Hi everyone! I just aquired a Zenith console tv. It seems to be in very good shape and I really like the cabinetry. I've wanted a Zenith console for a while now, I guess the "hand-crafted" marketing hype really got to me haha. Its marked, Zenith Space Command 600, Solid State. Does anyone have any information on this model? I'd guess it was probably made around 1969-1972? I wonder if this set is related to the chroma colors produced around that time. I've included a picture of the set below

http://www.worldengines.net/TV01.jpg

That looks to be an early solid state set from around '71-'72. It should have the horizontal "tube looking" solid state chassis in it. That series of chassis was probably the best that zenith ever made.

the best!looks like a black matrix crt.this is a winner!!!!!

Bet it has a non Zenith tube in it. Looks a bit to dark to me to be a Zenith CC1 or 2 delta tube.

Looks like one of those Sylvania black tubes.

Looks to be a 72 model. It will definitely have the horizontal chassis in it. Best damn chassis that ever came out of the zenith production line. The stability and picture quality will blow away just about anything else.

The early ss horizontal chassis sets are on my list to save next. You just don't see them around here.

I agree 100% with the others' thoughts! That's a perfect set, with the best chassis made, and the best tube made (Sylvania HR25VDMP22???)

Charles

picture has to be unreal on this set.that crt was the best made and the chassis was the best made.perfect mating.they should have bred them all be like this.but then came the inline gun.................................

Nice find! It appears to be near mint. I wish i could find one of those around here.
-Tony

whats the model and chassis number? Perhaps a 25CC25 which was the first mass produced solid state color chassis. I doubt its a 40BC50 though as I think that used an electronic tuner only.

I just got one of these sets, in a different cabinet style. Unfortunately, the CRT neck is broken. I do have a couple of Chromacolor CRTs though, so hopefully I have a suitable replacement.

Sorry for the delayed reply. Thanks everyone for the great info!

Unfortunately, I found out that the set had been converted to a modern picture tube and chassis! The person I bought it from told me that it was done by a television shop, for his friend's elderly mother. She was told that either the set couldnt be repaired or wouldnt be reliable, and she wanted to keep it due to the cabinet. The conversion was very professionally done, from the outside it would be impossible to tell any modification took place. In fact, the tv uses a modern remote and I have yet to determine where they mounted the new IR sensor. The new chassis and tube is a Phillips, at least from the sticker on the picture tube. However, the tuner assembly is still in place... maybe one day in the future I can locate the missing parts to restore it back.

Does anyone have any marketing material or ads on this tv, I was wondering how it was sold and whether it was considered a higher end model. Also what was special about the chassis and tube that made it such an outstanding performer. Its very sad finding out the best part of the television has been removed...

Wow...that's incredible. Not exactly in the preferred way, but incredible anyway. It was definitely a high-end model when it was new.

I wonder if the IR sensor is where the Space Command microphone used to be. It'd seem a logical enough place for it.

I knew something wasn't right with that set. That tube has way too dark of phosphor. I hope you find the proper chassis and CRT.

bummer.

That is a beautiful cabinet. Definitely made between 1970 and 1972. These "French Provincial" styles of cabinetry disappeared after the early 1970s, as tastes in furniture dictated console TV cabinet styles. "Ultra modern" and "early American" were the two main choices as the mid-late 70s progressed into the early 80s (not my favorites, I would never want to own an ultra modern or an early American i.e. colonial cabinet, I think both styles are ugly, I much prefer the "danish modern" and the "French provincial" styles and craftmanship from the 1960s-72). Apparently, the elderly lady you mention, who first owned this set, kept the cabinet in wondeful condition. It's too bad that she opted to have a conversion done but also bear in mind that the cabinet is genuine American workmanship and that deserves tons of good merits over the black plastic Chinese junk that today's flat sceens are made from (and they all look alike - there are no "styles" anymore). I would keep this great old Zenith if I were you. Maybe you can use it to run your DVDs, as a daily user. I am a purist but I do have one converted Zenith console that I use for DVDs (the cabinet and control panel are all original but the chasis is 2007) and I have other Z and RCA Victors that are entirely original (cabinets & chasis) and I am always looking for more from 1967-72, which I will keep totally original (they become my personal museum pieces). Long live vintage Zeniths!

That is a very nice looking cabinet.

I'll probably catch hell for posting this, but there are times when it is simply not feasable to repair a television, no matter how loved the set is. Looks like that was the case here.

At least the cabinet wasn't turned into an aquarium or a litter box. Looks like a very nice conversion, the crt and mask anyhow, so at least you have a nice looking and trouble free daily watcher.

I have ran across a many console sets that conversion, providing the geometry of the crt/mask/bezel fit properly would make sense. In fact, I have a 67/68 Zenith here that I may try that with if I can find the proper fitting crt, although that is doubtful. It is certainly not worth spending many, many hours replacing dozens of out of tolerance components, and spending a large amount of money and effort trying to replace 40 or so vacuum tubes on a set that essentially has a zero dollar value.

Let me take that Zenith and make it look like new, there's only about twenty tubes in there and I bet you have less than 5 bad ones. Seriously, don't gut that set. I would buy it from you if you don't want to fix it.

RobtWB, yea thanks- the tv does make a really good daily watcher. Its nice because I dont have to worry about it breaking down at an inopportune time. I'm also not as skilled electronically as many here on the board, so getting repairs made is difficult and expensive. For now its the best of both worlds. But if it didnt come to me like that already, I would never advocate such drastic measures.

I also think that as long as proper repairs and known trouble areas are taken care of, old sets should be pretty reliable. The magnavox in my avatar is original and untouched- and so far the picture looks really great. I believe its a 67' or 68' model. I dont run it very long because I'm worried that something can fail, so I use it ocassionally to keep it 'healthy'.

as far as I know, most zeniths I have seen has exposed tuning knobs. was the hidden knob design popular during the early 70's era, or only used for this particular line?

They didn't like knobs on the Space Command models other than UHF, there is only one I know of with a VHF knob and it is a 61 19" table model.

I've seen one space command set with knobs - an early-mid '70's 25" 4 tube hybrid console.

My 1960 17" b/w Zenith SC300 in the metal cabinet still has the vhf knob. And I used to have a 1971 19" Zenith b/w in the plastic cabinet with the space commander that had both vhf and uhf knobs.
That's a nice looking cabinet, maybe you can find a similar Zenith set in a less desirable cabinet, and swap the chassis and crt. That's a neat set too, probably the latest model set I would really like to find.

were you able to establish the original model and chassis number? If you take the back off, there should still be peice of paper glued inside the cabinet with the chassis number in bold. I had no idea zenith used that tuner layout in the solid state sets. I have a 1970 model, very similar but its the 12A12C52 tube type chassis.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1337386/70zenith2a.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1337386/70zenith2j.jpg

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-3/1337386/70zenith2k.jpg

Doug,

Those are great pics, that is an awesome looking set. Is the top pic your living room? The whole room appears to be period correct!... I was attempting the same at my home. Sorry, I did not get a chance to look up the model and chassis number yet. I have it stored at my mom's house, so I will take a look at it at the end of this week (I have yet to convince my wife to let me bring it home haha).

But the control panel looks just like the one in your set, however on the cover- right above the zenith crest- it is marked "solid state". I noticed you have a piece of cardboard blocking the channel indicator window, is it there because you are using the converter box? Also, would you let me know what the switches do? I noticed they are marked "hi - lo" ect, when I first looked at my tv, I thought they were channel selector buttons.

That's the living room where the set was purchased, It sat there most of it's life IIRC but Doug would know more than I.

I wish that were my living room. By far one of the coolest 50's houses I ever set foot in. Huge ranch home in suburban detroit, totally mint and untouched. I wish I got more pics of that house.

oh wow, that must have been incredible to visit. I noticed there is a decorative grill/partition behind the tv... does that look in on a dining room? I'd really like to hear you described more of the house in detail. It looks almost like the room set ups from those old television print ads, or the brochures from magnavox...