ViewMaster Big Picture 1950's TV

[scott73]

I picked up a View Master Big Picture 1950's TV yesterday and wanted to find out some information on it as google seems to not have any information. It's got some paperwork with it and looks like it was sold as build it yourself kit.

Have not tried plugging it in yet..

Any idea on what it worth?

If its not working is it worth getting it working.

Thanks

[Peter.N.]

I think it was a DIY contructed set from Wireless world. One of my school teachers built one. That would have been in the early '50s

Peter

[chriswood1900]

This is it I think
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Site-Early-Radi...ge-0161.pdf#search=%22viewmaster%22
and more snippets here.
https://www.americanradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Consumer/Archiv...ge-0049.pdf#search=%22viewmaster%22

Chris

[FERNSEH]

The console version of the ViewMaster is very rare. Very clever circuit design which delivers excellent performance. Well worth restoring.

Link to my ViewMaster restoration.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=118197

DFWB.

[dave walsh]

Fernesh is one of our experts Scott. Don't plug it in if you've no experience that's the first rule. Things can go badly wrong that would create serious damage Rarity doesn't always equate with high value so you would have to test that on the market. I'm not sure there are many comparators for a kit TV [as opposed to commercial models] but others may disagree.

Restoration would not be cheap, so selling it [untouched] in relatively good condition might turn out to be your best option.

Dave W

[scott73]

Thanks you all for your replies, I guess it might be worth someone else having a go at getting it working, but still not sure how I would go about selling it and if so how much. What would you say was a rough ball park figure for it?

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

The console version of the ViewMaster is very rare. Very clever circuit design which delivers excellent performance. Well worth restoring.

Is the one I have the console version? ��

[Graham G3ZVT]

Indeed it is (floor standing vs. table model),
and about in as good "as found" condition as you could hope for.

[Edward Huggins]

Yes, yours is the Console version. As to value, it's an esoteric piece and was made from a Kit. It's gong yo be a long haul to get this working and is only of value to someone who wants to fully restore it without any real expectation of pecuniary gain.

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

The console version of the ViewMaster is very rare. Very clever circuit design which delivers excellent performance. Well worth restoring.

Link to my ViewMaster restoration.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=118197

DFWB.

I see Scott's example sports a Cyldon tuner. Would that have been a later addition by its owner?

[scott73]

I also got this lot with the TV

[FERNSEH]

The console Viewmaster employs similar chassis assemblies as the table model except that instead of the two units being placed side by side as in the table set the two units are positioned one above the other. See second attachment.

I read in the Practical Television magazine that a Band 3 conversion kit was made available for the ViewMaster.

The attachment shows the cover page of the construction manual for the console cabinet ViewMaster TV.

DFWB.

[Catkins]

Originally Posted by scott73

I also got this lot with the TV

The first photograph looks to me to be something out of old telly, but what is the question. It certainly has an aerial input and RF stage, and presumably IF amplifiers (if a superhet). The vintage of the valves suggest late 40s/early 50s, but, it could be much later if it's a home build.

The second photograph is a typical set of components a home constructor might have. Valves are generally of a late 40s/50s vintage. You also have a focus coil, possibly an audio output transformer, two metal rectifiers, and a lopt with EHT rectifier. You also have a CRT boost transformer for when the CRT emission got low.

Someone may be interested in them, but they probably won't fetch much.

[scott73]

This is why forums are great, you guys have wealth of knowledge and have been very informative, thank you.

[FERNSEH]

Reference to post No.10.
The first picture shows a ViewMaster RF unit with what appears to be a pre-amplifier attached to it.
With regard to the set under discussion. It's most likely the RF unit has been realigned to BREMA IF frequencies for the Cyldon turret tuner. Assuming that the set was originally made for AP frequencies it was an easy matter to realign the sound to 38mc/s and with the addition of small value capacitors added across the vision RF coils these were retuned to 34mc/s.

In order that an incremental switch tuner could be fitted in HMV models 1805 and 1806 the EMI service department realigned the TRF deck to 34mc/s vision and 38mc/s sound.

DFWB.

[llama]

I can't see the RF chassis in the original pictures.
However, assuming it is there but hidden by the upper chassis, my guess is that the seller had bought a second ViewMaster and stripped it for spare parts - the job-lot pictured in Post No. 10.
My Dad's ViewMaster was tuned to the Midlands BBC channel (Sutton Coldfield?). When ITV came along he added an REP Band III converter but we were never completely free from BBC breakthrough. Apart from that it worked well until it didn't...
Graham

[mark pirate]

my guess is that the seller had bought a second ViewMaster and stripped it for spare parts - the job-lot pictured in Post No. 10.

My thoughts are that these were removed from the set when it was updated.
It may have had a smaller CRT when first built, then fitted to the console cabinet with a larger CRT.

The Clydon tuner was probably fitted in the mid 50's when ITV started.
I expect it had a long service life, It would be interesting to note what tube is fitted to the set.

Mark

[Graham G3ZVT]

Originally Posted by FERNSEH

In order that an incremental switch tuner could be fitted in HMV models 1805 and 1806 the EMI service department realigned the TRF deck to 34mc/s vision and 38mc/s sound.

I am fascinated by the mention of the 1805, as that was our first TV. Ours always remained BBC only, ITV arrived with our second set, an HMV1871 which was an extremely reliable set and was in use occasionally well into the 1980s

[FERNSEH]

On the console sets the RF unit is fitted under the timebase chassis.
I believe all the console cabinets were designed only for the chassis with a 12" round faceplate CRT.
The circuit design permitted the fitment of CRTs from various manufactures, Mazda, Ferranti and GEC triode gun tubes and also Mullard tetrode gun CRTs.
The mains transformer has a separate winding for the CRT heater which can supply 2, 4 and 6.3volts. The reason for the isolated heater winding was to permit a direct connection between the anode of the EF50 video amplifier and the cathode of the CRT. The video DC component is maintained from the vision detector to the CRT. One of the reasons why the ViewMaster TV displayed an excellent picture, another being the careful design of the vision RF circuits.

DFWB.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Two excellent receivers there Graham. The 1805/6 was probably the best EMI chassis produced at Hayes. Models produced after 1950 had a dubious reputation and in 1956 EMI decided to pass television production to Thorn [Ferguson]

The 1871 [1958] was actually a Ferguson 406T series, I think the 21" version.

The Viewmaster should be an easy rebuild if it has been built correctly. Very reliable with results as good if not better than top makers of the time.

Not a lot of value unless you are gaggin for one. Regards, John.

[1100 man]

The Viewmaster should be an easy rebuild if it has been built correctly. Very reliable with results as good if not better than top makers of the time.

Not a lot of value unless you are gaggin for one.

Well, for anyone that is 'gaggin' for one, it would seem it has now appeared on Ebay. Hopefully, a forum member might be tempted to take it on and then we can all follow the restoration! I must say, the chassis's look to be in very good condition- they look rust free! It would make an interesting project.

All the best
Nick