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#1
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Should i bother restoring a zenith?
I posted quite a while back about my acquisition of a 1964 Zenith "roundie" that I suspected was a dog just due to the metal cabinet. Then I found out that metal cabinet sets are rarer than wood as wood was saved for whatever reason people used to save their broken TV and the metal ones got sent to the dump.
So with a grave need for space in my rather modest abode, I posted an ad in the V-K classifieds hoping to find homes for some rather nice radios and TVs that I have or had. I was disappointed at the fact that I was bombarded by inquiries on the Zenith, but almost nothing else. As a matter of fact I ended up junking or donating some really nice 50s consoles. Anyway, I decided that since I don't have any other vintage color sets and remembering the absolutely beautiful picture that this set produced for a few hours before the color went out, that maybe it was a keeper. The thing that puzzles me is that all anyone talks about here are RCA this and RCA that with an occasional mention of other things, of which there are many AND more interesting in my opinion. So, I am left wondering if it is worth the time and money to yank the chassis and throw in some caps, a color crystal, and replace the horizontal "efficiency" coil that seems to be dangling by its winding or other wiring. I just noticed that it is all wobbly when I put a finger on it. In previous posts some well informed members assured me that replacement would be the way to go. I'm hoping that there are at least some Zenith fans/members that perhaps I can discuss issues with that may arise. As well there are some small cosmetic items that I would like to replace like the control door and the channel knob, which are there, but a bit tattered. I have heard that these sets are great performers over the long haul. Supposedly RCA had a better picture (which I can't imagine from what I saw on mine), but Zenith had the quality build and many folks find them and are lucky enough to just plug them in and enjoy. I am not that lucky, but it might be an easy set to get going.
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"Face piles of trials with smiles, for it riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave, and keep on thinking free" |
#2
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Keep and restore your Zenith. It will not disappoint you. They are great sets.
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#3
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We can start a "metal cabinet Zenith club"!
I just got done with a recap on mine, and now I'm on the hunt for a yoke. Here's a link to my thread..... http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=259958 The picture doesn't show it well, but the cabinet on mine is almost a maroon color.
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"Restoring a tube TV is like going to war. A color one is like a land war in Asia." |
#4
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If you have already buttoned up the access plate on the bottom, then don't worry about it, but if not it can be reached pretty easily. Thanks
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"Face piles of trials with smiles, for it riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave, and keep on thinking free" |
#5
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If doable, the same could be done to preserve those blue coils on the convergence board. |
Audiokarma |
#6
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Now this is saying a lot coming from someone who is asking someone else to look at theirs as for all I know they might have been wobbly from the get go, but I doubt it. Just saying I know little about it. The only reason that I found the condition is that when I brought the set home the first symptom I encountered was no high voltage along with the horizontal output tube having a red glowing plate. Not a good thing with these sets. The evidently delicate nature of the horizontal/high voltage circuitry and it's proper set up is what gives me such concern. Anyway, tube investigation proved that almost all of the related tubes to these circuits were shot. I replaced them and then the set cam alive and seemed to be stable other than an odd sort of horizontal interference line running about 3 inches in from the left side of the raster. Not a bar, but a sort of jagged line. This line was the only thing that was less than perfect with one beautiful color picture until as I have mentioned, the color went out to black and white. I will never forget how neat it was when I first applied full service drop voltage to the set. You could sit and watch things come to life after decades of dormancy. The most interesting was the color, which I didn't really expect to be as wonderful as it ended up being. It started as a pure black and white picture and I was pleased by sizes and linearity being spot on. Suddenly a small area near the center of the C.R.T. began showing sort of a swirl of color which slowly grew until the picture was full color. I didn't even have to mess with the Hue or other adjustments! What a good feeling! Of course the color went away faster than it came to life, but I see that as being a minor issue. It's the power supply and sweep circuits that I think need full integrity and immediate attention. That goes for all sets really.....
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"Face piles of trials with smiles, for it riles them to believe that you perceive the web they weave, and keep on thinking free" |
#7
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i have the same zenith metal 1964 ,with a perfect crt . i will be restoring this winter.
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#8
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Fix it up. I was never a fan of tin-cans but you can always
do a transplant later on. Most sets back them were plane Janes anyways with boxy cabinets. As far as pix goes its a matter of taste. Zenith was always my #1 set but the best roundie pix I ever saw was on an Admiral of all things........ 73 Zeno |
#9
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RCA's get a lot of attention because so many mfr's used the RCA design and key parts. Zenith will give a great picture... if the CRT is fairly good. Good luck and have fun!
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#10
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seems like there are many more rca survivors than zenith.scant few here in columbus ohio.we rarely saw a zenoth roundie in for service.many rca sets but few zeniths.the best roundie picture was hands down the zenith sets.
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Audiokarma |
#11
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They seemed to have a better picture than their rectangular counterparts. I had the last of the Zenith roundies, where I installed an RCA Hi-Lite CRT, in it. Talk about the best of both worlds. |
#12
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Nice thing with the Zenith is that you don't ever have to worry about charred circuit boards. I like those metal cabinets if they're in nice condition, IMO easier to keep up that a wood cabinet. At least here in WI, wood fiber is constantly on the move, so the finish literally wears itself out from expansion and contraction cycles.
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#13
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Certainly true around here. I watch for vintage TVs pretty carefully, and the only color roundies I have ever found are RCA. Maybe things are different on the Right Coast where old TVs (and old things in general) are more plentiful.
Phil Nelson |
#14
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metal cabinet TV's are well suited for nyc apartments
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#15
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Mine's a "Double-First Cousin" to Tim's...I THINK mine's a '65, though..
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Benevolent Despot |
Audiokarma |
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