January 2012 was cleanup month, a time to complete some long-delayed projects. I restored a Solar CB-1-60 capacitor analyzer and a Mitchell Lumitone lamp radio, both of which had been shelved for years, and I wrote a brief article about a HP 200CD audio generator that I've had for ages.

After the 2011/2012 holiday break, I got busy and restored a new television, the unique 1949 Philco 49-1240 "Consolette." I also acquired a rare early color set, an RCA TM-10 broadcast studio monitor using the same 15GP22 picture tube as my RCA CT-100 TV. That will be a long-term project, but I should be publishing a brief article with initial photos soon.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, I finished an article about my new Clavioline, an early electronic keyboard instrument. That project inspired me to update my article about the Hammond Solovox, a similar 1940s instrument.

Also in November, I picked up a KLH Model Eight monophonic FM radio. This is the earlier, tube version of the KLH Model Twenty One and I have been seeking one for a long time.

In September, I restored a 1961 Sony 8-301W, an early transistor TV that I had bought about a year earlier.

My 2011 summer projects included a rarely-seen 10-inch console television, the 1948 Capehart-Farnsworth 661-P. Still a work in progress is an earlier 10-inch console, the RCA 721TCS; watch for updates to that article after the cabinet is refinished.

A prized addition to the radio gallery is my new 1939 Emerson "Snow White" Model Q236, with molded figures of Snow White and the seven dwarfs painted in cheery colors.

I acquired several other radios over the summer as well, including some Bakelite sets and an exciting Sonora Globe. I hope to finish those restorations and accompanying articles during the next couple of months.

In May, a groovy JVC 3100R Video Capsule joined my TV stable. After very little work, it plays like a charm. Two new European radios are the Telefunken Jubilee and an Arako Ingrid from Denmark.

During March and April, I updated my Zenith 12-S-471 article with new photos and installed a part that's been sitting in my desk drawer for 10 years. I also added a articles about my new color television display banners and HP millammeter.

February was a busy month, with two new additions to my TV gallery. The 1958 Philco Miss America console was a 2011 Valentine's Day gift for my wife. My RCA CTC-7 color set has been brought to life, but it needs a few more tweaks.

My last TV project before that was a 1950 DuMont RA-113. Still waiting for attention (and an article) is a cute Admiral 24C15.

During the 2010/2011 holiday season, I added new articles about test instruments: my RCA WV-97A Senior VoltOhmyst, a battery powered Western Electric D-166852 multimeter, a White Electrical ohmmeter from London, and an EICO 950B capacitor tester.

The queen of my collection remains the color RCA CT-100 Television from 1954. As the first color set to sell in meaningful numbers, it holds an interesting place in TV history, so I wrote a companion article on CT-100 Electronic Design.

I delayed the refinishing work for a long time, but finally got refurbished cabinets for my RCA CTC-11, a color roundie, and the black and white DuMont RA-103.

Now that analog TV is dead, I've had fun scooping up bargain-priced handheld televisions. Recent finds include a Panasonic Travelvision, Sony Watchman, Epson Elf, and Sony FDL-22. The last two are color LCD sets.

Another article describes how I set up a home TV transmitter to broadcast analog television throughout our house. A related page mentions my TV field strength meter.

My Stromberg-Carlson 440M console has been sitting in our entryway for years, and I got around to writing it up. Other new articles describe my KLH Twenty One FM tabletop, JVC Nivico early transistor, and Stewart-Warner 102-A cathedral.

For communications fans, I added an article with instructions for building a replica Hallicrafters R-12 Console Speaker.

My most recent major radio project was a Zenith 12-A-58 console, which some folks call the "Baby Stratosphere." Another unusual radio is the 1936 Philco 444, or English "People's set."

Other recent TV projects include my second color roundie, the RCA CTC-11H, and an RCA T-100 tabletop.

Don't miss the Literature area, where I have added Radio Craft articles from 1935 and 1936 and a 1936 piece on a modified Theremin known as the Terpsitone. Also new are several Short Wave Craft issues from 1933-1937, two 1954 QST magazines, and a unique 1958 issue of the UK publication Practical Television.

Some more notable restorations include a 1946 RCA 630TS television, Midwest DD-18 Art Deco console radio, 1948 National TV-7W television, and the mammoth Scott TV/radio/phono console.

Other newcomers to the gallery include a 1957 Motorola 66T1 transistor, a 1948 Pilot TV-37 television, a Precision 10-12 tube tester, a 1948 Hallicrafters T-54 TV, some Miniature Radio/TV Replicas, and two German propaganda radios: a Kleinempfänger DKE 38 and a Volksempfänger VE 301 Dyn from 1938.

If you're looking for a few more highlights, check these out: a 1941 Trophy Baseball radio, a rare Emerson "Snow White" Disney figural radio, a FADA 1000 Catalin jewel, and a red Tesla 308U Talisman.

Stay tuned!

Phil Nelson

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