12" CRT Puzzle

[FRANK.C]

Hi David
They fitted the original Mullard duodecal and it has the same pinouts.
It's great that RACS are around with there help more TV's will be serviceable.

Frank

[jhalphen]

Hello Gentlemen,

Hi Frank! Thanks for your kind words ...my best reward, it was a pleasure working together to get this done.

To all, here's some standard info about what services RACS offers, prices, etc. It's basically a copy of the standard reply to an inquiry form we have been sending to English speaking customers in Europe & USA over the past 18 months.

Two words to introduce myself:
I am Jerome Halphen, a vintage TV collector. I am a dual citizenship
French/American, and i live in Paris, France. For the past 20 months i
have acted as a volunteer translator & FREE PR agent to help French CRT
rebuilder RACS gain market knowledge in English-speaking territories and
educate them on the specific requirements of the vintage TV hobby.
This had led to technical innovations such as the successful rebuild of
Pyrex-based Pre-War & early Post-War CRTs.
The next step will be rebuilding of vintage "roundie" color CRTs and the
RCA 15GP22 (scheduled Jan 2010)

FYI, i am 56, ex-25 years in Broadcast TV (Ampex, Quantel UK, Discreet/AutoDesk, ...) and now a freelance Consultant & AV/IT Technology Translator since 1999.

The RACS standard quote includes the following services :

CRT* rebuild includes:
- Re-screening with new P4 phosphor**
- Aluminization***
- Rebuild of original Gun: new filaments & cathode or replacement
by an entirely new gun of similar characteristics, if available.
- Graphiting "dag" application, inside & out, if CRT sent for rebuild
was Dag coated originally.
- Vacuum processing, Getter flashing, Mounting of new base.
- QC testing: producing a raster, beam focus, brightness, contrast,
burn-in.

- Return shipping cost to your UK location is included in price
for CRTs up to 7" diameter.
- For tubes larger than 7", return cost is NOT included.
- A quote will be submitted, based on French Post Office Air Shipping
with signed delivery & insurance based on price of rebuilt tube.

- Complete Rebuild Price: 635 Euros****, for any diameter CRT
- Payment AFTER rebuild and ONLY if CRT passes QC tests.

For instance, at today's exchange rate: 1 Euro = UK £0,9071
635.00 Euros = UK £576.00

Euro/UK £/US $/... daily exchange rates:
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/eco/devise...R&NAV2=DEVISES

RACs Mailing Address:

R.A.C.S.
Z.I. Grande Terre
Avenue Jean Moulin, RN-110
30380 SAINT-CHRISTOL-les-ALES*
France

Tel: + 33.466.60.78.18
Fax: + 33.466.60.86.39

Web site:http://www.tube-cathodique.com

Mail: racs2 AT wanadoo DOT fr

Contacts :Mr Philippe Raedersdorff is the Sales Manager at RACS & co-owner of the
company. His brother François, is the Head Engineer.

*About 500 miles South from Paris in the beautiful Gard region. 3 hours from Paris by TGV Train (Nimes or Arles).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
*B&W CRT sent for rebuild can be under vacuum or down to air.
Must be physically intact, i.e. in one piece. A CRT broken in 2 parts (Bulb + Gun) can also be rebuilt IF the parts have been stored in non-humid conditions. Corrosion degrades the metals, and beyond a certain stage described by photos/inspection, rebuilding is not possible.

**on request, any vintage P4 phosphor color balance can be "imitated" at no extra cost. Just specify the desired color temperature in °Kelvin when placing the order.

***No aluminizing for 3" or 5" CRTS as Final Anode voltage is too low to
allow the electron beam to penetrate the aluminum layer.
(12-13KV at Final Anode is considered as the minimum for aluminizing the
screen).

Let me elaborate on this: nothing is a subjective as the perceived brightness of a CRT unless you use some precise test gear. Whereas us vintage TV collectors know that early CRTs were quite dim by today's standards, imagine a "newbie" sending in a tube for rebuild, then complaining that's it's not bright enough when compared to his brand-new HD-LCD. Obviously, RACS as a industrial operation, must use some caution when discussing at what EHT level they estimate that the aluminium layer has minimal/no impact on CRT brightness, hence the high values chosen.

However, very good results have been obtained in true experience, for instance a USA 9AP4 was recently rebuilt with aluminization, and the owner is very pleased with the subjective brightness at 8KV EHT.

To sum it up, RACS will follow your instructions to aluminize or not, providing you fully understand and take responsability for the resulting brightness if they advised you not to do it.

You might be interested to discover the site of company S.I.V.E., a partner of RACS in the Paris area. They do delicate rework on Pyrex bulbs and supply the adaptor ring sheaths and bases for pre-war CRT rebuilds:

http://sive-france.com/

See a complete slide show documenting in 10 chapters/136 slides CRT
rebuilding at RACS on my PhotoBucket account:

http://s281.photobucket.com/albums/k...RACS%20France/

10 page Word comments documents available on request.

Any additional questions, special requests, etc. i am at your service to
translate your Mails to RACS & vice-Versa.

My services are entirely FREE and done on a volunteer basis to help the
vintage TV hobby. I am in no way financially rewarded by RACS.

Best Regards

jhalphen AT dial DOT oleane DOT com
Paris/France