View Full Version : zenith bicentennial set


sampson159
06-01-2008, 10:47 PM
just picked up a zenith bicentennial portable. it has gold knobs and trim with a picture on both sides. never saw one before! ac/dc and 110.plays well and looks nice. any info on this? thanks

kx250rider
06-02-2008, 01:08 PM
I've seen several of those, and the other version that has blue denim print. Good little set! In fact I have one now that belongs to a friend, and it's heading for eBay once I clean it up.

Charles

zenithfan1
06-02-2008, 02:47 PM
Those are cool, All SS if I remember correctly. I always liked the bicentennial stuff, saw a '76 Lawn-Boy mower that was NOS go for $3,500 on the bay once.
There are many cool tvs from that year as well. Does it have the Declaration of Independence printed on the sides?

drh4683
06-02-2008, 07:46 PM
Dang, wish my NOS '76 bicentennial lawnboy sold for that much! Ironically, I just sold mine last week on the bay!

sampson159
06-02-2008, 08:28 PM
yes,it has the declaration on the sides.gold knobs and trim.clean little set.works very well.bought it at a church sale.i have no idea what it may be worth.but it is a zenith.................

radiotvnut
06-02-2008, 10:29 PM
I've seen a few on epay but I don't recall what they sold for. I think GE had a bicentennial SF chassis tube set. I wonder if any other companies made a bicentennial set.

kx250rider
06-03-2008, 12:55 PM
There were bicentennial editions of just about everything. I had a bicentennial '76 Cadillac Eldorado convertible. It was electric blue with white leather, and red upholstery piping. It was designated "Bicentennial Limited Edition" in the brochure, but didn't have any badge on it.

And there is a GE red, white & blue 12" TV, but it's a tube set from the late 60s if it's the one I'm thinking of.

Charles

WISCOJIM
06-03-2008, 05:37 PM
And there is a GE red, white & blue 12" TV, but it's a tube set from the late 60s if it's the one I'm thinking of.

Charles


Are you thinking of the SF2100AM (America) set from 1974 (pictured)? I also recall there was a 12-inch Red, White, and Blue GE TV in a horizontal cabinet (knobs & speaker to the right of the CRT) that should have been all solid state that came out later. I either had one, or still have it in one of the rented storage bins. Not sure if it out was in time for the Bicentennial however.

bgadow
06-03-2008, 09:54 PM
I had that pictured set; should have kept it but I was just a kid and it had a pretty bad burning phenolic smell after being on a few minutes. A cool set, though. I have seen the "Declaration" Zeniths a time or two in my travels but never bought one.

veg-o-matic
06-04-2008, 08:21 AM
Ooooh, always had a soft spot for those GE portables. I wouldn't say the r/w/b color scheme is my favorite, but I like the upright design.

veg

zenithfan1
06-04-2008, 11:36 AM
Dang, wish my NOS '76 bicentennial lawnboy sold for that much! Ironically, I just sold mine last week on the bay!

Sh*t!! I wish I knew you had one of those!! I would have bought it!!!!!!!:yes:

Hawkwind
06-10-2008, 12:24 AM
I've seen several of those, and the other version that has blue denim print.

Here is a blurb from Popular Science Magazine about the the blue denim zenith...

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c49/Hawkwind02054/BlackAndWhiteTV/Zenith_TV_Sidekick_11_1973.jpg

kx250rider
06-10-2008, 01:06 PM
Here is a blurb from Popular Science Magazine about the the blue denim zenith...

That's actually a different one I haven't seen before. The denim model I was thinking of is the same 9" set with AC-DC-Battery and sun screen as the Minute Man set. Interesting!

Charles

zenith2134
06-10-2008, 02:12 PM
A nonconformist set! Nice.

Like the stitching too.

bgadow
06-10-2008, 10:11 PM
The 9" model would go good with one of those AMC Gremlins that had upholestry by Levis (or some such).

matt_s78mn
06-10-2008, 10:21 PM
I have one of those Zenith Sidekicks. Great set with very cool design, and a good performer too.

zenith2134
06-10-2008, 11:16 PM
Hey, does anyone know if these Sidekicks were built at the U.S. plant? In '76 it seems as if maybe Zenith was sourcing B&W portables in Taiwan or somewhere else offshore. Just thought it'd be neat to find that out.

TVs like this are great because they're good conversation starters when hanging around with people who don't collect this stuff...

radiotvnut
06-10-2008, 11:43 PM
All the very late tube and solid state portable Zenith B&W's that I used to find were made in Taiwan.

In the back of my mind, I seem to remember having a Zenith Sidekick II that was solid state.

radiotvnut
06-10-2008, 11:50 PM
Here's a Zenith Spirit of '76 TV and it's made in Taiwan

http://cgi.ebay.com/Spirit-OF-76-B-W-Zenith-Television_W0QQitemZ320261793990QQihZ011QQcategory Z367QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

colorfixer
06-11-2008, 11:53 AM
....and made in gin-u-wine "Tiwan" LOL

kx250rider
06-11-2008, 12:08 PM
If that set even gets a bid at $50, I'll be surprised. I'm listing one later today for a friend, which looks to be a lot better than that one.

Charles