Museum Hours:

Saturday 10-6

Sunday 12-5

Vintage RCA repairman service work box Tube Caddy with169 Tested GOOD NOS Electron tubes.  Service box contains repair tools, tube guides, RCA mat, tube tester and a couple other miscellaneous items used by a certified RCA repairman.  $175 shipped anywhere in The US. with payment by USPS postal money order ONLY. Greg, 215-444-9446, gndurango at comcast dot net (7/24/12)

I have a Knox Telemaster 300mm F/L rusmor f65 I would like to sell and looking for offers. jeanblackf at centurytel dot net (7/24/12)

Masks for Motorola VT-71 and VT-73 televisions are now available at Renovated Radios. Look in the Parts page near the bottom. These masks are made of a foam very similar to the original mask. Originals were sprayed on the face with a gray paint, probably to cut down on reflections. These reproductions are dyed gray so you won't have to paint them. The one on the left is the repro, on the right is the original. (*)

Now available for sale: Replacement for the vertical dynamic convergence transformer for the RCA CT100 color TV. Price $200. I will pot the new transformer in your old transformer housing using silicone rubber for an additional $40.

The vertical dynamic convergence transformer in the RCA CT100 color TV is subject to a high failure rate for several reasons. First, the transformer is would with very fine wire, (#40 and # 43 gauge). This fine wire is subject to damage due to corrosion caused by acids and impurities in the materials used to construct the transformer, and from moisture intrusion into the pitch which was used to pot the transformer. The pitch expands and contracts with temperature, and develops cracks. In addition to moisture intrusion, the movement of the pitch may lead to mechanical failure of the fine wires where they are joined to the larger external lead wires. The failure modes show up as open circuits on either the primary, or more frequently, the secondary windings. While this will not cause any damage to the TV, it will prevent proper convergence, and may lead to loss of focus voltage at the CRT.

Second, is the 3-4KV DC focus voltage applied to the secondary of the transformer. This makes the transformer prone to arcing or shorting from secondary to primary. This can lead to a more catastrophic failure. If a short develops from secondary to primary, all the power from the focus rectifier is dissipated into the focus potentiometer. And if the wiper of the focus pot is near the high potential side, all the power is dissipated in a small portion of the resistive element of the potentiometer, burning it out in a matter of only a few seconds.

I have seen several convergence transformers which were open circuit at the start of a CT100 restoration, and have witnessed two transformers short out after the set was restored and powered up, resulting in the destruction of one focus potentiometer. This is what has inspired me to take on the challenge of having a replacement transformer built. These transformers have been installed in several CT100 TVs, as well as Westinghouse, Silvertone and Sylvania 15" color TVs.

So you 15" color TV owners may want to consider one of these replacement transformers. Supplies are limited, with no assurance of future availability.

Any questions email or call. I will bring several transformers to the ETF convention. If you think you will buy one at the convention, please let me know so I bring enough.

John K. Folsom Jr., 450 Golden Dove Ave. N.E., Palm Bay, Fl. 32907 jfolsomjr at cfl dot rr dot com. (321) 725 - 3462 (*)

The Early Television Foundation has had some custom items made, and we are making them available to collectors:   

Contact the Foundation for more information. These items can be ordered online.