1950s General Electric 21"

[pac.attack76]

Anyone know the exact year and model? I couldn't figure anything out with what's there. Also, how do you get the front glass off to clean behind it? Cabinet is steel in black.

[old_coot88]

My brother had a GE set identical to that. Bought it brand new around '55 give or take a year. Don't know the model#, but it had an unusual feature: The chassis and CRT were mounted as a unit to a plywood base and the cabinet shell and glass just lifted offa that. I remember watching 'Key Largo' with Edward G. Robinson on it.

[pac.attack76]

Originally Posted by old_coot88

My brother had a GE set identical to that. Bought it brand new around '55 give or take a year. Don't know the model#, but it had an unusual feature: The chassis and CRT were mounted as a unit to a plywood base and the cabinet shell and glass just lifted offa that. I remember watching 'Key Largo' with Edward G. Robinson on it.

Service manual says 56 so your right on. Now I remember, some of these were built that way. No wonder I couldn't figure it out and that explains why it look the way it does in there and the reason it has a wood bottom. I'll try to remove the shell today.

[pac.attack76]

Remove a nut and washer inside at top right corner on crt and 4 screws on bottom, then the outer body and front slide forward away from screen. Was able to clean everything. Everything seems in order except for replacing the old speaker which is deteriorated. Not sure where to find a replacement yet. Can I safely test this unit or will I need a variac?

[mrjukebox160]

You could use the "dim bulb" set up to safely test it. https://hackaday.com/2022/11/13/powe...m-bulb-tester/

[Tube TV]

I've got one that's a year older than yours with a series string chassis.

You could dim bulb it, but most likely there's not going to be much activity. By the look of the transformer and tube shields it's been in a wet shed for along time. Most of the caps in this set are wax paper. If it were me I'd rather even jumper in some new caps before powering up. At least in the horizontal osc / output, boost filter, vertical osc / output and bring the electrlytics up slow on a dim bulb.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Tube TV

I've got one that's a year older than yours with a series string chassis.

You could dim bulb it, but most likely there's not going to be much activity. By the look of the transformer and tube shields it's been in a wet shed for along time. Most of the caps in this set are wax paper. If it were me I'd rather even jumper in some new caps before powering up. At least in the horizontal osc / output, boost filter, vertical osc / output and bring the electrlytics up slow on a dim bulb.

The set was possibly in a flood, underwater, by the looks of it. The speaker and everything else.

[pac.attack76]

I'll look into replacing some caps before I do anything else. Wasn't in a flood. It was in storage up to the point where it was left outside in an old pickup bed. I found 4 different sets left out like this. Ones actually working. The other 3 need going through.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by pac.attack76

I'll look into replacing some caps before I do anything else. Wasn't in a flood. It was in storage up to the point where it was left outside in an old pickup bed. I found 4 different sets left out like this. Ones actually working. The other 3 need going through.

There's so many sets around for free, or next to free. All you have to do is look for them! You might have to go out of state for good items.
Pull the CRT's and other usable parts and st-can the rest.

[DavGoodlin]

That GE is a rare model so, good luck on restoring. It generates interest from anyone *bored* with the most common GE's, me included.

A transformer-powered, dip-soldered chassis with no PC boards. 1956 for sure! Most 21" models from 57-58 year had a U1 and U2 chassis with power tuning and first generation of GE printed circuit boards.

I have a 21" Motorola 1959 built in a similar manner but its series-heater, top and side panels that slip into or screwed onto a frame.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

That GE is a rare model so, good luck on restoring. It generates interest from anyone *bored* with the most common GE's, me included.

A transformer-powered, dip-soldered chassis with no PC boards. 1956 for sure! Most 21" models from 57-58 year had a U1 and U2 chassis with power tuning and first generation of GE printed circuit boards.

I have a 21" Motorola 1959 built in a similar manner but its series-heater, top and side panels that slip into or screwed onto a frame.

It was a common set where a lot of GE products were sold. I ran into quite a few of them, helping out in a second hand TV store.
One of the technicians I used to work with always said, "I'm can't see why GE is still making TV sets. They don't have that big of a share of the market."

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

It was a common set where a lot of GE products were sold. I ran into quite a few of them, helping out in a second hand TV store.
One of the technicians I used to work with always said, "I'm can't see why GE is still making TV sets. They don't have that big of a share of the market."

Locally, GE appliance dealers did TV and audio (as a sideline) or alternative to RCA. Unfortunately, most of the uber-cheap sets I saw were 57-later GE, in fact I thought this set was using a 17" CRT-based series heater chassis. The channel knob really threw me off until I looked at all the pictures. It was not unusual to find a cheap-model metal-cabinet TV in a farm dump, most had bullet holes

[pac.attack76]

I've got it cleaned up and ready to recap. Really interested in seeing this one run again. Is there a cap kit or restoration kit available or will I have to hunt each piece down individually?

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by pac.attack76

I've got it cleaned up and ready to recap. Really interested in seeing this one run again. Is there a cap kit or restoration kit available or will I have to hunt each piece down individually?

Parts list in the schematic and DigiKey? Not exactly clear on what you’re asking. The only “kit” for restoring vintage TVs I’ve seen is an eBay seller who puts together vacuum tube sets for different Predicta models.

[pac.attack76]

Yeah, I just thought it would be nice if they had a collection of caps, etc. For individual sets. I'll have to make note of the ones in there and get replacements. IF I can tell what the values are.