Update: The set is now fully operational
(pictures)
.
The pictures below show exactly how this unit was found by an estate liquidator
in the basement of a country home in central New Jersey.
This was apparently a single-owner console kept in good condition by an
elderly couple who suddenly fell ill and the estate was being liquidated by relatives.
The set was kept on a pair of refrigerator rollers, which suggests that the
retired engineer who owned it tinkered and intended to restore it.
There was otherwise no evidence that any restoration work had been attempted.
Although not visible in the photographs, a considerable amount of mold was on the outside and inside of the cabinet, and even on the CRT face and inside the port glass. Some parts were covered by what must have been insect fecal matter, and many spider carcasses were found in the television compartment. Visible inside the record storage shelf at the bottom left is an R. M. S. Model SP-5 antenna amplifier/ interference filter hooked into the antenna circuit with a knife switch.
Present status
The set cleaned up quite nicely. Some of the mahogany veneer has separated from the cabinet doors, but this is barely noticable. Electrical restoration is underway.
Electrical Restoration
All AC power cords (main cord, cords from TV to radio, cord from radio to phonograph) needed immediate replacement. All tubes were checked (except for the picture tube) and a few weak ones (TV audio out, video out, and vertical out) were replaced. The radio would only hum. After the three electrolytic capacitors were replaced with units from Antique Electronic Supply and the controls were cleaned with Radio Shack tuner cleaner, the radio functioned perfectly and is now used daily.
Update: I recently replaced all the electrolytic and molded and paper capacitors in the television, and it is now functioning quite well.
"Cobra-matic" Phonograph
The phonograph, after lubrication, became fully functional, but a degraded vari-speed idler wheel is causing a loud grinding sound and rumble in the audio output.
Update: A "new old stock" (NOS) idler wheel was found at
Antique Audio
in Plymouth, MI. The turntable is now operating quite well.
Below: The chassis on its side during inspection and recap.
Below: First picture in 40 years!
Below: Reassembled and restored close to its original performance.
