Roundie chassis sets all had an economy model that could be bought with simple screw in legs. How about rectangular sets? How long was it before simple screw-in legs became obsolete?

I worked on Zeniths with screw-in legs as new as the early 90s, when they stopped making the last pressed board wood cabinets.

Charles

I remember those particleboard wooden Zenith table model TV's that doubled as a floor model if the legs were added. I think schools and churches were the main ones that used these big table model sets on roll around carts.

Years ago, I found such a Zenith from the mid '80's that was once property of a school. That one used the 9-181/9-186 chassis.

I wonder when the last metal cased Zenith was built? I've also seen those with optional screw on legs.

Wow... I would've thought those screw legs would have been gone by the 90's. By then, it wouldn't surprise me if they were using plastic legs instead of wooden. Those cardboard cabinets were far worse than those of the 60's!

I do recall finding a couple of floor model 27" sets in fake wood cabinets within the past decade... they may have been RCA's... don't remember. We were shopping around for a set for my grandmother, but she only wanted a "wood cabinet" television. I found two on the internet (so it would have been no earlier than 10 years ago for me). The two models offered were special order... could not get them in the store. And what was worse, they were about 700 bucks... more than twice that of a black plastic box. My grandmother refused to pay that and said she would just keep the old one. She seems to think the picture is just fine (but it's actually pretty bad). Her macular degeneration is now getting pretty bad, so I guess it doesn't really matter.

I think Magnavox still made some consoles up until the mid '90's, while RCA and Zenith held out until around 2001. I do remember them costing around $600-$700 and they used the exact same chassis as the $250 BPC version. You were paying that extra money for that fine particleboard and plastic cabinet.

Not many years ago, there were people in this town who didn't want anything but a console TV and I had no problem getting $100-$150 for any decent consoles that I found. Then, almost overnight, no one wanted consoles anymore and it's now to the point where I can't even give them away. Right now, I have a nice looking early '90's RCA CTC150something console with stereo sound and A/V jacks. It has a video problem that I've never fixed b/c I know I'll end up getting stuck with it even if I do fix it. The last console that I sold was a 2001 Zenith in perfect shape for $50 and I was darn glad to get it.

Not many years ago, there were people in this town who didn't want anything but a console TV and I had no problem getting $100-$150 for any decent consoles that I found. Then, almost overnight, no one wanted consoles anymore and it's now to the point where I can't even give them away.

Geez, I wish Missouri was the next state east of Indiana rather than Ohio! I for one have an affection for 1960s consoles, & I'll even admit to B&W consoles. Seems this is an area of non-interest in the collector's market which SHOULD help me-but alas, I NEVER see ads on Craigslist or anywhere else that's a reasonable drive for me.

My grandmother had a tube Zenith 23" B&W contemporary console c.1970 that belonged to her Aunt Jenny(bought new). When Gram died in 1993, her 1982 Zenith 25" console was the only one anybody was interested in. I'm sure that B&W Zenith was tossed-I lived in California at the time, & ya can't claim those things as a second suitcase on the flight home!

I do have my parent's first new set, a 1963 RCA Victor 23" B&W console in colonial maple. Last had it on in 2005, very dim pic on its original 23ENP4. Also I have a c.1960 Magnavox 24" B&W in French Provincial, with the Hi-Fi speakers & red electric eye-sweet set! It was a daily driver for my sis til 1991. Has a Silverama CRT in it, c.1979, & last had it on in 2005-still a good picture. I'll post pics of these when I dig thru the archives.

Sorry, Radionut-I meant Mississippi. I KNEW Missouri is MO, not MS, just had a brain-glitch! :)