Need Advise on converting from my Well/Gardner to Amplifone

[Prop Nut...]

OK, I am a Newbie, as much as newbies could be!  In other words I have no clue what I am doing, but am willing to learn.
I recently purchased an Atari Star Wars upright arcade game, that came with a Well Gardner 6102. Now I hear that they are making new flybacks for the original Amplifone monitors that were original to this game. I also hear that the picture quality is better.
I found a guy selling an Amplifone monitor or tube only (model # 19VLTP22) who claims that an internet search of the model # will show that it was used in the Star Wars Arcade Game. I did a search and found that it was a color X/Y monitor /tube made by RCA.
Here are my questions:

First off, is there really a big difference between the W/G and Amplifone?
Is one more reliable than the other? What about longevity?
I've heard the Amplifone handles the Death Star Explosion better than the W/G, is there a big Difference?
I am looking at trying to do the swap myself, and don't want to get injured, is it hard to do?


I would appreciate your opinions and/or experiences, especially if you've played on both monitors. Thanks in advance!

-Gio

[modessitt]

If your current monitor works, I see no reason to swap monitors unless you have tons of money and don't know what to spend it all on.

And an Amplifone tube does you no good without a chassis, regardless of how available flybacks might be...

[Prop Nut...]

OK, here's as newbie question, What part is the chassis? Is that the frame that holds the tube? (I'm trying here guys, please be patient with me)

[modessitt]

The Chassis is the electronics that attach to the tube and are mounted to the monitor frame.  On your WG they are split into the HV cage on the left and the low voltage board on the right.  The WG chassis will not work with an Amplifone tube.

So, when you say he has an Amplifone monitor or tube only, is it the complete monitor he has (tube & chassis) or just the tube with no chassis?

[D_Zoot]

Sounds like what the guy is selling is bare tube.   To build a complete Amplifone  monitor, you'll need a few more things:

1) Deflection board - These do pop up from time to time on eBay, both working and in need of a rebuild.

2) High voltage board - These don't come around that often, when they do they usually have the original HVT on them and need rebuilding with HVT replacement.

3) The yoke......    Here's the tough part!   Yokes are impossible to source.  Good luck finding one.   

4) Then there's wiring and the convergence assembly.

Once you have gathered up all the parts, rebuild the deflection board, the high voltage board, replace the HVT, assemble the monitor and start the long process of converging it from scratch.

I don't intend to sound negative, but it's be easier and cheaper to wait for a complete Amplifone to come around for sale.

D