This is one of the sets that came home with me from SC.

What you see is a 15" Teledyne/Packard-Bell (in name only) tube type B&W portable that's actually built by GE. It's a '72 model and uses the GE "SE" chassis. This set has "instant on"; and, as can be seen from the picture of the chassis, does not appear to have seen much use.

I don't know what it is about these GE tube type portables from this time period; but, every one of them seem to have vertical problems. And, this set is no exception. As you can see, the picture is compressed at the top and stretched at the bottom. When I turned it on this afternoon, the picture came up normally and then exhibited vertical trouble after the set had been on for a few minutes. I suspect a bad cap; but, am going to track down a Sam's before I proceed. This set is in Sam's 1217-1, which I don't have. I did check the vertical osc./output tube (23Z9) and it's good. In years past, I never really tried to repair one of these sets; but, I think I'll try to repair this one since it's in otherwise good condition.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/2010_0418pbtv0001.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/ff341/radiotvnut/2010_0418pbtv0002.jpg

A few of these came home with me too. I have never tested a crt that was so strong. It pegged on the cutoff scale.
I didnt let mine run for more than a few minutes. I love how few tubes it has. They really maximized the cheapness using compactions. I bet they have a good picture when working right though.

These sets had a decent picture; but, I think the solid state "XB" chassis sets were better performers. I think from around '72 to '76, The SE and SF chassis tube sets were the economy models, while the XB solid state chassis sets were the better models. I've seen 12" and 15" versions that used both the SS and tube chassis and the cabinets were nearly identical. Over the years, I've gotten a lot of these 15" sets (both tube and SS) with toasted CRT's.

I still have a hard time imagining a time when a tube set would be considered economy and solid state top of the line. I guess it was about using up and selling off the tons of stock they had.
If I make it over to the electronics store ill see if they have the sams. Keep me posted if you figure it out.

I had a '78 or '79 GE "XB" chassis B/W set (probably a 15 or 16") and the crt was beyond weak. Almost zero emission at all although the set worked fine otherwise.

I still have a hard time imagining a time when a tube set would be considered economy and solid state top of the line. I guess it was about using up and selling off the tons of stock they had.
If I make it over to the electronics store ill see if they have the sams. Keep me posted if you figure it out.

I know; but, that's the way it was towards the end.

Take the Zenith 4 tube hybrid 19" color sets that were made between '71 and '75. From '71 to '74, these were made in several high end variations. Then, in '74, the 19" solid state Chromacolor II came out. From that point on, what 4 tube hybrids that were still being made were stripped down economy models - no space command, no AFC, no dial light, no chromatic button, plain jane cabinets, etc. I have one of these basic stripped down 4 tube hybrids from '74.

Then, look at RCA. The CTC40 solid state chassis came out in '69, followed by the similar CTC44 chassis in '70-'71. Then, the upright modular CTC4x, 5x, and 6x XL100 series of chassis that came out in '72 and were made up until the late '70's. RCA could have discontinued their tube chassis with the introduction of the CTC40; but, they did not. There were plenty of tube type CTC38's and the slightly modified CTC39's made between '69 and '74, when RCA decided to cease all production of tube TV's. The tube chassis sets mostly remained in production as an economy line and a means to use up inventory.

Wow, that has got to be about the *cleanest* SE-chassis still in existance! :)
Seems like every SE and SF-chassis TV I ever encounter is a "high mileage" unit slathered in dust, grime, and/or cigarette tar.

I'm surprised that circuit board was unsupported. It is interesting how PB farmed out the smaller sets. ctc17 took a small color portable that was a rebadged Porta Color.

The 19" color sets were also rebranded GE sets. Looks like all the later stuff was GE except the consoles.

I really need to get going on checking one of those multi state consoles out.