Television, known as the idiot box or the boob tube, like people, comes in all shapes and sizes and at times is in need of repair and adjustment. Here is my brief encounter with Murphy's Law and the unforgettable account of how not to buy a TV set, as I bought my first and last color TV set. In the early 70's, the clever TV industry got around a law for console and portable TV sets, if a TV had a handle on it, regardless of its weight it was considered to be a portable. If I am not mistaken, the law worked something like this, when it came to the warranty of the TV set; if the TV set had no handle, it then was considered to be a console, the manufacturer would send out a service man to the home. However, if it had a handle, it then was classified as a portable, it was the responsibility of the consumer to bring the set into the service center, regardless if it's weighed 100 or 200 pounds. The law makers must have gotten many complaints, because after trying to carry one of these so called portables, either the handle couldn't take the weight or there were to many people having to have surgery after carrying one of these portables. As a result, in the early 80's the law was changed, and that the portable was not determined if you could stick a handle on the TV set, but by its weight and again if I'm not mistaken, the set should weigh no more than 25 lbs.
In the early 70's we had this black and white tube TV set, that had only two channels that worked. I was working and I thought that it was time to get a decent TV set. I thought that it would be a pleasant surprise for my younger brother, when he would come home for leave from military service. And just about the time, solid state was making an appearance. So there was a choice of a tube set, a hybrid set, or an all solid state set. Looking around for a color TV set, all that I could find was what you call a hybrid set, part tube and part solid state.
Finally, I found one, a 19 inch color hybrid set at Penny's, again these so called portables were heavy at least 50-60 pounds or more and so I bought the set and brought it home, it was the first color set that I owned, well, would you believe it, after one short evening of use the color disappeared, I was greatly disappointed, and I decided to take it back, and besides this was Penny's. I got it exchanged and brought home the second set and watching it that evening the color was not so hot and to make things worse the color disappeared again, this was very upsetting, so I was determined to take it back and get a refund, and that is what I did. The sales person tried to talk me into another set, but I had enough, so I insisted on a refund, and that was that. I still didn't have a set and the idea of a hybrid set had soured, so I started to look for a solid state set, and just about that time RCA came out with their first 19 inch color set model EP 506, I later strongly suspected and still do, that the EP stood for experimental sets or models. I called around, and finally found a store, that also doubled as a collection agency for Electric and Gas bills. Well, I thought, I finally did it, I had a TV set and not only a color set but a solid state color TV set. I brought the set home that evening set it up and in the dining room, sat down to eat and watch the news, first I noticed that there was a slight tilt to the picture, but the color look great and I could live with a slight tilt in the picture, no sooner then I took a second bite of food, poof went the picture, I rushed to the set and located the circuit breaker and reset it but no use it would go poof. This was my third set, and it was more of a headache then it was worth. So the next day, I took it back, they offered to have it fixed, but I wanted no part of that, and had a hard time getting a refund, I paid about five hundred in cash, and they wanted me to take a check refund, but I insisted on cash, because that is what I gave them.
Well, this was the third set and still no color TV, so I began to look some more and found this add on TV sets, so I called and I explained to the store clerk, that I was looking for an RCA color set model number EP 506 and asked if they had one, sure enough they said that they had one. So the next evening I rushed out to that store, asked to see an EP 506 set, well the guy said that they didn't have that model, but they had many sets, and, that I could find one that would be satisfactory, well I was up set, this happened to be down town, the part of town where I avoided as much as possible, and to come down here on a lie of having something that they did not have, did not go over to well with me, so I just walked out. And I still needed to find a set, so I started to look around again and call, and finally I found a store called ABC appliances, that was located out of town on a high way, by this time, I got tired of carrying these so called portables. So I got my brother-in- law, Hank to go along with me to help carry the set, and brother you needed two people to carry these so called portables. So, I am feeling a bit excited expecting to get my first color set, which in part, I was buying for my brother that was going to be on leave from the service, and as I said it would be a pleasant surprise for him, so far, it has been a surprise all right, the kind that I could live with out. I was familiar with the store location, and just as we got there it was beginning to drizzle, we went into the store and I asked about the set, and sure enough they had one, and I said, " Is this a brand new set that has never been opened?". The clerk replied "that's right!", the box was pretty large, and as I mentioned I appreciated the help that Hank was going to provide. So I paid for the set, and as we are carrying out to the car and trying to hurry because it was now starting to rain lightly, and I climbed first into the back seat section and Hank having his hands under the box, said, " Pete I think that this set has been opened before!". I said "are you sure?" and he replied "yes!"; so we tilted the box over and sure enough it was opened and resealed, this was disturbing, because the store clerk said that the box was never opened, so back inside we went and being some what irate and noticing other customers in the store, so in a louder tone then I normally would use, I said to him "I though you said that this set was never opened before!", and his reply was, that they had dropped the set and they had to open it to see it was damaged, well I didn't want any part of that, especially having been through three sets already, so I tried to raise my voice and insisting on a refund, reluctantly I got my refund. And here I was again, four sets and no boob tube, I was begging to look more like the boob then the set. So back to the drawing board again, and set out to locate an RCA EP 506 set, finally, I found one out of town and again insisting that it be brand new and never opened, and this time I got one and this was the last set that I ever bought, but as I said, I thought that the model EP must have stood for experimental, because after only several years it burned out. I have learned to fix my own TV sets and this one needed constant part replacement, until it could not be repaired.
You know, that reminds me that the TV sets are a lot like people, they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. And the one interesting thing about sets, is that they are self analyzing, that is, a knowledgeable repairman could tell what was wrong with them by their symptoms, with the aid of a Sams photo facts and some knowledge of electronics you could locate the defective part, there are charts to follow for suggestions as to what kind of symptoms were manifested, like no sound, or no picture or no color etc. And after replacing a part you had to readjust the controls, the width, the height the contrast, whether the picture was to narrow or to wide, but in order to do these adjustments, there was one piece of equipment that was fairly inexpensive but one that you could not do with out, especially if it is a large set or you had to do adjustments inside the set. And that was a mirror, a hand held mirror, you would hold it in front of the set while you were making the adjustments in the back, this was crucial, you could not depend on some one to telling you, you had to see it for yourself, to make an accurate adjustment. If you ever had a TV set serviced at home, you will notice that amongst technicians tools and solid state parts, there will always be a mirror. And that is my whole point in my comparison of the boob tube and us. The TV has no idea what it is projecting, just like us humans have no idea what kind of image we are projecting, to get an accurate picture we need to look in the mirror.
There is one adage, I have found to be very true, if you are fixing something or putting it together and it still does not work, try the manual, that comes with that device. Although there are no Sams Photo facts for us humans, but we do have the Bible, a manual made just for man, which covers all makes and models, it can tell you what is defective and how to fix it, and there is always that final adjustment of using the mirror and the Bible is great in this area as well. So that we might project a balanced picture the vertical and horizontal have to be in balance, you know, you can be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good, like a long (pointed) head and narrow body, because the picture is to narrow or just the opposite, you can be so earthly minded or worldly that results is a flat picture, like a flat head and all smiles. There are numerous symptoms, that a TV set can manifest, and a comparison can be made to us: unstable image, running picture vertically or horizontally, tilted, fuzzy, blurry, to light or to dark, etc. The one good thing about the TV set, for the technician, is the fact that the set is self analyzing. And again, just as the TV set does not know what it is projecting, it is also true of us.
When we first arrive on the seen, as brand new babies, we are perfect images of our earthly father Adam, and when we become a child of God, Romans 8:29 ¶ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them 2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
But this new image, from time to time needs an adjustment and James address this problem of adjustment and the instrument to be used, the mirror or the Bible and how important it is to make the adjustment and try to keep it. James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Again we come back to the old adage, of out of sight out of mind. We have to be reminded as to what kind of image we are projecting and the kind of image we should be projecting.
In tech talk of an electronic technician, to make very fine adjustment to a piece of equipment one would use the term "tweak". Have you been tweaked today, to produce your very best image or picture for others to see? Have you had your adjustment today? Try using the God's mirror the Bible to make an accurate adjustment, you will be surprised as to what your friends have been missing.
By
Pete P. Repich