https://www.automaticwasher.org/TV/tv-restoration.htm
Last February, while out on my usual estate sale Saturday runs, I stopped at a sale in the western Minneapolis suburb of Minnetonka. I usually go to between five and ten estate sales every Saturday looking for vintage automatic washers.
Down in the basement, hidden in the corner, was this beautiful 1951 RCA wood consol television set. Needless to say (although many have asked) it's a black and white set, color TV's were not introduced until 1954. The cabinet was in very nice shape and everything seemed intact with all of its original knobs. Since I had my camera with me, I was able to shoot a picture of the exact house and spot in the house I found it in.
One thing your[sic] not suppose[sic] to do to an old radio or TV that hasn't been run for many years is just go and plug the thing in and flip the power switch on. The best thing to do is use a device called a Variac which allows you to slowly bring up the power to a full 120 volts over the course of many hours, sometimes days. You start it out about 20 volts and every few hours up the control dial another 10 volts or so and watch for any adverse reactions (you know, adverse like smoke, fire, explosions, etc) until you reach a full 120 volts, just like normal house voltage.
But I noticed that this TV was already plugged in, so I assumed that someone else has already tried it out at the sale today, I decided to just let it rip. After warming up a minute the TV came alive with near perfect sound and a very blurry, rolling, out of sync picture. Well that's a good sign, at least the picture tube worked. I figured it would be a fun new learning experience; I always wanted to know how a TV set worked and now was my chance. I bought the set for $30 and schlepped it home.
(Score: 1, Troll) by aristarchus on Saturday August 03 2019, @08:12AM (8 children)
Ah, janrinok! I understand your interest. But I invite you to look at it from my point of view. At nearly 2400 years old, there is a plethora of things that may be brought back and restored, and what not. '64 Mustangs, Onagers from the Germanic Campaigns, Tycho's full scale astrolabes! So you can see how this might grow tiresome, for a person of my age. Not to say that you younglings, persons of 60-70s, should not have your nostalgia and be able to watch all the old-person pharma ads on TV. But just a bit repetitive for someone with my historical perspective. All I am saying.
(Score: 4, Funny) by kazzie on Saturday August 03 2019, @08:46AM (5 children)
Tell you what: when I finally get around to building myself an Antikythera mechanism, I'll write an article and submit it for you.
(Score: 2) by aristarchus on Saturday August 03 2019, @08:54AM (1 child)
I look forward to this with great anticipation!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 03 2019, @05:08PM
Where have I heard this before......
Is Tim Curry a personal hero of yours? ;)
(Score: 2) by hendrikboom on Saturday August 03 2019, @01:09PM (1 child)
Are you planning to just duplicate the antikythera mechanism? Or update it with modern astronomical data, but using the ancient tech?
(Score: 2) by kazzie on Saturday August 03 2019, @02:51PM
Undecided. At the moment it's still a vague aspiration.
(Score: 3, Informative) by EvilJim on Tuesday August 06 2019, @09:42PM
here you go: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1821540 [thingiverse.com]
(Score: 1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday August 03 2019, @09:55PM (1 child)
Oh, that's right, this entire website is devoted to worshiping you. Please forgive us, in our frailty and shortcomings, for not properly anticipating what the mighty king aristarchus wants. Oh, this just in, I had forgotten- the whole world is here for you. We're not worthy.
Your babble is an incredible waste of time, bytes, and carbon.
(Score: 0, Troll) by aristarchus on Saturday August 03 2019, @10:21PM
Truly, AC, you are an ass. Down on your knees, knave! Your kraven kvetching will kettle you knot!!