I picked up this Zenith G2346R 12" porthole set a couple days ago just across the Wisconsin border.
The cabinet appears to has identical styling to my 16" Monroe set, but it's 20% or so smaller.
I plan to restore both, but one will have to go after that.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7016/6393178603_82a3c51037_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393178603/) http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7012/6393178837_cf23e4c477_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393178837/)

Missing a few small knobs.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6393179131_4c6e78b4de_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393179131/)

I pulled a few tubes and found numbers like 19BG6 and 25AX4 so I figure it must be a series wired set, but what's that huge transformer for then ?
I dug up a schematic and found that it is indeed a series filament hot chassis set, but the B+ and 5U4 are power by that big transformer.

The label inside indicates this model came with either a metal cone 12UP4A or an all glass 12LP4A. This has the 12LP4A and it appears to be original.
It has a wacky ion trap magnet composed of two magnet rings mounted on a brass sleeve.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6393179509_18e0c9d6da_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393179509/) http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6393180021_8796c36e3f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393180021/)

The flyback looks to be in decent condition. The seller claims he powered the set up and got a raster with about two inches of vertical height.

I tried testing the CRT but had trouble with intermittent contacts in the loose base. The readings I did managed to get were deep in the bad zone though :(
I'll unwrap the electrical tape holding it on and try to fix it up.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7027/6393181015_7f31fe2200_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393181015/) http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6393181467_41ef095dd3_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393181467/)


I'm inclined to keep this smaller porthole set, but the 16" is more impressive and does not have a hot chassis :scratch2:

The seller also had an Admiral 16R12 for $10 with the original metal back and intact pencil box door so how could I refuse :D

I did a little research and found out the the brown bakelite set is the 16R12 and the black version is the 16R11.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6034/6393131233_f944f54161_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393131233/) http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6393131497_9e7b5943b0_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393131497/)

Nice find Bob! I wish I could find a Porthole to restore, I guess nobody in east Tennessee bought a TV until the 1970's.

Did all that fit in the GTI?

Nice find!!!

Nice find Bob! I wish I could find a Porthole to restore, I guess nobody in east Tennessee bought a TV until the 1970's.

Did all that fit in the GTI?

Yes, it sure did :) Even with the Zenith chassis pulled out of the cabinet. The seller sure was dubious when I pulled up though.

Nice find!!!

Thanks!

Nice looking TV. Bet it will be really nice when you get finished restoring it.

It has a wacky ion trap magnet composed of two magnet rings mounted on a brass sleeve.My RCA721TCS also has a sleeve shaped ion trap magnet, first of that type that I had seen.

http://antiqueradio.org/art/temp/RCA721YokeFocusAssemblies.jpg

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Very cute little Zenith console, I think I'd keep the smaller one too.

I'm starting to think all the Admirals are secretly trying to organize at your place. :D If you ever run across an empty cabinet for a lonely 20Z1 chassis, don't be afraid to grab it for me. ;)

Nice looking TV. Bet it will be really nice when you get finished restoring it.

Thanks! The cabinet is in even better shape than the one I picked up a few months back. I think a Howard's restore-a-finish rubdown and a few clear lacquer dabs here and there are all it needs.

My RCA721TCS also has a sleeve shaped ion trap magnet, first of that type that I had seen.
...

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

Interesting - thanks for the info.

Very cute little Zenith console, I think I'd keep the smaller one too.

I'm starting to think all the Admirals are secretly trying to organize at your place. :D If you ever run across an empty cabinet for a lonely 20Z1 chassis, don't be afraid to grab it for me. ;)

Could be. The seller put three sets on eBay at $9.99 and local pickup.
One was a huge Philco console with a busted 16LP4. No one bid on it.
I was the only bidder on the Admiral.
Just one other bidder on the Zenith, and I got it for $26. I hope it wasn't one of you guys.

At least two of the Admirals at my place are going away soon. They weren't mine to begin with - just dropped off for restoration.

I did some more digging into the Admiral.

The brightener can't be a good sign :no:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7143/6393131757_ae97e6f511_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393131757/)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6393132151_025ec82e67_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393132151/)

I was surprised to find a Philco 17YP4 installed. That's a cylindrical CRT and I'm sure not original.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6393132637_a625ba14f5_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393132637/)

I found some really ugly repairs underneath. it does have the IF shield though. It's missing from the 16R11 I'm currently working on.
A couple dogbone resistors fell out when I touched them!
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6393133241_c742829192_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393133241/)

The candohm resistor in the upper-right had failed at some point in the sets life.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7160/6393133789_c82297fba2_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393133789/)

I tried to test the CRT and discovered it had a heater-cathode short. So perhaps it has good emissions and the brightener is just there for isolation :dunno:

The sets are a good score: congratulations.

If the filaments are series string but uses a 5U4 for the B+, I wonder if the set would have a "hot" chassis? The hot chassis results in taking the B+ from the power mains directly and the power transformer would provide isolation. I am now curious to look at the diagram.

I suppose eliminating the filament power, there was the consideration of saving a bit of weight and cost with a smaller power transformer?

Thanks. There is a dedicated filament winding for the 5U4 for the B++ rectifier. The 25Z6 B+ rectifier is series strung.
According to this label on the back, left side of the chassis and the service info, the "top" of the chassis is hot.
Looks like there's an insulating layer between the top and body of the chassis. Weird setup.
No UL sticker but at least it's a polarized power cord.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6393180021_8796c36e3f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/6393180021/)

Could be. The seller put three sets on eBay at $9.99 and local pickup.
One was a huge Philco console with a busted 16LP4. No one bid on it.
I was the only bidder on the Admiral.
Just one other bidder on the Zenith, and I got it for $26. I hope it wasn't one of you guys.


Ah... so it was those sets. I actually watched those 3 auctions but I never bid. In fact I don't think I've ever bought a TV on ebay. I had no idea the Zenith set was so small, probably because I'm not familiar with the model numbers. Same problem I have with all those Admiral variations. That was sure a good deal, and I'm glad you saved them.

Nice find Bob! I wish I could find a Porthole to restore, I guess nobody in east Tennessee bought a TV until the 1970's.

Did all that fit in the GTI?

From what I understand, ET had no stations til LATE 1953/early 1954, after the "Freeze" was lifted... So the "Interesting" sets were gone by the time we got TV, unless you run acrost someone who bought one & tried to get WBT in Charlotte or WSB/WAGA in Atlanta...

Oh, Bob...not another Admiral...?

Here's my Zenith 12" G2350RZ "Adams."

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj7/300cSRT8_photos/Zenith%20G2350Z%20Restoration/ZenithG2350ZResto002.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj7/300cSRT8_photos/Zenith%20G2350Z%20Restoration/Portholes-LarryFine007.jpg

Hey, I only have 19 Admiral sets in my place right now - and two aren't even mine ;)

That porthole sure is a beaut'. Love the Stooge porthole in a porthole effect too :D

Ah... so it was those sets. I actually watched those 3 auctions but I never bid. In fact I don't think I've ever bought a TV on ebay. I had no idea the Zenith set was so small, probably because I'm not familiar with the model numbers. Same problem I have with all those Admiral variations. That was sure a good deal, and I'm glad you saved them.

I learned my lesson a few years ago after a set was damaged in shipping to only go for local pickup.
It's still a pretty hefty set at only 12". I think the Admiral may weigh even more though. Dang those sets are heavy!

Beautiful "Adams" Porthole.
Two things come to mind after viewing those pictures?

1- What color paint did you use to refinish the escutcheon? Looks nice.

2- Anyone ever thought about how many variations Zenith made to the escutcheon? Bobs "Graemere" escutcheon is one piece with mahogony red paint. My "Lincoln" escutcheon is 3 pieces with bronze paint on the inside of the door. In addition, the oval crest on my door cover is further down - yours and Bobs crest slightly protrude into the screen area making it easier to open.

Oh well, just curious about the variations and wonder about why Zenith made so many variations. The cost of making dies to cast the metal makes me wonder that they must have been selling a lot of these TVs in its day.

Carl

The maroon is Dupli-Color's DSGM386 Dark Garnet Red. The gold I can't recall, I think it was a Cadillac Gold engine paint. I glass beaded the whole housing before spraying.:smoke:

Bob, you could always live in the car.

that thing is uber cool. great score! i dont find tvs that old down here in FL anymore