I found this porthole interesting ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290672968511

... for the following reasons:

1- channel selector is on the left side.
2- cabinet is not that bad - a little stain and Howard's would really freshen this set up.
3- no rust
4- power supply is mounted on opposite side from my two other portholes
5- the audio output tube is not on the Power Supply chassis
6- nice looking cabinet profile

Unfortunately its not in my neighbourhood.

Anyone here interested?
Any other observations about this TV?

Carl

That's my favorite porthole cabinet. Unfortunately you can't easily freshen up the grill cloth. Half the reason the set is so attractive is its grill and that one's pretty well trashed. Still I'm glad I'm not close enough to be tempted.

Looks like a reproduction grill cloth can be obtained - or at least a facsimile that is close enough.
"Retro mod" the TV if necessary - these are a lot of eye candy:-)

Carl

I found this porthole interesting ...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290672968511

... for the following reasons:

1- channel selector is on the left side.
2- cabinet is not that bad - a little stain and Howard's would really freshen this set up.
3- no rust
4- power supply is mounted on opposite side from my two other portholes
5- the audio output tube is not on the Power Supply chassis
6- nice looking cabinet profile

Unfortunately its not in my neighbourhood.

Anyone here interested?
Any other observations about this TV?

Carl

Everything on the wrong side ? Mebbe it was made for the British market....(grin)

It's 28 miles from me so I placed a bid.
Looks like it uses a 12UP4 Metal tube, I don't care for the odds of it being good.

I'm curious. I hope you win it and can tell us more about it.

Carl

I just noticed, there's an i.f. can, or at least the cover, sitting next to the chassis by the tuner.

I see that it was on the left rear of the chassis. If you look close you can see it. Hope the coil is good.

My vote is that its a British tv too ! ! ! That is so funny ! !

This set is an early Zenith, from 1948 or early 1949. The 1950-51 round-bezel sets are much more common, so that may explain this one's unexpected layout. The only one on the tvhistory.tv site with a model number like this one is the 27T965R from 1948.

My vote is that its a British tv too ! ! ! That is so funny ! !

I'm glad someone got my silly l'il joke...c'mon guys, this is sposed to be a HOBBY...Have FUN w/it...

I'm glad someone got my silly l'il joke...c'mon guys, this is sposed to be a HOBBY...Have FUN w/it...


I thought the same thing when I first saw the Ebay posting.
They have left handed golf clubs - why not a left handed TV:-)

I would think that this TV is one of the rarest Portholes and especially unusual with the tuner on the left. Wished it was in NC - but if Eric wins it, I hope he will share some more details and pictures.

Carl

There is or was one in the Henry Ford Museum, almost certainly the very same set pictured missing its knobs and behind a rope in a well-known reference book first published in 1992. I think it's fair to say the set is truly rare as this is the only other example I can recall turning up.

It's 28 miles from me so I placed a bid.
Looks like it uses a 12UP4 Metal tube, I don't care for the odds of it being good.

The tube location diagram shows a 12KP4 or a 12LP4. Split channel audio, ratio detector instead of the Zenith gated beam audio. Isn't that the same type chassis they used in the 10" Mayflower?

'48-'49 Zeniths had the tuners on the left.
I tried to post a pic of the same model, but in better condition.
I guess you can't post the same pic twice, so look here:
http://videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=250707

Down to #5

John , that is a very stunning TV. It was previously mentioned that the "grill cloth" really makes this TV stand out -- now I know what he was saying.

I saved a picture of your "mint" Bryon TV you had and the grill cloth was more subdued. I kinda like the looks of the more eloquent grill cloths. Are these patterns obtainable today?

Can you tell us more details about this unique TV?

Carl

The tube location diagram shows a 12KP4 or a 12LP4. Split channel audio, ratio detector instead of the Zenith gated beam audio. Isn't that the same type chassis they used in the 10" Mayflower?

I noticed later it has a glass tube, yes, it looks identical to the Mayflower.

The Zenith table sets had better shielding on the power supply, due to the close proximity. The "Mayflower" was their 10" set, and I believe the 12" set was called the "Claridge".

Hi Carl, A friend of mine has both of those sets, and they are both in excellent condition. I have a picture somewheres of a look-a-like set to your "Lincon", it was called the "Lexington". It was also "minty".
Here is a pic of the "Byron" grill cloth. Were you the one who got the 16EP4 from Harry?

Here ya go, Carl. 1950 Zenith "Lexington" with single chassis. Interesting that it says "Bought 12-9-1950" in white letters.

John, you have the nicest porthole TVs of anyone I know. That is indeed exactly like mine except as you mentioned the PS is on the main chassis, and the round hole at the top of the Bezel - is that antenna tuning?

BTW, I recently acquired one similar to your Byron:
http://cerant.com/ZenithTV-24H21/TwoZenithPortholes-800.jpg

http://cerant.com/ZenithTV-24H21/Andy-800.jpg

http://cerant.com/ZenithTV-24H21/ZenithGillCloth-800.jpg

It has been refinished - nicely done, but an original finish is always nicest. I note that the bezel on mine is painted differently than your Byron. I wonder if it was done this way to give an illusion that the screen was larger than it was.

BTW, when I went to pick up this 19"er, I was surprised at how much bigger and heavier it was than my 16" porthole.

Carl



Here ya go, Carl. 1950 Zenith "Lexington" with single chassis. Interesting that it says "Bought 12-9-1950" in white letters.

Great! Not a bad buy on that one. The tab, on the top of the yoke assy, will center the picture. If you loosen the screw, it will just slide around (up & down, left & right). Yea, someone painted the bezel. The '51 zeniths had what looked like shiny gold plating around the rim, but was actually some sort
of gold paint. If you tried to shine it up any, you will likely just strip it off right down to the aluminum. BTW, my "Byron" sold on the 'bay for $1,295.
Yikes.

Great! Not a bad buy on that one. The tab, on the top of the yoke assy, will center the picture. If you loosen the screw, it will just slide around (up & down, left & right). Yea, someone painted the bezel. The '51 zeniths had what looked like shiny gold plating around the rim, but was actually some sort
of gold paint. If you tried to shine it up any, you will likely just strip it off right down to the aluminum. BTW, my "Byron" sold on the 'bay for $1,295.
Yikes.

My 19" Zenith was a find here in NC - an Ebay purchase. Yes, I do remember yours on Ebay - some of the early bidding was mine. I had planned a road trip - until the bidding got intense:-) That was one amazing TV. Got a lead on another 19" Zenith. Owner says he would rate the cabinet a "9" but I have not seen it yet -- what do you think these TVs are really worth?

Carl

Someone wanted it pretty badly, I put in $172 and was outbid!

I was somewhat relieved actually, I had no place for it (but would have squeezed it in somehow :))

Someone wanted it pretty badly, I put in $172 and was outbid!

I was somewhat relieved actually, I had no place for it (but would have squeezed it in somehow :))

I was watching it and noted that it sold for $174.50.
Was hoping you would get it.
Hope someone here got it and can tell us more about it.
Love to have it because it was so different.

It will take a lot of work to make it look like the picture of the one John showed us.

Carl

Did anyone we know get this "left hand" Porthole TV?

Carl

I bought that set off of ebay a few weeks ago. I didn't know there was so much interest in it! It's in my garage now waiting to be restored. I can take some pics of it later and post them to my photo bucket.

I bought that set off of ebay a few weeks ago. I didn't know there was so much interest in it! It's in my garage now waiting to be restored. I can take some pics of it later and post them to my photo bucket.

I think you can make that into a sweet looking TV.
I like the grill cloth and cabinet style.
Lot of potential eye candy there.
Like to see more pictures.

Carl

Will do in the next couple days. Any suggestions on a grill cloth or where I might pick up the missing knob?

John

Aha! so it was you who outbid me! :D
Sorry to have run it up so high, I really didn't think it would go that far.

Glad to know someone here got it and not a Fishtanker! :yes:

Hi Eric, I thought it might go for more since it was open to national and international bidding. I was expecting something in the 300-350 range. Fortunately it went for under 200 so I was happy about that. In a day or two I'll post some good photos. Don't mind shareing my good fortune. The only thing I've done so far is check the CRT. It was very slow to come up but after about four hours on the meter it showed in the medium good range.

John

Cabinet shots.. I'll pull the chassis this weekend.

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z324/charokeeroad/

a couple good choices for grill cloth. The Orly Ginger (2) comes closest in design an color but the ogee ribbon parline (3) or the tiper wheat (1) wouldn't be bad choices, original (4).

Those are pretty close matches. Where did you find them?

BTW, have you seen John M's near mint version of your TV:
http://videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=170022&d=1301759672

Carl

Carl,

John did a beautiful job on restoring that set. Hope mine comes out that well. All the pieces are there to make it happen. I think John's set has the original cloth or at least if he did replace it I haven't found the seller yet. I looked into having my grill cloth rewoven but couldn't get anyone to do it.

The ones I showed came from: http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/decor/drapery-fabric-and-supplies.htm I didn't look through all the 5,692 item they have shown.

I'm no audiophool, but I believe that speaker grille cloth needs a certain degree of "acoustic transparency," so if you're looking at drapery fabric, avoid anything that's too heavy or densely woven. All of the original grille cloths that I can recall were pretty light stuff.

Phil Nelson

If you have a Jo-Anns nearby go in and take a look at their Drapery & Upholstery fabric, some of it would make a decent grille cloth, the biggest obstacle is that the nicer stuff can get pretty pricey, $40-$60 per yard and sold only by the yard afaik.

For my "Cinderella" porthole restoration, I went to a local JoAnns Fabric store and found some upholstery cloth. I took the original cloth with me and found something very close in color. I found the back side of a piece looked closer to the original speaker cloth - so I exposed the back of the cloth rather than the front.

Here are my 2 portholes:
http://www.cerant.com/ZenithTV-24H21/ZenithGrillCloth-800.jpg

Neither of these are the original grill cloth.
The one on the left (Cinderella, 16") has the back side of a piece of upholstery cloth. The color of this cloth is very close to the color of the original cloth - that is the section that was not exposed to sunlight and faded. The one on the right is a redder color and has some gold sparkles in it. Not entirely pleased with the result, but I think it will do until I get the urge to look for something better.

My speaker cloths are not prominent like you need with your TV. A major part of the look for your TV is the grill cloth. But, I think you may have gotten really close with the samples you found.

Carl

Carl, I thought those two sets had the original GC. They could certainly pass for original.

I searched a bit more and came up with a different option for my GC.
http://www.robertallendesign.com/contract/specials.aspx

I'll be darn lucky if they will make a small quantity but it's worth a try.
Answer: .. 1000 yards minimum. I did learn that the the pattern is called a Trianon
There are a couple of different websites that will try and locate a pattern for me so we'll see how that works. If they don't find it I think I have some good possible replacements.

John

I'm no audiophool, but I believe that speaker grille cloth needs a certain degree of "acoustic transparency," so if you're looking at drapery fabric, avoid anything that's too heavy or densely woven. All of the original grille cloths that I can recall were pretty light stuff.

Phil Nelson

No doubt about that. It's just a question of which takes priority looks or sound. Since any one set of mine doesn't get played that much I'd lean more towards the looks.

If you have a Jo-Anns nearby go in and take a look at their Drapery & Upholstery fabric, some of it would make a decent grille cloth, the biggest obstacle is that the nicer stuff can get pretty pricey, $40-$60 per yard and sold only by the yard afaik.

And it just goes up from there.. I looked at some that were over $100 per yard.