TV Roll-A-Guide -- Just Turn the Dial!

These kids today wouldn't believe it, but time was when you needed an electrical engineering degree just to adjust the damn television. This wheel is proof. No one wants to lug a major piece of furniture to the repair shop, so many people just fiddled with the components on their own. I remember my father removing the Masonite backing on our TV to see what tubes needed replacing. Too bad he didn't have this comprehensive TV Roll-A-Guide to give him a hand. Just LOOK at all the possible repairs you might have to make just if your screen is experiencing the jitters.

Look, it's really no big deal. If your screen has a dim picture, but normal sound, all you need to do is refer to numbers 3, 9, 10, and/or 11 on the chart. Number 3 says, "Low-Voltage Rectifier Tube: Located near the power transformers, tube numbers 5U4, 5Y3, 5AX4, or 5AS4." If that doesn't do the trick, try Number 9: "Damper Tube: Look for tubes 19AU4, 17AX4, 25WF, 6AU4, 12AX4, 5V4, 6AX4, 6W4, or 6BY5." Still no luck? How about Number 10: "High-Voltage Rectifier Tubes. This tube or tubes will have a wire and cap connected to the top. It is located in the high-voltage compartment or beneath the chassis. Look for tubes 1AX2, 183, 1V2, 1X2, or 3A3." If all else fails, turn to Number 11: "Horizontal Output Tube. Located in or close to high-voltage compartment. Look for tubes 6AU5, 6BC6, 6AV5, 6CD6, 6BQ6, 25BQ6, 6CU6, 25CU6, 6DQ5, 12CU6, 12BQ6, 17DQ6, 25DN6 or 25AV5." That's not including any Horizontal Oscillator Tubes.

​It's THAT easy!

This wheel measures 8.75 by 9.5 inches and is in good shape.

​I think it's safe to say that Western Electronics must have made a fortune selling countless TV electron tubes to hapless dads. If I had known there was a high-voltage compartment in there, I might not have banged on the top of the set so hard.