'81 Zenith space command restored. Pics.

[zenith2134]

Good evening fellas. Thought I'd share some thoughts on this tv I brought home a few weeks back. Neighbor was trashing it and I stepped in to save it. Thought I was a weirdo for sure but no sweat. I figured it was an older set but its from January of 1981. Not too bad!

This set was a wreck cosmetically, stunk of cigarettes, dusty as anything. In fact, I had to use a large air compressor to blow the dust off the chassis before even turning it on. Damn lol.

Good news was that it was a relatively simple repair-- The 'Master' power switch was flaky and causing the set to cycle on-off, so I shot it with some Deoxit. Helped alot, no worries there. Judging from the inside, however, I figured the CRT was gonna be weak, as the set was obviously heavily used. Well. For an EFL 19VJNP22 tube it is VERY strong on all colors and brighter than most sets I've seen. I adjusted Horiz width, focus, G2, cutoffs, etc.. and now have another great 'newer Zenith!

The model is SS1923W . Has ultrasonic space command, which works quite well.

Here ya go.

[jpdylon]

That's a nice looking SC. I've always been kinda skeptical of them because of the inline gun CRT and the ones manufactured in mexico. However your set is exceptionally good looking. That is the first 80s zenith I've seen with that good of a picture

[zenith2134]

Thanks for the interest Jpdylon!

The set says 'product of Zenith Radio Corp, USA' but the modules are mexican. The CRT however says Made in USA. Good sign lol.

The modules are 9-151-01 tuner/ audio/if/sync

9-152-02 chroma/ vertical out

9-155-01 Vid output

9-160-03 HV/Horiz/Pin

Crt is 19VJNP22 my mistake in the above posting. No one really needs this info I realize, but maybe who knows.

Heres the inside after a cleaning:

[Carmine]

Its hard for me to tell, because I an viewing on my phone, but I swear I have the same set with a 1978 build date. Either way, mine has a stunning pic, ten times better than the pos black box in my hotel room right now. Good save!

[andy]

I always had good luck with those early 80's Zenith in-line CRTs. I can only remember ever seeing one bad one and it wasn't unusable.

[radotvguy]

I always thought those early 80s zeniths had a nice picture . Never really had one apart though . Last year i bought some recieving tubes from a shop that closed in PHILIDELPHIA,PA and they had several zeniths like that which went to the dumpster . I never thought anyone would be collecting them .

[polaraman]

I got this Zenith Space Command 800 Chromacolor II on the free pile this week. It was made in 1978 and looks like your set. Chassis is 25KC45. It is completely DEAD! Not even a chirp when I hit the on switch. I need to find the remote and try that.

polaraman

[jstout66]

Hey Rich, In a Chromacolor 2 chassis a bad vertical module will cause a dead set..... Kinda odd as that would be the last module I would look at.

[Telecolor 3007]

Just curios, the set still have components Made in U.S.A.?

[radiotvnut]

My Dad picked up an identical Zenith 19" space command off the side of the road around '90. After the 9-160 was replaced, the set had a perfect picture and we used it around here for several years. We wound up donating it to our church and it was still going strong when I left that church in 2003. I'll bet they still have it.

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by polaraman

I got this Zenith Space Command 800 Chromacolor II on the free pile this week. It was made in 1978 and looks like your set. Chassis is 25KC45. It is completely DEAD! Not even a chirp when I hit the on switch. I need to find the remote and try that.

polaraman

Check that little remote power supply bolted on the left side of the chassis. That can cause the chassis not to fire up.

[Scorpion8]

Nice save!