RCA Tube Portable Television Resurrection

Hello, My Name Is Gladwin, I'm a 1969 KCS178A RCA Black and White TV who was left for dead in a harsh western desert dump

[@clifffiftytwo]

Old TVs don't break, people just stop watching them.

[@sabilsyed7024]

True sir

[@uxwbill]

I still can't quite believe it works, after so much neglect in the desert. They sure knew how to build 'em...once upon a time. It'd really be something if the set's previous owners ever saw this video. Even though it's not a restoration, I'd treat that poor old TV to a new yoke. Surely it has earned that much just by refusing to die.

[@rsattahip]

Probably dumped it to buy a color set.

[@pyeltd.5457]

samsung master race

[@kki3419]

yo! good old times

[@TheFurriestOne]

Incredible durability back then, nice work! Now it has a new yoke on life!

[@astoaper]

Im poor dont have a lot of money like ever, i always look around for electrical things to help in the house .I think its disgraceful what people just throw away, i had 17 years out of one of the tvs i found and fixed i find what you have done fasinating

[@bairfamilyfarm1336]

RAD PC When the Analog to Digital transition happened, we had tvs lining the roads for trash pickup. Being a scrapper, I picked up what my truck bed and cab could hold. You'd be surprised how many of them still worked perfectly other than not being able to get an analog channel anymore. (I still can get a ham radio tv transmission once in a purple moon) I think only 2 sets didn't work out if all them. I've also picked up working computers, monitors, laptops, vacuum cleaners, drills, etc.... People don't understand that just because it's 2 years old doesn't mean it isn't useful.

[@thinygamer9408]

@@bairfamilyfarm1336 I picked up so many old CRT TV's which are perfectly fine for retro gaming. Really made me happy to see so many free TV's

[@bojacque6474]

It really is. I’ve found so many good crt television sets, radios, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners tossed in the trash typically for a bad cord, clogged filter (especially with a vacuum or air conditioner). I recently grabbed a 1955 magnavox console television from an older person’s home that was tossed to the curb. Just needed two capacitors and a new rectifier tube. We live in such a disgustingly disposable society.

[@HerecomestheCalavera]

Great video! I love it, this TV was setting in the desert for probably 30 years and came right back to life. I have a similar story although with a much newer TV. I was helping someone clean out an old falling down barn and in it was a TV. I still have it, but I can't remember the model. I'm quite sure it was from 1986, possibly an RCA. I know it has a little sensor on the front to adjust the picture based on the light in the room. Actually now that I think about it I believe it is a Selectavision. Anyways, the part of the barn it was in had no roof and the TV was covered in dirt and dust. They were just gonna trash it so I thought why not take it and see if it works. I did absolutely nothing to it at all, just took it home and plugged it in and it fired right up! The only problem is the colors are off a bit, but still amazing that a TV that has been basically exposed to the elements for what I would guess is at least 20 years or so would fire right up and display a picture. It is true what they say, they don't build'em like they used too!

[@senorverde09]

The CRT looked so much better when you reseated it back in. I too was in shock with the picture quality. Nice sharpness, contrast, and brightness. Great work.

[@JoshuasRecordings]

I'm just impressed that it works! There is no way a modern TV would work after a week left outside. Good old American quality for ya!

[@Trance88]

What a TV, man! 35 years out in the open elements and it still works!

[@chetpomeroy1399]

*Amazing!* Many of the people shown on the screen of that TV set were either not born yet, or were *a lot* younger the last time that TV set was in operation (I know I was). Manufacturers *really* knew how to make good TV sets back in those days.

[@glennidalski6833]

You are amazing shang066 you tought me some old tricks with electronics after 44 years of fixing stuff thank you from the bottom of my heart sir

[@thattubesound2214]

Man, seeing is believing! I can learn a bunch from you. Cheers! Michael

[@shango066]

Yea lots to look at on here. I was watching you drool over that dead mouse in a radio you were working on. I get into some pretty wild stuff

[@thattubesound2214]

That's one of the things I like most about your vids. You get into some things that I'd likely not have seen any other way. Thanks for being bold. We all appreciate it! Cheers! Michael

[@edumafra82]

When products were not Made In China... Awesome video!

[@kinura26]

very awesome !!! i saw the vid when you picked it up in the middle of the dessert and my jaw is on the floor

[@TheGuitologist]

Dude, that's amazing. That TV deserves to be preserved in some kind of TV retirement home or spa. Love your channel, by the way. My wife hates it, though. :P

[@GE1463]

I agree. Older people would probably really like it because it will bring back memories.

[@BigLarry1950]

Picture did look good considering the life it had in the desert elements ... I think this would make a nice restoration.

[@JimTheZombieHunter]

I haven't found a discarded compactron set in over 15 years now :(. Man they used to be a dime a dozen. Came across a 50's RCA console not too long ago at the curb but there was nothing salvage so I drilled out the sockets for project use. My best barn resurrection ever was a late 50's ('58 I think?) weak CRT Admiral round screen colour 3 chassis set with electronic (22-1/2V) ultrasonic remote - thing must've cost a Cadillac the year it was manufactured. Having fun going through your channel. Seems like we both have a fetish for hollow state.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

You need a camera with manual shutter speed setting. Set it to 1/60s to capture one field, or 1/30s to capture two fields (both odd and even lines) in one camera frame.

[@versedbridge4007]

Nice to see you watch shango066 as well.

[@dzvxo]

that camera sync was interesting; i have never seen a circular pattern like that before. i've seen my fair share of lines and diagonals, but never circles. great job by the way!

[@sextonmallard3325]

Astonishing! Indeed a tribute to the build quality. I wonder how much that TV cost new in today's money.I wonder what the outcome would have been if the cabinet was not plastic. I rescued a wooden cased radio (Pye P45) riddled with woodworm and the cabinet base was beginning to succumb to dry rot. The chassis was brown with rust with thinning of the metal in places but all the TXes and coils were unaffected, probably because they were somewhat potted in wax. The paper speaker cone was almost completely gone with just the voicecoil and dust cap remaining. I fitted an new Altai 8 inch driver. A full recap and one new electrolytic and it works a treat. I think the set had the occasional drenching in water as some of the dial printing has slipped on the glass but that could be to wildlife residing in the set at the time.

[@MsCori76]

Wow, I'm impressed. Been baking in the desert all those years & works like new! 👍🏻😀

[@MarkShannonroad_videos]

With such a sharp picture it might be worth a full restoration. Regardless it's a good example of how something that has been exposed to harsh conditions for 40 years can survive. I doubt a flat screen TV could do that.

[@notthatdigusted7468]

I love my childhood CRT. I've had it since 1999/2000 and I never intend on getting rid of it.

[@NickG123]

I'm glad you rescued Gladwin.

[@SteveReevesvlogs]

I think it would be fun to run the crap out of this set. It would need to be monitored under close supervision. It would be cool to see what failures show up and how long it took them to appear. Keep a log on the hours. I would never have bet those sun baked electrolytic caps working at all. Interesting video.

[@mraiwa1000]

I agree; Shano, if you have no plans for this set, this is most certainly something you should try!

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

I like the idea of it reasonably cleaned out and functional. Then play it an hour or two here and there. They don't make them anymore. Running it to failure is definitely an interesting question. It will fail probably many times. But eventually a part that may be very difficult to acquire could fail and render the set inoperative. That I'd regret. But I'd accept that if the hours of use were to someone's enjoyment. God Bless

[@roberthorwat6747]

Long may Gladwin function in her new lease of life. A true wonder to behold!

[@EvertvanIngen]

You are amazing, love your video's. Love to see you go about and find these poor old baby's and try to make them sing again. The effect of weathering on video is fascinating. Keep up the good work, much appreciated and greetings from The Netherlands :D

[@RODALCO2007]

That is amazing ! Incredible good picture after all those years outside in the weather. and as often happens, if it works don't touch it. It de-harmonizes the status quo of the device. Brilliant video.

[@renekenshin6573]

ikr, if I'm the one working on that thing, I'll restore it, rework it from the ground up and would probably keep it for the rest of it's life.

[@MyCrazyGarage]

Awesome video!

[@eeeereerer7295]

MyCrazyGarage f

[@dallasdorrington7449]

Thanks Shango for another great video. You mentioned what other countries think about USA TV shows! Well I live in Perth Western Australia (I don't know if you have heard of it) and we get a lot of shows being pumped out over our TV sets from you're fair country. I myself stopped watching BC-TV some 12 years ago because of all the bad TV shows being shown on TV. There are a lot of things that the US does and does very well but TV shows are not one of them. I spend a lot of my time like you do and most days I'm lucky to find time to watch a TV set. In fact my TV was brought and junked without ever being turned on. This was because we went to full digital TV 16th April 2013 with no stations broadcasting analogue TV signals anymore. I brought a new TV 3 months before that time and never used it. I tried to sell it for $10.00 as it was still in it's box but no one wanted it. I ended up buying a new DTV set and even this set has less that 50 hours on it. Why you may ask, well I get 28 channels of crap and I just won't watch it. I do watch a lot of You Tube video's in the evening on my PC but other than that Perth gets too much USA type TV shows and it looks like my country is starting to make them just like your country does. I see why you don't clean up these vintage TV's sometimes just a dust-out can end a good TV set. A shame it ended like that. Cheers.

[@ceilingfansandmorecfam2342]

were did the quality in eletronics go?a modern tv wold never survive 35years in a desert outside

[@intel386DX]

they can not even survive for 35 minutes in those conditions :D

[@catlover10192]

Everything's small, delicate and complicated. While there certainly is some lack of quality, it's mostly a complexity issue. While these TVs were often quite complex for their day, modern TVs are much more complex. Also, even compared to early transistor equipment, tube stuff has huge tolerances.

[@christopherkise]

In all its glory!, But 4 this tv, its just perfect.

[@ddostesting]

This is just amazingly amazing. Dude, you could macgyver us out of an apocalypse.

[@Maxxarcade]

That TV definitely works great for all it's been through. I've seen several yokes from Sharp monitors where the horizontal winding arced out. The adhesive that was used to hold the rubber wedges in place had broken down and ate through the windings. As for the corners being blank with the replacement yoke, it's possible that it needs to come forward more, or it's from a tube that used a different deflection angle. I run into that problem a lot when doing CRT swaps. At least with black and white sets, you don't have to do convergence :-)

[@TheEPROM9]

How the hell does an electronic device sit out in the weather for over 30 years and still work. It really is a TV from Fallout.

[@sirmugman]

not really they were well built as in built to last so some ppl thought maybe we will go to the moon our TV's need to be good enough to work in space, that's why it stil works built to last

[@juangustavosantiago4476]

Is because nowadays there is an awful trend that manufacturers seemingly love called "Planned Obscolescense". If you make a TV set to last and resist, people would get happy, but unfortunately companies really need money. So Nowadays they make their things with small defects that works as a kind of calendar, so the device breaks after a preset time ranging from 1 to 5 years.

[@DogeBoi-ut6kv]

Magic

[@williamsmidt5391]

Yes Juan that is true good call.

[@TheChipmunk2008]

It's not just America, tv has gone downhill worldwide.

[@docfoot316]

Gladwin did get a couple of breaths lol ,Well done Sango066

[@jesshuey7836]

I sure wish I had as much knowledge on fixing the old radio's and TV's.

[@abandonedsc4261]

Wow! Now that's cool! I'll bet that set was low hours. Amazing to think that set sat outside for so long and has such a great picture.

[@terabbs]

I'd call it a Zombie TV. Cool how it still wants to work, almost have to just "use" it over a period of time and then see what will fail. Maybe after a bit of cleaning so you don't get a accidental fire.

[@MrDoneboy]

Can't believe that this set would even power up, after that many years exposed in the desert!

[@alphabeets]

Astounding! RCA. Classic American quality.

[@justincase3880]

Cleanliness .. Oh my godliness ..

[@kevykev38]

Unreal this is awesome

[@drfalcon4102]

amazing, for a beat up mess to work so well, with so little

[@emorris272]

Amazing resurrection! If that set had been inside protected, it probably would not of worked. Plus it being thrown into that pile of junk...The baking heat may have kept the caps in good condition. Yes, that's quality of design and assembly.

That distortion "thingy" on video called Moiré effect.

[@DREAMCAST2VLOG]

In your channel many interesting videos! Thanks!

[@TerryMcKean]

Awesome testimonial for the durability of the RCA Gladwin :-)

[@sirmugman]

O.o purple lightning?! that's a first neat! dargh we've enter some portal on a 60's doctor who ep ahhh! it wants to speak but it can't this is fun watching these things come back to life!

[@DarrellRoper]

What really happen is today's sorry TV shows burnt out the yoke. The TV said F this I cannot take it.

[@arongooch]

@21:40 Yes we do! Not much better here in Australia though. That's why I only watch KZbin channels now days.

[@MsCori76]

Same here. We don't have any great Aussie tv shows anymore! In the 70's, 80's & early 90's there was heaps.

[@CuracaoLife]

Great job!! You brought it back to life :D

[@MavDude]

This is so damn cool.. you need to go in search of more stuff like this when you're doing the exploration videos.

[@VintageElectronicsGeek]

Shango - To help you get better video when recording with your video camera, just remember this...here in the states, AC mains works on 60hz (as you know of course), TV's refresh at 60hz, so you need to set your camera shutter to 1/60th of a second. The reason you get black banding and other anomalies as such is because the camera is set to *auto*, when you change your angle, you are changing your environment, since the camera is in *auto*, the shutter changes from low to high, so you can expect total black (high shutter speed) to a smeary picture (real low shutter speed). For those cameras that you can not change the shutter speed, look for settings that will allow you to set it for low light, this will slow down the shutter, however, if you're shooting in daylight, you may have a blown out picture....but atleast you have an idea of why it's happening and how to fix it.

[@arthureverett8220]

CRT is in good shape Best pix I’ve seen on a black and white tv!!!

[@rivards1]

Monetarily not worth the effort but as challenge/education/entertainment, it was definitely worth it! Thanks!

[@Betonoszlop]

Youre goddam magician, maximum respect. Guess you could fix some of my old stuff here.

[@jasonthewiczman5442]

Direct TV is the best I have them what a awesome old tv no junk flat screen can last 30 years and still work

[@bigalsmallengines]

Truly amazing resurrection there! I'm lucky if one I buy works! Much less sitting in the desert... LOL Geeeze man! Cheers! 🍻-Al

[@stephenhall6595]

Your old US made TVs always look better built than our old sets in the UK.

[@vetar3372]

When all quality was created in Things.

[@shaunigothictv1003]

Excellent review.

[@cyberp0et]

Dang! It is aliiive! Well, I can say I am glad(win) to see it work :)

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Maybe try waxing the yoke in the same way you rewax a flyback.

[@jerrycarriera8648]

MADE IN USA - It matters!!!!

[@Zone1242]

Great resurrection - really enjoyed following along. Gotta hand it to you for determination. I wonder how a modern flat screen TV would hold up after 30 years in the desert? Cheers, John

[@Tedybear315]

17:50 That one ladies voice could attract dogs with such a high freq of "OHMYGOOOOOD>>>>"...."TELL US ABOUT YOUR...BLAH BLAH BLAH...."

[@Fred-nz9dp]

I have 1973 rca tube powered tv and first I got it , the water was coming out of it and I thought I was going after those radio tubes but it worked it own!

[@ArcadeMachine15]

fantastic picture!

[@dcfuksurmom]

I know this isnt a restoration channel, but this tv deserves it.

[@siskokidd]

The resurrection went much better than the crime drama reenactment.

[@thattubesound2214]

I should have waited to comment until watched the whole thing, before commenting. Wifey and I unplugged the TV 22 years ago and never looked back. When people at work talk about the latest and greatest crap-show, I haven't a stinkin' clue what their talking about. We pick some good movies, mostly British or German, and that's all we need. And yep, I think their putting something on our food! Cheers! Michael

[@JoshuasRecordings]

That is just amazing!

[@elradiuzi]

This is awesome!

[@t0nito]

I think the way that the set worked it looks like a low hour set. I think it's worth restoring. I don't know if it's the camera or if it's because of the fact that these videos are shot at 30 progressive frames, the scan lines on that TV look stationary, like a 240p video game.

[@jackoliva5740]

wow,ni ce man,well done.

[@markmarkofkane8167]

My late father sometimes referred the TV as an "idiot box". And that was since the 70's. (He was born 1930). He is right. But hey, how else could we amuse ourselves. And this is a great video about a baked idiot box. :)

[@Lyrabon]

These videos are interesting! +1 Sub

[@Howlingwolf-bx2du]

I watched this on a black and white tiny portable TV :O

[@ninolium8223]

Extremly cool!

[@Zickcermacity]

This set was a bar room survivor - judging by the amount of crud and dust built up inside! Just remember, brightness controls black in a CRT and contrast controls white and total picture output.

[@1marcelfilms]

sits outside for years. still fucking works

[@renekenshin6573]

ikr, it's amazing

[@coltonforce4973]

Why not restore it, it's a nice tv

[@ramakrishnamishra8179]

man the scanlines on this thing!

[@justsumguy2u]

I think this set is worthy of a functional restoration. I wouldn't even clean the chassis, just blow it off real good with some compressed air.

[@MrRobertver]

WOW!! Great and powerous shangoo. Great job!! Ohh!! grande y poderoso changoo. Eres capaz de resucitar cualquier chatarra bulbófora aunque eche chispas.

[@jackcapewell4373]

man I wish I had that tv :( old TV's look better then these day tv

[@jackcapewell4373]

The 8 Bit Kid thanks Dude

[@robertgaines-tulsa]

Well, if you get this working, it won't be used often since TV is garbage anymore. It a shame that we have high definition, but nothing worth watching. In the old days, we had small screens, but good programming.

[@mrjason9382]

Looks good

[@ETAD-ne8wr]

Great video! 9.987 out of 10.

[@vemcomachines9634]

We were on the atv trails found a 1983 I think? Wood grain tv on the side looked in OKAY shape but had ben sitting out side for a few weeks tho

[@5speedfatty]

thumbs up for the zip tie!

[@MsCori76]

The good old zip ties come in handy for a lot of emergency repairs. My poor old car is held together with them. LOL

[@5speedfatty]

my computer is half case and half zip ties so i feel it.

[@MsCori76]

+Theo Wolfe I always keep a good supply of them in my home & glovebox of my car. You never know when you will need them.

[@5speedfatty]

absolutey! ive actually brought home a bed with the large ones before (didnt have any cables handy) also while im at it another plus 1 to shango for getting that tv to work for a bit, that was really cool to see.

[@MsCori76]

+Theo Wolfe yes indeed, it is good to see it working again with a new life ahead. 👍🏻😀

[@Sloposse]

No interest in this kind of stuff whatsoever until i came across this video randomly today and wow not only is this unbelievable that it still works but you are handling live high voltage parts lol this is a very cool video, i saw the one before it too where you found the tv in the shit pile

[@arthureverett8220]

That CRT could be glued in the cabinet using Goop a very strong glue

[@wisteela]

Damn amazing

[@rfburns5601]

UNFARKING BELIEVABLE! My mind is blown! If you're going to be performing resurrections, maybe you should consider changing your channel name from shango666 to Lazurus777. Ha! Cool to know those magnets help with the vertical pincushion.

[@rfburns5601]

I had a friend that used crack on Ernest Ainsley's frequent statement,"Put your hand on the television and feel the power of Gawd!" by saying, "Put your hand in the back of the television and feel the power of Gawd!"

[@godfreypoon5148]

+RF Burns Put your hand on the flyback and feel the power of Gawd.

[@MsCori76]

+Godfrey Poon LMFAO

[@DarrellRoper]

LMAO that was funny.

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

17:25 ha ha ha. Actually the set looks fantastic.

[@howardvercetti8906]

Can't believe it it's working!!

[@ratbag359]

That is so cool. that picture looks better than son cheap colour CRT TV's I have owned apart from what looks like a lower line count.

[@stevejobs3777]

Awesome We have a lot of CRTs at our house mo