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 Calstan Radiogram help
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 Return to top of page · Post #: 16 · Written at 4:53:24 PM on 29 June 2025.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2643

What I gleaned from the pictures was this:

I have a most definite positive ID of your chassis.
It is an Admiral 16G110.
I have schematics and valve layout diagrams.
I will extract them and send them to you!

Looks like Calstan - Zenith must have acquired some Admiral chassis when the Admiral Gow St Bankstown plant closed down.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 17 · Written at 6:36:29 PM on 29 June 2025.
Robbbert's avatar
 Location: Hill Top, NSW
 Member since 18 September 2015
 Member #: 1801
 Postcount: 2218

Be thorough while cleaning the nicotine. While it was in the air, it's attracted to high voltage, so you'll possibly find the EHT area both at the 1B3GT and at the picture tube connector are filthy. The 1B3GT will I suspect be brown from top to bottom, and need a total clean.

Even the glass of the picture tube on all surfaces will need a good wash. Nicotine is slightly conductive, and I've read reports of EHT arcing along the outside of the tube, following nicotine trails to earth points. You don't want that.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 18 · Written at 7:47:52 PM on 29 June 2025.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2643

Did you know what object has killed more people than anything else in history?

Yes, you guessed it. The cigarette.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 19 · Written at 9:30:28 PM on 29 June 2025.
GTC's avatar
 GTC
 Location: Sydney, NSW
 Member since 28 January 2011
 Member #: 823
 Postcount: 6887

It is an Admiral 16G110

For the record, Radiomuseum gives the valve line-up as:

6BC6
6BU8
6CD6
6AU4
6BC8
6U8 x 2
6EM5 x 2
6BZ6 x 2
6CG7 x 2
1B3GT
12BY7A
23HP4


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 20 · Written at 4:38:52 PM on 30 June 2025.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7564

Photos uploaded and avatar also uploaded.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 21 · Written at 12:35:05 PM on 4 July 2025.
OliBHolmes's avatar
 Location: Nuriootpa, SA
 Member since 28 June 2025
 Member #: 2734
 Postcount: 40

Even the glass of the picture tube on all surfaces will need a good wash. Nicotine is slightly conductive, and I've read reports of EHT arcing along the outside of the tube, following nicotine trails to earth points. You don't want that.
Done! I really sticks, I had to give it a good scrub..! Well maybe not scrub, but it took a few heavy duty wipes to get it all off..

For the record, Radiomuseum gives the valve line-up as:
Yeah I had a few missing, thanks to Ian, fresh ones are on the way!

It was also recommended for me to test the CRT to see whether it is actually worth it to recap it, so I put together an emission tester yesterday. I'm currently away, but when I get back on Saturday I'll test it then.

Very interesting about the Admiral chassis... like Ian said, quite the Frankenstein!
I also got a few new fuses too, as (In the photo) one was smashed. Lets hope I don't blow them straight away...

The RF tuner didn't have any port to attach a coax cable, so I soldered on a new balun, I'll probably have to redo it, as I used the wrong wire.

While I'm waiting on new valves and caps, is there anything else I can do? (Apart from resoldering the RF Tuner..!)

Calstan radiogram
Calstan radiogram
Calstan radiogram
Calstan radiogram


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 22 · Written at 9:45:10 PM on 4 July 2025.
Robbbert's avatar
 Location: Hill Top, NSW
 Member since 18 September 2015
 Member #: 1801
 Postcount: 2218

Assuming the TV works, I'm wondering what you're planning to watch on it?

Also, I think you said it has a radio as well? What is its condition? What valves does it have?


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 23 · Written at 10:37:07 PM on 4 July 2025.
Brad's avatar
 Administrator
 Location: Naremburn, NSW
 Member since 15 November 2005
 Member #: 1
 Postcount: 7564

Photos uploaded to Post 21.


‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
A valve a day keeps the transistor away...

 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 24 · Written at 12:01:41 PM on 5 July 2025.
OliBHolmes's avatar
 Location: Nuriootpa, SA
 Member since 28 June 2025
 Member #: 2734
 Postcount: 40

Assuming the TV works, I'm wondering what you're planning to watch on it?
I'm currently looking at a Raspberry Pi so I can code a period-appropriate 1950s broadcast that will play automatically when I turn the television on.
I'm planning on using an HDMI to RCA and then an RCA to Coax for the signal, although I'm not quite sure how stable the picture will be.

I think you said it has a radio as well?
I does! I'll attach a photo, and once I get back home I'll make a list of the valve lineup.

What is its condition?
Relatively good, actually. It was covered in the same tacky nicotine as the chassis of the television, but I cleaned that up as well.

Calstan radiogram


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 25 · Written at 8:34:26 PM on 5 July 2025.
Fred Lever's Gravatar
 Location: Toongabbie, NSW
 Member since 19 November 2015
 Member #: 1828
 Postcount: 1381

Just admiring the Calstan set. that's a nice bit of gear to refurbish.

The thing that horrifies me is some CLOWN has brushed "silver paint" over the back of the chassis and the 240 volt fuse holders!
Thats the sort of clown you see selling 'fully restored" radios, polished on the outside but untouched inside except the rear chassis gets a coat of silver paint to make it look "new" and "restored".. You know the type I'm talking about. Fully restored? so is my backside!
Not only is this "restoration" method ghastly, its really dodgy if the paint used is a METALLIC type!!!!

In this Calstan I would carefully remove any silver paint around 240 volt fixtures!
Also the paint has covered over the stencilled milliamp sizes, careful removal may reveal the stencilling?

Glad Olli has a dim bulb, the chassis electros will need long and careful re-forming.
That type of chassis electro can be brought back to perfect condition, I have done so myself.
I think Ian will be even more qualified to comment on that one.

Look forward to reading how Olli gets on with bringing such a beauty to life.
.
Cheers, Fred.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 26 · Written at 9:01:17 PM on 5 July 2025.
OliBHolmes's avatar
 Location: Nuriootpa, SA
 Member since 28 June 2025
 Member #: 2734
 Postcount: 40

Fully restored? so is my backside!
I share the same sentiment!

In this Calstan I would carefully remove any silver paint around 240 volt fixtures!
Duly noted!

Also the paint has covered over the stencilled milliamp sizes, careful removal may reveal the stencilling?
Luckily one of the fuses was positioned away from the dreaded paint, and from what (to use Ian's wording) I gleaned on the fuse, it said 3a 3ag, so thats what I got. I hope they'll be okay..!

Look forward to reading how Olli gets on with bringing such a beauty to life.
(Oli, Just for future reference Smile ) Thank you! I'll try my hardest to document the restoration as much as possible.

And here are some fresh photos from after I had cleaned it up a bit:
(Bonus points if you can see what vinyls I have Wink )

Calstan radiogram
Calstan radiogram
Calstan radiogram


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 27 · Written at 9:56:42 PM on 5 July 2025.
Ian Robertson's Gravatar
 Location: Belrose, NSW
 Member since 31 December 2015
 Member #: 1844
 Postcount: 2643

Actually, I believe it was Zenith Radio (Calstan) who painted the chassis apron to disguise the fact that it was an Admiral chassis that they'd bought at the auction. As well as the fuse holders and voltage selector, the focus voltage selector should also have the paint removed.

I finally got around to sorting those boxes of chassis pulls and I found all your valves! Will pack them, and a few more parts you'll need, tomorrow.


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 28 · Written at 10:23:09 PM on 5 July 2025.
OliBHolmes's avatar
 Location: Nuriootpa, SA
 Member since 28 June 2025
 Member #: 2734
 Postcount: 40

Will pack them, and a few more parts you'll need, tomorrow.
Thankyou! I sent you an email. Smile


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 29 · Written at 11:02:34 AM on 6 July 2025.
Fred Lever's Gravatar
 Location: Toongabbie, NSW
 Member since 19 November 2015
 Member #: 1828
 Postcount: 1381

Hi Oli, sorry about the ll!

OLI from now on!

Cheers, Fered


 
 Return to top of page · Post #: 30 · Written at 2:21:36 PM on 6 July 2025.
OliBHolmes's avatar
 Location: Nuriootpa, SA
 Member since 28 June 2025
 Member #: 2734
 Postcount: 40

I'll make a list of the valve lineup.
And that I have! Here:
5V4
6GW8 x2
6N8
and one that had been rubbed off entirely. Oh well, I'll try to attach a picture.

sorry about the ll!
All good, I didn't want to sound rude Smile

Is there a way that I can test the record player and radio bypassing the TV with minimal soldering?

Calstan radiogram
Calstan radiogram


 
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