Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Joe_Lorenz · 25th Feb 2025, 9:59 pm

Hello,

as my wife does some clear out of her sewing and needle work room we have dug out this Graetz b/w TV set. I had totally forgot about it, must have been sitting there for the last 20 years or more. The cabinet has two or three dings but is otherwise in very good condition.
I have had no plans to restore a 1960s TV any more, but I got to admit this one is tempting. Please see the photos: It looks quite service-friendly built, lots of good quality components, all original valves present, and that A59-12W crt has had a good reputation those days. As of 1965 it was quite modern with a partly transistorized tuner, modern PCF 200 and PFL 200 valves but not-so-modern PL 504 - PY88 - DY 802 line output and ht stage. I must have dozens of these in stock. I am afraid a weak point will be the "Wima" cracked capacitors.
I'd regret to let it go to the skip, but I think to be able to fix it I'd have to dig out the wobbulator, test pattern gen, maybe tube juvenator and so on. Any opinions are very welcome!

Joe_Lorenz · 25th Feb 2025, 10:01 pm

Some more photos:

Joe_Lorenz · 25th Feb 2025, 10:07 pm

Even more photos:

Maarten · 26th Feb 2025, 1:10 am

Nice set and good photography.

After replacing the critical capacitors, I would just switch on for some hours and watch before evaluating if the tube should be rejuvenated.

Weren't the PL504/PY88/DY802 the most modern options available before transistorisation?

high_vacuum_house · 26th Feb 2025, 6:38 pm

Good evening,
This looks a nice and viable project. It all looks complete and no signs of damp which is a big bonus.

I would first warm up the LOPT by passing some current through the overwind by EHT rectifier anode to the line output valve anode. say enough for a couple of watts from a bench power supply for several days to ensure no damp remains.

Snip out the mains RF bypass capacitor if it has one and bring it up slowly. As long as nothing else has been adjusted, you should hopefully get some sort of a raster on the screen.

Then a matter of going through the time base oscillators, video and audio stages!

Christopher Capener

Joe_Lorenz · 26th Feb 2025, 9:49 pm

Indeed I am inclined to clean the set a thoroughly, vacuum off all dust and start as suggested. It is simply too good to bin!
No valve has marks of intense use. Particularly those PL 504 and PY 88 tend to show brownish shaded areas (caused by x-rays?) after some years, and here I didn't see that anywhere.

Joe

25th Feb 2025, 9:59 pm	#1
Joe_Lorenz Heptode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany Posts: 698	Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 Hello, as my wife does some clear out of her sewing and needle work room we have dug out this Graetz b/w TV set. I had totally forgot about it, must have been sitting there for the last 20 years or more. The cabinet has two or three dings but is otherwise in very good condition. I have had no plans to restore a 1960s TV any more, but I got to admit this one is tempting. Please see the photos: It looks quite service-friendly built, lots of good quality components, all original valves present, and that A59-12W crt has had a good reputation those days. As of 1965 it was quite modern with a partly transistorized tuner, modern PCF 200 and PFL 200 valves but not-so-modern PL 504 - PY88 - DY 802 line output and ht stage. I must have dozens of these in stock. I am afraid a weak point will be the "Wima" cracked capacitors. I'd regret to let it go to the skip, but I think to be able to fix it I'd have to dig out the wobbulator, test pattern gen, maybe tube juvenator and so on. Any opinions are very welcome! Attached Thumbnails

25th Feb 2025, 10:01 pm	#2
Joe_Lorenz Heptode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany Posts: 698	Re: Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 Some more photos: Attached Thumbnails

25th Feb 2025, 10:07 pm	#3
Joe_Lorenz Heptode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany Posts: 698	Re: Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 Even more photos: Attached Thumbnails

26th Feb 2025, 1:10 am	#4
Maarten Dekatron Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haarlem, Netherlands Posts: 4,703	Re: Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 Nice set and good photography. After replacing the critical capacitors, I would just switch on for some hours and watch before evaluating if the tube should be rejuvenated. Weren't the PL504/PY88/DY802 the most modern options available before transistorisation?

26th Feb 2025, 6:38 pm	#5
high_vacuum_house Nonode Join Date: May 2003 Location: Belper Derbyshire Posts: 2,206	Re: Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 Good evening, This looks a nice and viable project. It all looks complete and no signs of damp which is a big bonus. I would first warm up the LOPT by passing some current through the overwind by EHT rectifier anode to the line output valve anode. say enough for a couple of watts from a bench power supply for several days to ensure no damp remains. Snip out the mains RF bypass capacitor if it has one and bring it up slowly. As long as nothing else has been adjusted, you should hopefully get some sort of a raster on the screen. Then a matter of going through the time base oscillators, video and audio stages! Christopher Capener __________________ Interests in the collection and restoration of Tefifon players and 405 line television

26th Feb 2025, 9:49 pm	#6
Joe_Lorenz Heptode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Hohenroda, Eastern Hesse, Germany Posts: 698	Re: Tempting find: 1965 Graetz Landgraf 920 Indeed I am inclined to clean the set a thoroughly, vacuum off all dust and start as suggested. It is simply too good to bin! No valve has marks of intense use. Particularly those PL 504 and PY 88 tend to show brownish shaded areas (caused by x-rays?) after some years, and here I didn't see that anywhere. Joe