I'm getting deeper and deeper into old technology; some of which involves CRT TVs in one way or the other. To adjust these after taking them apart for cleaning and generic fun, it is useful to have a test pattern - or reference signals. I kept searching on e-bay and other sites to see if something interesting pops up. And most modern, cheap devices that make test patterns are either digital or "single standard", so they would force me to buy two devices: one for PAL and one for NTSC, since I expect to end up with both types of TVs eventually. When this Philips unit popped up in the search result, I just couldn't resist! I took it through the usual paces: clean inside and out, recap the electrolytics and read the EPROMs. It might have been the time constraint I put up for myself or just bad luck but there were several things going wrong: First, two of the push buttons - which were heavily oxydized - didn't survive the process; the "dome" somehow lost its "spring". Good thing there are extra ones in this unit that would be used for the stereo and/or teletext version. Second, I read and archived the two EPROMs... and promptly installed the main program one backwards. I almost burned my fingers on that one. Much to my surprise however it still is working just fine! Built like a tank indeed! Third, I didn't notice that one of the transformer core plate pieces was at an angle when I mounted it. That piece of sheet...metal was interfering with the encoder switch to select the TV standard, acting almost as a one way latch. I was close to using brute force on that poor switch. I am still waiting to see if a vectorscope comes along, so I can finish the adjustments on the color signal... and a frequency analyzer for the RF part... The voltages seem OK and my modern LCD TV shows nice colors... but this is supposed to be a reference signal, so I better get it as close to the specs as I can! 0:00 Intro 1:13 Disassembly 2:11 Battery and Service Manual 4:54 Regular Potentiometer Cleaning 6:29 HF Potentiometer Cleaning 7:40 Capacitor and Battery Replacements 9:02 Front Panel Buttons 10:12 EPROM Socket (Factory) Oops / First Assembly Steps 11:10 Turn On / Supply Rails / EPROM Orientation (My) Oops 12:33 LED Adjustment / Front Panel Fix / Test Program 13:14 Output Test and First Picture! / TV Standard Encoder Problem / Alignment 14:25 Case Finalizing 15:38 Completed! / Credits / Outtakes Music: My Train's A Comin' Unicorn Heads (YouTube Audio Library) You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNyRqgKwdns

I got some vacuum tube based projects in my pipeline and might get more of those over time... so I decided to go for a "tube tester", which were quite common in the days of tubes. There are different categories of those: simple short and heater testers that might include a "yes/no" light indicator to show that they are doing something; on the other end of the spectrum are complete classification devices that can accurately measure tubes. Neither of which makes sense for my intended purpose. I want a bit more than a pure yes/no result but I don't need a full lab setup either. So the third category in the middle was my choice: an emission tester. These heat up the tube and put a current through it, connected to an analog readout to show how good or bad the tube is, compared to its "should" current. As a complete random coincidence, I found a Prcision Instruments - or Precision Apparatus? I've seen both names on plates and documents - model 612; It is a rather versatile device in this category and it fits the Precision VTVM that I restored last year perfectly! Exact same case! Down to the two random holes in mine, which are used in this one, so now things make sense! It was in similar neglected condition when I got it and I started the restoration process with some cleaning... But oh, did I underestimate the required work involved... This is part one of two, so be sure to check in again in about two weeks, when the conclusion will be presented! 0:00 Intro - Presentation 1:02 Main Component Disassembly, Case 2:20 Carry Handle, Rust Remover Issues 3:15 New Plywood Cover Plate / Case Sanding 4:00 Wood Treatment / Carry Handle Pins / Hardware Remount 5:15 Accessories Compartment Lining / Badge 6:21 Tube Sockets and Adapter / Adapter Paint and Assembly 8:01 Device Disassembly Start / Tube "Database" Overview 9:05 Desoldering Tube Sockets 10:13 Separatng Guts and Front Panel 10:50 Desoldering Transformer 12:00 Transformer Overview 12:55 Removing Primary Winding 13:40 Unwinding / Be Kind, Rewind! 15:40 New Coil Done! / Testing! 16:40 Panel Cleaning / Meter Disassembly 17:50 Oxydation / Characterization / Movement Disassembly 19:04 Rust and Surface Treatment 20:25 To be continued... Music: My Train's A Comin' Unicorn Heads (YouTube Audio Library) You can support me on Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/atkelar ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1m7GLL8M-o