I just trash picked these 2 old tube type console TV's locally in the same trash. Since its going to rain later this week i decided to save them just in case anybody on AK might be interested in taking them off my hands. Heres some details. The first console is a Silvertone color set model 7184. The CRT is bright, but has focus issues. I did see the CRT socket was cracked due to the plastic cover on the back being kicked in, but it can be repaired. The second console is a Zenith SC300 BW model H3345. The chassis number is 16H23Q. That set does not power up, and is dead. Both sets have dual speakers. I had problems uploading the pics, so please be patient. Thanks!

I'll take 'em!

I'll take 'em!

LOL Mark! Its funny to see you on the thread this early. I finally got the Silvertone pic uploaded. Damm camera! That #uc#ing SOB needs to die sometimes LOL! Anyways the sets are yours if you want them.

LOL! I'm always on free stuff like flies on sh*t. My truck is all fixed and I should be able to come soon, not like last time.:D
That color set looks very unique, I like it a lot! Looks like a '66 to me (I could easily be wrong). What does the tube cap look like that's broke, I may have a suitable replacement or be able to locate one. The back isn't broke is it?? I hope it's just the cap. Man, I like that set! Thanks for posting this Craig! I'll buy you a beer when I come!

wow, great saves! I love the look of that silvertone. It might be a ctc-17 chassis or a well gardner if you're really lucky.

The SC might just have a bad remote/manual switch. I've seen that keep a SC set in the dark.

look forward to the write up and repair!

Beautiful Blond!:drool:

She is pretty aint she:drool:. I can't wait to go get 'em and give 'em some lovin' :smsex:. I should be able to come up on Friday or Saturday, I work 4 ten hour days all summer and have 3 day weekends so there should be some good tv adventures to come soon:thmbsp::D I hope there are not many scratches on the blonde, they're the hardest to fix. It looks good from the pic. I'm excited to have a color set that isn't a "common brand" as well. Should make for a fun and interesting project. Thanks again Craig!:D You always come through for me, too bad I couldn't have saved the last SC300 you had but this one's much nicer. I have a mint remote for it too if it's missing.

She is pretty aint she:drool:. I can't wait to go get 'em and give 'em some lovin' :smsex:. I should be able to come up on Friday or Saturday, I work 4 ten hour days all summer and have 3 day weekends so there should be some good tv adventures to come soon:thmbsp::D I hope there are not many scratches on the blonde, they're the hardest to fix. It looks good from the pic. I'm excited to have a color set that isn't a "common brand" as well. Should make for a fun and interesting project. Thanks again Craig!:D You always come through for me, too bad I couldn't have saved the last SC300 you had but this one's much nicer. I have a mint remote for it too if it's missing.

Of course like usual the SC300 remote is missing. I have yet to find one with the remote included, but thats like a 1 in a million chance. The legs can be removed from the cabinet on that one. As far as the Silvertone the back has a 2 inch tear towards the bottom. Dispite a couple of screws missing its in good shape. The cap is cracked in the center of course, but thats nothing some JB weld cant fix. As far as the tube socket its a small PC board one, and not a bakelite one like the Admiral. It is cracked around the edge. The CRT pins, and wiring seem ok though. I think the board just needs to be doctered up. I originally saw the sets on the road Monday morning, but passed on them since i had limited space in my garage. Then when taking a drive on Monday afternoon i went back, and the sets were still there. Since i did not wanna see them rained on i loaded the Zenith on my truck, and took it home. After creating space in my garage i then went back to load the Silvertone the following morning. When i first seen the Silvertone the tube cap was not cracked. Some brat asshole kid probably kicked it in. In my opinion i think the Silvertone was made by RCA because of what the tube cap looks like. The CRT looks like its Zenith shaped though. Anyways i will be home on Friday, and Saturday afternoon. Since you dont have a cap on your truck i think Saturday would be a better day to come. I think its gonna rain Friday. Friday after 2:00, and Saturday after 5:00 i will be home. Just let me know a specific day, and time you will come so i know when to stay around.

Great looking sets. Should make for some fun projects.

Thanks for the info Craig, too bad about the back of the Silvertone but it could be worse. I just repaired a hole in a back cover for a '68 Zenith color set and it looks very good, not perfect but good. Is that set a tube hybrid? sounds like it if there's a board on the CRT. It might be like a '69 if that's the case. I don't know anything about Silvertones except the Medalist that I sold awhile back. Anyone else have experience with a set like this? Any info appreciated.

You know, it does have design cues of the set I had and it was a '71 so it might be a hybrid, or at least newer than I originally thought. But, then again, it says "All Channel" which is usually on sets from the earlier '60s as UHF was made mandatory in '64. I can't wait to tear into it and get some answers for myself.

That sears has got to be from around '68-69. Its a wells gardner set (made in chicago!) should be full of tubes. I've had a few of these, I can't remember if it has instant on or not though. The ones I had both had somewhat weak CRT's. Only sears color set I've got is a '71 WG made 19" portable. UHF tuners seem to never work on these, not that it matters anymore (unless you want to get that UHF transmitter going).

I think this set has that oddball "chromix" control, where you can adjust the color temperature of the b/w screen too.

I wonder if that set uses the chassis with plug in boards. W-G made a ton of those tube/hybrid modular sets.

The Silvertone has chromix control, but has no plug in modular boards. Mostly tubes. Finding vintage tube type equipment in the trash is rare nowadays. When i was a kid during the 1980's i used to find tube equipment in the trash all the time, but nowadays those moments are just memories. Today you would be lucky to find an old Zenith CC2. Mostly just cheap crap being thrown out now. Being born in 1974 i got to watch, and experience these older sets being commonplace in homes when growing up. I appriciate, and cherish those memories. Thats when things were built with quality, and had style/variety. Nowadays every set looks the same no matter what brand, and home its kept in. Just a boring black, or silver plastic box. Just like cars. I always hated how dull the newer cars looked. Just all fiberglass, and plastic. Gotta build them cheaper for more profits, and to keep the customer safe! Thats corprate america for you! Today its all about money, and low quality. For me a real car is made of steel, and chrome. Now thats style!

If these older sets could talk it would be interesting what stories they can tell you. Maybe they could of had the 1967 Green Bay Packers super bowl once on the screen. Who knows? My mother was telling me about that cold night in 1967, and it was funny/interesting. My late father, and uncle went out in the freezing cold that night to a bar so they could watch the game. When they came back home my mother started laughing at them after they discovered the game was broadcasted on the portable TV she was watching. Then she said: "The game was just fine right here!" Also my mother told me that one of my siblings spilled water on the back of the TV that night. She said it was strange that the TV did not smoke, or spark.

Rental Limo, great story. I totally agree with you with the lack of variety or character with new tvs, and other items we now use. As much as I enjoy the picture quality of my flat panel tv... every brand looks exactly the same- a large black flat screen. Probably the only difference is the bezel color, black or silver. Same with the cars, just one boring blob after another.

I agree with what Rental Limo said too. (Born in 1974? Wow, I must be the old man on here, having just celebrated my 50th birthday on June 12th this year). I am new to this site, I never knew anyone but ME cared about vintage electronics and other items from the past. For me, the grwoing up years were the late 1960s and early 70s. Man, do I have stories of saving things! When my parents retired in 1985, I pulled out both Bell System rotary phones that had we used since the house was new in 1963 (and I still have them both today - a red one and an olive green one - and the red one is in operation in the master bedroom which contains an all original 1959 pecan wood Drexel bedroom set of furniture in prefect shape). A 1964 RCA Victor b&w portable with remote control has been with me since it was new in '64 and it's just fine (but really does heat up a small room LOL). I have a couple of Zenith consoles but nothing as nice as Dougs that I have seen on YouTube.
Cars...nothing beats the 1960s and early 1970s AMERICAN cars. I love me some Detroit iron. My uncle had a '71 Continental Mark III, my other uncle had a '66 GTO and another uncle had a '67 Plymouth VIP 2 door, my cousin had a '67 Cougar XR-7, my dad had a '69 Mercury Marquis bought new in May 1969 (the car I remember the most).
Can anyone here tell me how I can post a want ad? I really want an original 1967 or 1968 Zenith color console in mint shape. I live in NY - there are none around here and TV repair shops think I'm kind of strange when I go in and ask if they have seen any around. It doesnt matter the cost of shipping, it's something I really want to complete my childhood memories. Thanks in advance for any help!

Thanks for sharing your story 67Zenith and welcome to AK! I used to think I was all by myself in this hobby too, I ran around like a headless chicken trying to save everything. LOL.

Thanks for the welcome zenithfan1! Yep, people just don't understand that saving these things from the 1960s and 70s is just as important to the history of our country as the things that many other people save from the 1920s and 30s. There seems to be a lot less respect from the general public for saving things from the 1960s and 70s. There are TONS of people who value the really old radio sets from the 1920s, Tiffany lamps, bakelite this n that, etc from the 1920s and 30s but the 60s just don't have as big an audience. I'll never understand why not, as many industrial and commercial designs from the 1960s are really masterworks of American industry (and my favorites).

I'm with you 100% 67Zenith. I have the same questions. I think the stuff from the '50s through the mid '70s are more interesting and still useful today. I too don't understand why it gets overlooked, I guess it's just not "antique" enough for most people. They say why do you like that junk? Then, I give them a very dirty look.


I picked the sets up today and will post pics tomorrow. I haven't looked at the Zenith yet but the Sears is an interesting set. I peeked inside at the back of the tube and I can replace the weird socket with a board on it with a regular one. It's just an oddball socket. VERY lucky the CRT didn't get busted, I don't understand how it is fine. Craig noticed when we looked in that it was made in 1966 as I suspected at first sight of it. The odd socket with a board threw me off and had me thinking later '60s. I am so out of space that the sets are in my driveway right now. I'm going to get them inside the garage tonight though, I have some crap to throw out. The tube cap is an triangular RCA CTC16 style so if anyone has one Please PM me, we'll work out something. The chassis looks very interesting with one board mounted at an angle under the CRT. I have to investigate further and will post more later. Thanks again Craig!