TV-7 A/U Questions to the group

[W5INC]

I ran across a TV-7 A/U tube tester made back in the 50's. After downloading the manual from BAMA, I started at the beginning and ran the first self test in the manual. You set the left filament to A, right filament to P, Grid, Plate, Screen, Cathode and Suppressor controls to 0, 0, 0, 2 and 2 respectively. Then when you rotate the short test switch in positions 2 and 3 the short light is supposed to come on. It doesn't.

That is as far as I got, don't know if it is a light bulb or something else has gone South in the tester. My question is there any Vendor out there that sells these bulbs and other parts for these tube testers and isn't on E-Bay? I have come to despise Ebay, not for getting bad products from sellers, but have tired of Ebay's constant policy in garnering more money out of people. PayPal BS, charging the seller a percentage of the shipping cost has led me away from the site. I will only use Ebay as a last and final resort.

On the side of this tester is a tag that says no calibration is needed. Is this true? Rather different from other test equipment that was made in that time frame. I know these units were well built from different vendors for the Armed Forces. The unit I have has no company name on the tag or anyway else on the unit. Were these units Hickok designed and then farmed out to other vendors? Rather small unit when compared to other testers in the day, which is a bonus, IMO. Ceramic tube sockets are a nice touch to be sure.

[K8ERV]

I ran across a TV-7 A/U tube tester
.

Did you damage it? Next time be more careful------

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[W9GB]

TV-7 A/U tube tester

Highly prized model by the Hollow-state (vacuum tube) restorers.
Yes, there are a handful of restorers of these testers.
You need to talk to " experts" in these devices -- and STOP shopping at eBay Buffet.

The TU-7 does use "fuse bulbs"

Roger Kennedy (California)
http://www.alltubetesters.com/

Radiola Guy - C.E. "Sonny" Clutter (Portland, OR)

http://www.radiolaguy.com/info/tubeTesterRest.htm

Kara Chaffee (Washington)
http://www.tubewizard.com/

Steve McKinley (Georgia)
http://www.mindspring.com/~atlantatubeamp/id30.html

Restorations DO REQUIRE Calibration
http://www.radiolaguy.com/PDF_Files/...alibration.pdf

Jose' page on TV-7
http://www.jvgavila.com/tv7.htm

Dan Nelson in Arizona is very good, but does not have a web page.

Daniel Nelson - Arizona. TV-7 Series Tube Tester Repair - ONLY. e-mail: djn@ieee.org

Bad bulbs and leaky capacitors are common repairs.
The best Hickok and military TV-7 tester restorers have ALL necessary parts (some not commonly available) and perform complete restorations including cabinet repainting.

w9gb

[WB5WSV]

What kind of light bulb is it? Do you have a designation or type number?, E.g., NE-2, No.47, etc. Or a physical description of the bulb?

[W5INC]

Did you damage it? Next time be more careful------

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

Didn't even dent it there Tom, that is a real piece of Iron. The USA did make things that last(ed) a long time and were top quality, 1 time in the not to distant past.

TNX W9GB for all of the great information you supplied. I have some BA equipment that needs to be fired up again and put back on the air. This tester will sure speed up things. I saw this tester on a Ham Sell BBS and jumped on the chance to get it. 1 of these units was posted on the board for close to 700 dollars and it was gone very quickly. I have no problems if the unit needs some work to get back up and running again. They don't make these guys anymore and this TV-7 should last the rest of my lifetime, it is that well made, IMO. OTs sure did there homework on this product.

I haven't checked into the buld numbers as of yet, but it has a cat's eyes look to it if I remember right. I don't have the unit with me right now, WB5WSV, I will post the bulb's number tonight. TNX.

[KD0CAC]

Greg has most of the info needed there , it is a neon bulb , and the shorts test should be done 1st with each tube .
I have a TV-7D/U , the D is made by Hickok , the rest are made under the military / Hickok , license .
When running through the different switch positions , the light may flicker , but would only come on if you have a shorted tube .

[WB5WSV]

I think here is the answer right here, from the Fair Radio website:

NE45-ML - Shorts Lamp for TV-7 Tube Tester, New,
$4.00 each

They have the maintenance manual for the TV-7 as well.

Good luck!

Robert
WB5WSV

[KH2G]

In answer to your calibration question. No you don't need to calibrate the unit as you will be setting the voltages etc each time for different tubes. It is pretty much a "work or not" The transformer seldom fails and the rest is switches, tube sockets and the like. I've used mine both in the military and have one that I refuse to part with. Corrosion is about the only enemy depending where you live. Even at that, they are pretty tight.
Enjoy
Dick

[W5INC]

TNX again to the Forum's braintrust to help pull me out of the hole 1 more time.

I got in touch with Dan Nelson from W9GB's list he provided. It seems Dan has a different business model then most repair shops. Dan has a set fee for servicing the TV-7 which includes troubleshooting, cleaning, caps and resistors. Dan also included a price list of the parts that go South in these units such as ceramic tube sockets and switches so you have a up front price guide. Then after Dan completes the repair of the unit, he sends it back to you with the bill and then you pay after you recieve the unit back. Dan will provide an estimate also before he does any work on your unit, which is a very nice touch also, IMO.

Not many folks do this anymore and sounds like Dan will be the person I use to fix this very nice unit. I will trade my money for my time in this project as the test bench allready has too much stuff sitting on it right now. Plus I will be watching the Olmpics on the tube in the next couple of weeks so it is a win/win deal for me. TNX agn to all of the answers that the Forum members provided in this posting.

[KE7TRP]

Dan is the real deal. Dont hesitate to send the Tv7 to him. You will have a working and calibrated tube tester that you will enjoy and use for years. When you are ready, you can sell that Dan nelson Tv7 for a mint to an audio guy.

C