I picked this up at the SA for $5.35. It is a Sanyo built Sears 9" hybrid B&W. It is missing the VHF knob (dang it!). It worked with vertical height issues the first time. Now, it's dead! It's a model 564.49981100. I think it was built in '75; but, don't know for sure. It's not much of a find; but, I guess I should consider myself lucky that they would even put something like this out on the floor.

EDIT: The Sams is 1184; so, this could be an early '70's model after all. It does not have a click stop UHF but it does use the "Hz" designation rather than "cycles" on the rear data plate.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/2008_1213uj0002.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/2008_1213uj0003.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/2008_1213uj0001.jpg

Wow! Never thought I'd see another one of those again. I've got one just like that and the same set in tan. Both work pretty well and have a full set of Sears-branded tubes. Used to use the gray one pretty regularly as a TV in the spare bedroom.

I haven't seen many mid-70's PC-board based tube portables in my travels; I'd imagine that the boards didn't hold up too well with the heat. Or were these sets just not that popular?

-Jim

I have 2 12 inchers like that, one is for parts. Lemme check in the garage to see if the knob is the same, I think it is. If so it's yours. Those are nice little sets, good save.

I notice this one has continuous UHF tuning so it is just a little older than '75. I was looking through a Sears catalog from that year and there were some small bw hybrids in there-I don't think they had any tube color sets left. They didn't seem to waste too much time making the solid state switch, maybe due to all the service contracts they sold?

I have 2 12 inchers like that, one is for parts. Lemme check in the garage to see if the knob is the same, I think it is. If so it's yours. Those are nice little sets, good save.

Thanks!

I notice this one has continuous UHF tuning so it is just a little older than '75. I was looking through a Sears catalog from that year and there were some small bw hybrids in there-I don't think they had any tube color sets left. They didn't seem to waste too much time making the solid state switch, maybe due to all the service contracts they sold?

Once, I was looking through my Sam's to see what was the latest folder I had on a tube set. I found one on a 12" Sanyo B&W from '77. I think I remember reading somewhere on here where there was some el cheapo 12" B&W's made up into the '80's that had some odd-ball vertical tube (117JZ8 or something) and the rest was SS. Now, that would be one I'd like to find for the collection!

Sears probably discontinued tube color sets in '74 or '75 to keep up with the big boys. I think RCA discontinued tube sets in '74 and Zenith in '75. I guess the only major player that held in there was GE with their tube porta-color that was made up until at least the late '70's.

Aye, Sanyo-made set. 564 prefix in Sears=Sanyo.

Cheers,

That cabinet reminds me of a PortaColor.

That cabinet reminds me of a PortaColor.

Actually, when I saw this set from a distance, the porta-color was the first thing that entered my mind! Let's see, my last tube find there was a Magnavox B&W/phono combo and then this Sears set today. The third tube find just might be a color set. Maybe a porta-color!

Here is the 12" version of this set. I got this about three years ago when the bar down the street from me changed owners and this was thrown out (along with a mid 70s solid state Hitachi 12" set).
It was obviously used in the bar at some point since it was covered with sticky cigarette tar filled dirt. This set is also missing the VHF knob. :sigh: The chassis looks similar to the 9" version, though I noticed that one of knobs on the front of the 12" looks to have been moved to the back of the 9".

I've cleaned it up since I took these pictures, I don't remember how well it works, I haven't looked at it for a while.

That's the one I have for parts, It survived a flood back in '97 or 8 but the sound quit. I'm going out in the garage in a little bit, I'll let you know about the knob :)

I found the knob Bryan. I will mail it out tomorrow.

Cute l'il guy ! Wanna see a pic when you get it goin' !

Nice find!

I found the knob Bryan. I will mail it out tomorrow.

Thank you very much!