Cincinnati trip - Motorola 12K2 + GE 810 scored

[bandersen]

I set out this morning at 9:30 am to pick up a Motorola 12K2 that VK member rca2000 (AKA Jack) picked up for me.
This is the intersection of Leavitt and Chicago Ave heading out towards I-94. That's downtown Chicago off in the distance.


I didn't know there was a windmill farm in Indiana along I-65!


After a few wrong turns, we finally got to Jack's place. He's got loads of stuff


Including the Admiral 24C16 that leadlike is looking for


I also spied a GE810 which I've wanted for a while so we struck a deal and I brought it home too. I also spotted a Philco 76 chassis and he tossed it in for free! I figure it might have parts I can used to restore my Philco 15DX.


The weather turned for the worse coming back. We finally got back around 12:30 am

[bandersen]

Here's what I brought back. That Motorola came with a box of Philco, Moto, GE, RCA, etc parts. Plus, some old Zenith remotes.



Here's the Philco 76 chassis. There should be some good, usable parts in there.


Here's the GE810. The cabinet is a little rough and a knob is missing, but otherwise it looks solid.


Finally, here's the Motorola that was listed on CL for $20 that initiated this trip. The chassis is in decent shape and 2/4 of the knobs are there (I've already removed them).
One problem though - the cabinet seems to have been eaten by some insects.


Has anyone seen damage like this before and have any advice for repairing and making sure they don't come back?


Worst case scenario, maybe I've got a good CRT.

[wa2ise]

That an RCA CTC121 TV in the lower left? Nice sets, though I had to resolder the tuner module connectors, and the flyback needed some resoldering too on one we have.

[edison64]

Thems not bugs in the cabinet... thats woodworm dammage, they are vicious, if you have that cabinet near anything wood they will infest it like termites. take it outside now ! for now, I would gut the cabinet, put it in a big trash can liner and toss a couple boxes of mothballis in and tie it up for a couple months.

[ohohyodafarted]

Commonly know as "powder post beatles" here is a link to a page telling about them. They bore a small hole1/32 to 1/8 inch diamater and grind the wood into a fine powder. The cabinet will need to be fumagated. I would contact an exterminator service and find out what to use. One thing for sure, I would not put it in my house until it has been sanitized, because there could be larve or even live beatles in the cabinet that could infest you home.

[Eric H]

I've heard you can use heat to kill them too, radio cabinets can be put in the oven, don't know where you'd find an oven big enough to fit that cabinet in though.

[jeyurkon]

Once you get the beetles killed off this would be a good application for Bix staining putty. You can mix stain with the powder and once you get the desired consistency, fill the holes with it. If you do a search for "Bix stain putty" you'll find a lot of information.

Here's a review of a few putties also. http://eclecticproducts.com/_media/AWW_Jun1997.pdf

Most of the firewood I have outside is infested with powder post beetles. When I was renting, my landlord had some firewood stored in the garage and it was infested with death watch beetles. It's amazing how loud the clicks are that they make.

John

[leadlike]

Although I'm 99% sure this isn't the case here, there was a time when powder post beetle holes were considered attractive, and tiny holes were drilled into furniture to mimic them. The way to tell is that the insects drill in at a distinct angle, as opposed to man-made holes that tend to go straight in. At least that's how I remember the creepy twins on Antiques Roadshow explaining it. I remember my Dad buying a new coffee table and it had those holes in it. He flipped out until I showed him that the same pattern of holes replicated themselves all over the piece, indicating they were man-made.

Thanks for finding my Dad's set! I have a lead on one right now, but I won't be able to get to it until the new year. It's always nice to have a backup, though.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by leadlike

Although I'm 99% sure this isn't the case here, there was a time when powder post beetle holes were considered attractive, and tiny holes were drilled into furniture to mimic them. The way to tell is that the insects drill in at a distinct angle, as opposed to man-made holes that tend to go straight in.

So... Fill 'em or feature 'em ?

jr

[rca2000]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

That an RCA CTC121 TV in the lower left? Nice sets, though I had to resolder the tuner module connectors, and the flyback needed some resoldering too on one we have.

No it is a CTC-131, with a cold chassis. Works a bit at least. I powered it sometime ago, and it did come on with a pix, that was before the 'cutoff" so the tube is not too bad.

Want it?? --come and get it. it was a "save" with the intentions of "passing it along".

[bandersen]

Thanks for the advice guys. I've left it outside and ordered up some Timbor.

Originally Posted by leadlike

Although I'm 99% sure this isn't the case here, there was a time when powder post beetle holes were considered attractive, and tiny holes were drilled into furniture to mimic them. The way to tell is that the insects drill in at a distinct angle, as opposed to man-made holes that tend to go straight in. At least that's how I remember the creepy twins on Antiques Roadshow explaining it. I remember my Dad buying a new coffee table and it had those holes in it. He flipped out until I showed him that the same pattern of holes replicated themselves all over the piece, indicating they were man-made.

Thanks for finding my Dad's set! I have a lead on one right now, but I won't be able to get to it until the new year. It's always nice to have a backup, though.

That's great news - I hope you get it

Your story reminds me of a friend that had a job one summer distressing furniture. They'd pick up chairs and table cheap, beat on them with chains, rocks, nails etc and mark the price way up