Very rusty ViewMaster TV

[rogerdup]

I do agree with Argus. I have to replace all sockets in the Firestone 13g3. They were all bad, same as for the capacitors and resistors; rewarded by a superb picture as good as when set was new. But David know all this, having made so much restorations..
Roger

[FERNSEH]

All the original TCC capacitors are useless so it's my intention to replace these with restuffed capacitors of the same brand. The reasoning for this is because the designer of the ViewMaster was employed by the TCC company. I believe for the sake of originality components bearing the same brand should be used for the restoration. Even more important when we know the name of the designer and the firm he worked for.

The RF performance of the old paxolin valveholders can't be all that good at 45mhz. Roger improved the performance his Firestone TV by replacing all the miniature seven pin valve sockets with ones of much better quality. The GEC BT5144 which is equipped a TRF RF deck was discussed in the forum last year. That set displays a good contrasted picture but only when the RF gain control is turned up fully, and that's only when the high signal output from the Aurora is supplied to the aerial socket.
Again, the poor performance could be the rubbish valve sockets.
The attachment shows two good quality B9G valveholders.
Info about the EF50 RF pentode: https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_ef50.html

I might add that the ViewMaster TV we are discussing was built to receive the Holme Moss transmitter on channel B2. Set was collected from South Yorkshire and according to date codes assembled late 1950.

DFWB.

[Argus25]

David,

Before I built the Argus TV I realized that a critical factor in the success of the project was the valve sockets. I imported a number of different types to study, before deciding which ones I would be prepared to use.

The octals of course were no worry, but the Mazda octals another story. There are ceramic clones on the market now claiming to be them, but they have the incorrect pin spacing.

Luckily the EF50 sockets do not appear to have been cloned to any great extent yet (that may change as people start using them for audio work).

I studied two types (Photo attached) both good, I went with the black ones. Both these sockets are interesting in that they have a relatively small surface area and grip the valve pin on either side with a fair amount of force on each pin. That helps to scrape through surface oxides on the pin and on the connector pins too when they are plugged in.

It is important to buy nos sockets that have been stored well and are free from corrosion. ( I never buy or use thin wafer sockets)

Its worth coating the silver plated pins with WD40 to help preserve them and reduce friction and wear if the valve is plugged in and out a few times.

[FERNSEH]

The RF unit is now fully reassembled is presently on the bench for testing. I can confirm that this TRF receiver was tuned to the Holme Moss transmitter, channel B2, 48.25Mc/s sound and 51.75Mc/s vision. Connecting the signal generator confirmed this.
As all the RF circuits have been optimised for channel B2 and receiver cannot be satisfactorily retuned to B1.
Some of the iron dust cores are jammed in the coil formers.
Many of the EF50s have low emission, I am aware that many View Master owners replaced the original RF valves with the more reliable EF80, I have no intention of doing this.
After the RF unit is confirmed to be working correctly the timebase chassis will
receive attention.

DFWB.

[FERNSEH]

Pictures of the reassembled RF unit.

DFWB.

[line sync]

That looks much better david.

Robin

[FERNSEH]

Hi Robin,
The RF chassis was spray painted using a Simonize high temperature aerosol, it's good for 800 degrees C so even using the 100watt soldering iron did not cause any discolouring whatsoever.
This Holme Moss receiver is designated as a View Master "type C".

DFWB.

[MonochromeMarc]

Hi David,

Good stuff that VHT paint especially 'Simonize' and the chassis looks great !

[Peter.N.]

Looks brilliant.

Peter

[peter_scott]

+1

Peter

[FERNSEH]

Good afternoon Gentlemen,
Many thanks for those kind comments.
Here's a picture of the RF unit before restoration. What a horrible looking thing!
I'm now preparing the timebase unit for testing.

DFWB.

[Panrock]

Respect.

Well done David!

Steve

[Heatercathodeshort]

Yes that certainly is a great improvement David. I didn't realize it was so rusty!

My ViewMaster is a channel 3 version. It came from Portsmouth and must have been a late construction. The Rowridge transmitter did not come on air till 1954.
I don't think reception from Truleigh Hill at Brighton would have been possible and I think that was originally channel 2.

The RF deck is just a bit dull in mine so I will leave it alone. Regards, John.

[beery]

Hi David,
great work

Things always look better without rust!

Cheers
Andy

[Hunts smoothing bomb]

Incredible!

You really have transformed that chassis david and to my eye it looks very good indeed!

Cheers

[Viewmaster]

Gosh, what a wonderful restoration you have carried out there.

Flooding back memories for me when I built a Viewmaster
all those years ago.
Hence my pen name in memory of it.

[Jac]

David,

Again an impressive improvement over the rusted chassis!

Jac

[AC/HL]

Reopened

[FERNSEH]

The chassis was fully reassembled last year and the RF unit realigned. All the receiver needs now is the MW31-16 CRT to be refitted and I'm sure there'll be pictures. EHT and first anode voltages are present and 30volts of video drive is available for the CRT cathode.
A special metal band has been made to secure the CRT. In the original ViewMaster the CRT bowl was attached to the chassis by a bike inner tube. Too wobbly for me. The tube didn't seem very secure on the chassis and was liable to slide out too easily.

This is my first chance to post anything on the Forum because I've been busy all day retuning TVs as a result of the channel allocation changes on Freeview. The 700MHz clearance for 5G.

DFWB.

[FERNSEH]

Plan view of the 12" ViewMaster chassis shows how extended forward the CRT is. Some sort of clamp around the neck of the CRT is required.

DFWB.