This is a belated entry as I was kindly accepted as a forum member last July.

I am interested in mid century TV's, & Radiograms particularly the HMV brand.

I have a beautiful 1958 HMV F3 A2 TV set that I acquired last year and want to return to working condition.
I also have a lovely HMV Westpoint Radiogram which I use regularly to play my large collection of 1960's vinyl.
I also have an unrestored 1939 HMV console radio which I would like to get restored one day.....

I am a complete novice in electronics, however I have picked up some very basic knowledge from a couple of your kind forum members.

How did you get on with that HMv I told you about?
Or shipping your one down?
In March or April I'm heading down to Vic in my Ute and trailer to buy some mid century stuff so I will let you know when I'm coming back through .

Pete

Pete

The seller got back to me last week.
Turns out it is a 1959 F5 A6

I sent some pictures to Ian Robertson who kindly had a look and indicated that the set was in very good order.
Ian has indicated that all the F series are basically interchangeable.

I might just hold out for an F3 model.
The masonite back on the F5 is in one piece whereas my F3 is in 2 pieces.

Thanks for the offer to, I may consider this, I will let you know

Pitchersj

If you are good with a soldering iron then you are half way there. Learning the safety aspects is essential . I was a complete novice as well when I first started with these guys but with the help of a kind old friend and the likes of these guys here I have done pretty well. Always take photos of your work before and after as this helps you find mistakes if any .

If you need any components just email me .

If your existing back is in two pieces, do you mean it's broken? If so, it's easy to make a replica, using the broken one as a template.

But as I recall early F series console backs WERE in two pieces (or am I thinking of the E series??)

How did you get on with your CRT test? From the label yours is an early 70s vintage Thomas CRT, which should be OK.

You don't really need a 2nd chassis for spares, but if you did ANY F series would be OK. You can even substitute the whole chassis of any F series model and it will work. Or any part, for that matter.

Line transformer and yoke were by Rola. There are many possible substitutes. For example, ETF in the US have a huge stock of NOS "flybacks" and other parts that can be substituted if it was ever needed.

Don't worry!

Hi Ian

The top part of the back was missing when I bought the TV however the bottom part (behind the speaker) is still there.
The back of the TV has a groove that the back slides into.
I am just conscious I will need a back when it gets working again.

Still have not tested the CRT yet...... I have got the simple tester you gave me I just have to get the bits and pieces from Jaycar.
I will do this before I send the CRT up to you.

Vintage Pete has told me he is coming down to Victoria in March or April and has very kindly offered to pick the F3 Chassis up on his way back to Sydney and deliver it to you. This is very generous of him.!!

You forum members are fantastic.!!!

In my experience of buying vintage TV sets, I would say more than 50% of them have no back on them !
When the TV breaks down , Dad wants to show the whole family he understands TV transmissions and prove he really could of been a Rocket Scientists if he had not chosen to be a brick layer instead!
So he takes the back off and looks to see if the valves light up?

If they do ! Well he then pulls them out and changes them all around and he puts them all back in the wrong positions in the TV set!

He then turns the telly back on and of course there is no picture! Not wanting to let his Ego down in front of the little misses, He determines that the picture tube is gone and the TV set is not worth repairing,,, so there is no use putting the back on the television set again .so he saves the screws and puts the telly in the shed to be thrown out. But every time the street throw is on, The TV is too heavy for him to be bothered carrying it down the drive way and so he just puts the masinite back of it on the rubbish pile!!!

50 years years later I turn up at their garage sale and buy the telly . I ask do you have the back for it ????
And the answer is always the same,,,,We don't know where dad put it!!!!

But making a back is easy, just make a Jig so the air holes you drill are in straight lines or symetric.
I probably have a spare HMV hat for the back of the CRT tube.

I would say you are spot on there Pete.

Sounds like original backs are as scarce as.

It looks like fabrication might be the best or only option.
If you have spare HMV hat I would be most grateful.

I might also take you up on your kind offer of picking up the chassis on your way back from Victoria.
Will you able to take it straight back to Ian Robertson?

Just let me know when you are coming down and I will have it ready. I live close by the Hume Highway.

Thanks to yourself and Ian for all your help, I am very grateful.

I don't have a date yet , but I know it's around that time when I will be going there, but if I was in your shoes I would do it the other way around and ship it to Ian asap.
Ian only lives around the corner from me and we often have projects together going from my place to his or from his too mine.
In fact he just rebuilt my 1958 Philips TV set for me,
Beautiful job he did on it! And I'm restoring his 1956 Saba TV cabinet .
You see, my background is in cabinet finishes and Ian's is in Electronics so we are able to combine the two and restore TV's or radiogram s etc, it works well because we both have this passion for vintage TV's,
Plus my house is full of them so we stuff! Too much bloody stuff!

Pete

Thanks Pete

I have looked up some couriers and they seem quite reasonably priced from Albury to Sydney so yeah that might be the best option.
I will just have to pack it carefully. Ian has given me a couple of tips so it doesn't get damaged in transit.

Yep , that way I can bring it back to you on my way through
Pete

That would be fantastic Pete, thank you so much.

You wouldn't happen to have any spare castors (wheels) that would fit on my HMV?
I think it is missing one.
If you have any I would be happy to pay you for them along with the "hat" for the back of the set.

Hmmmm I need to know the size and there are many types so a photo would be good.
I would have some yes. No need to pay me ,I'm more interested in seeing more vintage TV's up and running.
See if you can get me a photo.

I have a HMV loboy , 1957, do you know them?
Cool TV's, but my chassis is a basket case , rat's nest!

Pete

Thanks Pete

I will try and get a photo.
Once the chassis has gone to Ian the cabinet will not be as heavy.
Is it safe and okay to carefully tip the cabinet forward with the CRT still in it? That way I can photograph underneath for you.

Be aware, that some TV's fall over if you take the chassis out.,
Some are front heavy. But Ian will talk to you about that.
I don't know if your model is or not.
Pete

A 1962 Kriesler computermatc will tip over very easy if the chassis is out. Some have a balist bolted too the base to stop this happening