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Here's mine, trash-picked in 2007. I actually stopped to look at a BPC set on one corner, and when I was getting back into my vehicle, I saw this beauty sitting on the opposite street corner. 100 percent original, no re-cap yet. I thought I had a B+ filter problem a few months back, but it turned out to be interference from a Neon Sign transformer - nice 60Hz hash in the picture. She's not a daily watcher - I just plug her up every now and then to see her come up with a decent picture.

Cheers,

Ive got the boring version from 1976, its the only one I've got left. I picked it up at the SA in Berwyn back in 2003 for $25 which was pricy for one of these at a place like that. It works perfect though.

Here is the one that I have, I sold my '73 in the woodgrain cabinet to Dieseljeep. This one is from Mike AKA radotvguy here on AK. This thing works perfect after I replaced a few caps. This is the 1974 model with no handle from the factory! Hey Findem-Keepem, yours is my favorite so far, I like the lighted dials!
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=86194&d=1207517279
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=86193&d=1207517279
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=86189&d=1207517208
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=86190&d=1207517279

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Neat Andy, the one on the right is like the one I sold. You are right, it IS a contradiction to have no handle on a PORTA color LOL! That is why I will never sell that one. It is the only one like it that I have seen. I wonder if anyone else has one like it?
I like the pcolors, if I find another one I will surely grab it, I have a soft spot for these and other GE stuff. My 1975 GE with the 19CD chassis is built like a big Porta Color, it has a 19" screen and a BEAUTIFUL SHARP picture. I love that set. it can be seen on my picturetrail. It was a daily watcher but I didn't want to burn out any tubes since NONE have ever been changed.

Hello, I picked up a Novenber, 1975 GE Portacolor here in North Bay a few years back at a flea market-I don't have any pictures at the moment but it is almost like the 1976 Portacolor posted here in this thread. I got it not long before that flea market turned into an absolute junk shop with people's yard sale junk:-( I also got a 1975 Portacolor rebranded for JC Penny as well and they both work-yes tube sets that work at that smae flea market along with a 1972 Fleetwood Color console-23-inch model and a 1972 Hitachi Japaneese bulit solid state 23-inch console working as well too. I also got the 1969 portacolor model posted on this thread as well. My earliest color set I picked up here in North Bay is a 1968 Zenith 13-inch color tabletop set that weighs a ton! Got that in 2002. Last year, I was lucky enough to score a 1974 Philips 23-inch color console-still working as well here in North Bay. I am just getting these sets in time before those "stroller people" had a chance to ruin them. I did just the same with a bunch of Betamax tapes and a Betamax VCR as well. Made some terrific saves there too. It's like I am grabbing these vintage TVs out of a filthy toilet before they get flushed down. I also grabbed a 1979-I am not sure of make-console color TV and a number of B&W 12-inchers and a 1978 Chromacolor II last year at Sally-Ann before they became "stroller bait". I just gotta keep on beating the bushes here in North Bay to keep those "stroller people" away from my finds as I scoop them up off the street to speak:thmbsp:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56943&d=1186555107

I have 2 KV-4000s, a couple of the 1.5 color Panasonics, several other "teeny-tiny" color sets, yet I STILL get a big horsy grin when I see a Porta Potty STILL pluggin' along, maybe nigh on to 40 years old...Guess they're just the TV equivalent of "The little Engine that Could"...

I was lucky enough to score a 1974 Philips 23-inch color console

A Philips set in the US? Dutch made? i used to think that Philips didn't bother to make NTSC sets apart from the K4 roundie which was briefly sold in Canada.

Yes, that's a 1973-74 Philips 23-inch solid-state console I picked here in North Bay in that 1970's style low-boy cabinet with speakers on each side and a continuos-tune UHF tuner. The set also has a 23-inch Delta-Gun CRT as well. That's not all-I also got a 1957 21-inch B&W Philips console TV in a cabinet with those screw-on type legs as well. Yes, Philips brand TV sets were marketed in Canada since the early 1950's right up through the 1980's.
Also-Philips sold stereos, record players and radios in Canada as well from the 1940's through the 1980's as well. Yes, let's credit Philips for giving us the audio cassette in 1963-sold in Canada too.
Here are some other Canada-Only TV brands-
-Viking(Eaton's)
-Marcconi
-Electrohome
-Rogers Majestic
-Clairitone
-Fleetwood
These brands were not sold in the US as far as I know.

Yes, that's a 1973-74 Philips 23-inch solid-state console I picked here in North Bay in that 1970's style low-boy cabinet with speakers on each side and a continuos-tune UHF tuner. The set also has a 23-inch Delta-Gun CRT as well. That's not all-I also got a 1957 21-inch B&W Philips console TV in a cabinet with those screw-on type legs as well. Yes, Philips brand TV sets were marketed in Canada since the early 1950's right up through the 1980's.
Also-Philips sold stereos, record players and radios in Canada as well from the 1940's through the 1980's as well. Yes, let's credit Philips for giving us the audio cassette in 1963-sold in Canada too.
Here are some other Canada-Only TV brands-
-Viking(Eaton's)
-Marcconi
-Electrohome
-Rogers Majestic
-Clairitone
-Fleetwood
These brands were not sold in the US as far as I know.

I believe Electrohome did some sales in the U.S., any confirmations from
U.S. collectors?

Never seen anything "Electrohome" down here. Maybe they did have some limited distribution in the Northern states, though.

Some Capehart service literature refers to "in Canada, Electrohome" so there's a connection there somehow. Probably re-badged off-shore stuff, Capehart in the US, Electrohome in Canada. IIRC, Sams covered some sets.

That's 'bout all I know.

Cheers,

Yes, that's a 1973-74 Philips 23-inch solid-state console I picked here in North Bay in that 1970's style low-boy cabinet with speakers on each side and a continuos-tune UHF tuner. The set also has a 23-inch Delta-Gun CRT as well.

Is this set based on the K9 chassis like the one in the pic? this chassis, along with the inline CRT version K11, is a real masterpiece

Hello, I would have to take the back off of my Philips 1973-74 23-inch console to find out. I currently have that TV in storage right now. I thnk it may be similiar. Allso, does yours have a delta-gun CRT too, just curious. About what year is your set-thanks. Mine fully works and I can get channel 2 with no antenna on it. It's got a delta-gun CRT. It came from an older couple here in North Bay.

About 19 or so years ago, my wife and I went to see a movie. There is an electronic shop next door to the theater and when we parked I walked through the shop's parking lot. They had tossed out a nice complete little Porta Color. Of course I picked it up and put it in the car. I forget what movie was playing because all I could think of during the show was that little TV and what was wrong with it.

Guess what? When I got home and took the back off all that was wrong with it was a bad on/off switch and it worked perfectly!! I sold it the next day for $100!

Hello, I would have to take the back off of my Philips 1973-74 23-inch console to find out. I currently have that TV in storage right now. I thnk it may be similiar. Allso, does yours have a delta-gun CRT too, just curious. About what year is your set-thanks. Mine fully works and I can get channel 2 with no antenna on it. It's got a delta-gun CRT. It came from an older couple here in North Bay.

I have two K9 sets, one from 1973 the other from 1975. the K9 chassis was made from 1972 to about 1976

They all had shallow 110 degree delta gun CRTs, if it has a 90 degree CRT then it's not a K9.

In 1974 the K9 was modified into the K11 chassis which was intended to drive Philips' new 20AX inline CRT, the signal and power supply boards are exactly the same as in K9 sets.

Here's mine with a new 11SP22 installed (thanks, Dave A.)

I use it here and there, but with all this talk of energy concern I feel kinda bad since it uses 200 watts and throws a massive amount of heat.

Its almost as old as the 'boat' in my avatar and the ride is just as rough :D

Got the same exact one as Findm Keepm it seems. Trust me, the pic on this one is better than my photos show-I can't take a picture to save my life :(

Built in good ol' Electronics Park, Syracuse, NY.

Keep em comin', fellas!

Use it in the winter time. That way you can kill two birds with one stone. Watch tv and heat your pad! Makes a good space heater. ;)

Here's mine with a new 11SP22 installed (thanks, Dave A.)

I use it here and there, but with all this talk of energy concern I feel kinda bad since it uses 200 watts and throws a massive amount of heat.

Its almost as old as the 'boat' in my avatar and the ride is just as rough :D

Got the same exact one as Findm Keepm it seems. Trust me, the pic on this one is better than my photos show-I can't take a picture to save my life :(

Built in good ol' Electronics Park, Syracuse, NY.

Keep em comin', fellas!

Your picture taking abilities are a lot better than mine! And your set looks better too!!

Cheers,

My dad was kinda big on "gadgets"-He got one in late '65 or early '66 to replace an AWFUL Sears mini-console that-I SWEAR-Hated us. Anyhow, the little Porta-Potty was on 18/7 for something like 8 years, when we got a 17" Trinitron. I don't remember it giving any trouble, we got a REAL trooper w/that set. Guess that's another reason I have such a soft spot in my heart for 'em...But yeah, I remember it would get hot as a firecracker w/all those tubes a-glowin' in it...

Hey zenith2134, that is one sharp lookin' Porta-Color you got yourself there! I give it the thumbs up too!:thmbsp:

This is my original porta color made by Ge. Curiously it doesn't show the name "porta color" anyway.

picture of my porta color ge

That's a nice picture, tritwi. Is that portacolor an NTSC one? I think someone made a Portcolor that was PAL or Simple PAL or something.

David

Hi David, yes the Ge portacolor is an original NTSC model. I fed it with a multistandard VCR playing an NTSC tape. The picture is quite good! This picture shows my other portacolor (the european model you mention). It is a simple PAL set and it shares very little of its ciruitry with the original portacolor despite the fact both sets employ the same type of picture tube and have a very similar look.

There was another set using the same chassis and tube of the european kuba porta color, this was the telefunken telecolor (left picture). It just had a more modern look.

It's amazing to see how many variations of the Portacolor were produced. Tons!

I like your PAL pal. :D

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=56943&d=1186555107

Just a comment here and not meaning to sidetrack the thread.

The broadcast industry lost a good one when Hal passed away.I miss being able to pick up KTLA from San Diego.

Hi David, yes the Ge portacolor is an original NTSC model. I fed it with a multistandard VCR playing an NTSC tape. The picture is quite good! This picture shows my other portacolor (the european model you mention). It is a simple PAL set and it shares very little of its ciruitry with the original portacolor despite the fact both sets employ the same type of picture tube and have a very similar look.

Very nice little set. I'm surprised that the circuitry is so different though, because doesn't simple pal just display the phase reversed lines and rely on the eye to cancel out the differences? I'd think a normal NTSC set could do that, or am I way off base on how that works?

Duane:
Yes, I took that picture the night they had run tributes to Hal on KTLA after his death. Originally the image was posted here on audiokarma to go along with an announcement of Hal's death. I thought it would be nice to show a picture of what he looked like on a vintage television set for those in other parts of the country who wouldn't have seen him. The portacolor won the roll of vintage television by default since it was the only vintage tv I had at work. Still, I've gotten a lot of use out of that picture, both talking about So Cal television, as well as the portcolor itself At the time the portocolor was my official bench television. My employer has since made me remove it because it is vacuum tube based, and they aren't allowed at work. Still, when it was here I would tell people that if our signal looked good on the portocolor it was right for broadcast. :yes:

David

All I know is that these TVs made extended use of simpler tuner circuitry to ensure reliability and decent performance. The NTSC portacolor has a pretty good VHF tuner considering its age and price-point. Most early-color sets had simple circuits being utilized, and the GE is no different IMO. One good tube per tuner freq, range, paired with a good use of passive and active IF designs, and they pick up a signal right outta the trashbin in 2008 (or 2009...)

I have my '66 hooked up to a Zenith DTT-900 DTV box and a small bowtie (UHF) antenna pulls in all my locals with no issues.

Its amazing how long an old GE can go for . . .