Check it out -- this un-restored Zenith 16" Porthole is nice!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zenith-16-Porthole-Television-H2438R-/230774119456?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bb359c20

Pictures make it look like a real cherry.

Carl

Oooooooh...Dat IS Purty !!!

When these things appear here they are not in so excellent shape and also people ask an abusive price:

http://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-233272610-tv-zenith-_JM

The TV in this ad is only the third porthole I see here in Brazil ( I happen to own one of those three, but mine really is in a sad shape, I only bought it because of it's rarity ). Mine and the one in the ad I posted have the plastic mask around the CRT broken. I don't remember seeing pictures of these TVs in the USA with the mask broken, why they broke here, maybe it was because of the climate?

Climate is a possibility....though I've heard once or twice now of sets in the USA. with cracked inner plastic masks.
Pre-1970's plastic could be really lousy and some types had such a pension for disintegrating that one could have a difficult time trying to locate an intact example nowadays.