please?

miniman82 · #**116** 10-09-2012, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve D.

I know how meticulous you are w/your restorations. I think Kevin's suggestions in the above post are a good solution to at least covering the nicks in the faux finish. Excellent work on this rare set.

Steve,

I know Kevin is probably right on this, but I don't want my OCD getting the best of me. It's hard to find a stopping point when I go to improve on the finish of a set, especially photo finish. As you all know, my solution to bad PF last time was to strip it all off and start over with real veneer (the CTC-7 Anderson). If I touch this one up would I simply go for matching the color of the finish nearby, so the wood showing from under it isn't quite so visible? I've never really seen an attempt at PF 'repair', so it's hard to know what direction to take.

miniman82 · #**117** 10-09-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by consoleguy67

That set looks great. Can we see a picture on it, please?

There are some screen shots back on page 7.

tubetwister · #**118** 10-09-2012, 08:37 PM

Amazing Kudo's

holmesuser01 · #**119** 10-10-2012, 07:26 AM

Looks great. I've never run across a Sylvania this old.

Phil Nelson · #**120** 10-10-2012, 12:00 PM

It's possible to touch up photofinish with paints and an artist brush. Forget using stain to color in the scratched-off areas, since the underlying wood (or layer of glue) likely won't take stain as you'd want. The results with paint depend on your level of skill & patience. It's reversible, so get some tiny brushes and assorted colors, and start mixing.

I haven't tried acrylic, but that may be easier than oil because it dries faster. As I understand it, oil never really really dries, it just stabilizes. On one old radio cabinet, I applied lacquer over some oil touchups and all seems well, so perhaps drying isn't a problem if you plan to apply a clear coat when you're done.

My goal in touching up with paint was to blend in the boo-boo so that it doesn't jump out at you at normal viewing distance. Doing a perfect repair is beyond my skill (and patience) level. Of course, it won't have the depth and interest of real veener, but photofinish doesn't either.

BTW, it's nice to see that someone else uses the Comcast Guide screen as a quick 'n easy test pattern

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