My wife and I received a Proton 619 for our wedding in 1983. We're still going and so is the Proton. It's time though to find it another home. From our point of view, perfect working condition -- never had a problem. Still have the remote too. Any ideas on how to get it to someone who'd really want/enjoy it?
Have no idea what the value is if anyone has ideas on that too

Even though it's a nice TV; there is, unfortunately, not much value and few people want CRT TV's. With that said, I hope you can find someone who will get some use out of it. You might try placing ad ad on CL or in your local paper. You might find a thrift store that will take it; but, there's a good chance it will go in the dumpster without being given a chance on the sales floor. If you'll give your location, someone on here might be close enough to take it.

Thanks radio
Much as I was expecting on the value front...as well as on the 'dumpster' risk. It just seems to me a shame that a good product that has some little piece in history ends up in landfill when there might be somebody out there who values it.
Am in northern California for what it's worth.

The Goodwill here still accepts and sells working CRT sets and seems to move quite a few of them, I'd check and see if they'll take it.

You may be surprised ! About 5 yrs ago we got a mint one
in comp.w/remote & manual. The owner wanted to scrap it but
I said NO. We had a bunch of 27" used & the most we could
get was $125 for a mint Wega 27" by then.
Fixed it & put it out for $300. The boss said I was nuts but I knew
something he didnt. The set sold for $250 cash no tax nuf sed.
Took 2 weeks. What did I know ?

You see I also worked at a Proton ASC. They had a cult following
& most went to eccentric rich folk. Most of the dealers catered
to this group. The owners were devoted to them.
That being said Proton was a strange set. Designed 2 TV generations
old. But they were predictable & reliable. Pix wise they were
right up with all the top tier sets. Just a matter of personal
taste in color between them. They were good solid sets & well built.
So put it on Craigs list at a very high price. I bet
you will get at least a C-note out of it. Stress its rarity & quality.

73 Zeno

You may be surprised ! About 5 yrs ago we got a mint one...


5 years ago there was still Analog, not sure you'd get that today, can't hurt to try.

I do remember back in the early 80's when there was a Proton dealer in the local Mall, they were pricy and had a following even then.

This is not by chance the same "Proton" that acquired most of Lotus Group (automotive)? If it is, then yes....there is (was...still is...dunno) a cult following for Proton.

I'm likely grasping for straws here...since I remember Proton as "high end TV"...and then saw the name come up so many times during my owning a Lotus Elise for a few years. I'm probly way off though since I also remember a Proton logo associated with the car company that was very car-like (it was a cat on a shield or something)

UPDATE:

Yeah...after looking at a couple Wiki's and a page for "Proton AV".... these do not appear to be related. I think I was making the connection because "UK" and "high end" that are associated with both companies.

I remember a Proton TV I saw around 1990 as the only set whose sharpness, brightness, and HV regulation were at or near equality with Sony Trinitron sets of that era.

Also from 1990, the movie "Total Recall" (which is full of brand-name product "placements", common at the time) has a number of Proton TV sets in places such as the subway train.

I sold those back in the day. Picture was very good, comparable or better than anything else at the time. I remember the neck sticking waaay out the back. Can't remember if it had 90 degree deflection or even less.

I had a 619A back in the day. It saw a lot of hours and went through two flyback transformers. When the second one blew (out of warranty, alas) I VERY reluctantly decided to part with it. My VT217 is still going strong, though it's not in the same class as the 619A, at least in terms of HV regulation. I had Jim Doolittle calibrate it years ago. In retrospect, kind of overkill for a 20" set, but I wanted to experience calibration firsthand (and got to experience his home theater in the bargain.)

Hi Zeno,

OT question, but i could'nt pass: when you worked at Proton, was it only in the TV department or did you also work on their audio products?

Reason i'm asking is that i have a Proton RS-420 + RS-421 stereo digital clock radio (built in 1996) as a daily driver and it's starting to act funny. I've purchased the schematics, but its very basic documentation: no parts location, no PCB drawings, no alignment procedure.

Just hoping you or someone else might have some experience on this (complicated) model.

Best Regards
jhalphen
Paris/France

Hi Zeno,

OT question, but i could'nt pass: when you worked at Proton, was it only in the TV department or did you also work on their audio products?

Reason i'm asking is that i have a Proton RS-420 + RS-421 stereo digital clock radio (built in 1996) as a daily driver and it's starting to act funny. I've purchased the schematics, but its very basic documentation: no parts location, no PCB drawings, no alignment procedure.

Just hoping you or someone else might have some experience on this (complicated) model.

Best Regards
jhalphen
Paris/France
Sorry cant be much help on the radio. I didnt work for Proton, I worked
at a warranty shop. The only Proton radios I saw were older ones &
I only did the TV's there. Hope you can keep it going, here in the
states its hard to find high quality radios or most things anymore.
Usually have to find old things...........

73 Zeno:smoke:

I didnt work for Proton, I worked
at a warranty shop. The only Proton radios I saw were older ones &
I only did the TV's there.

Did you work at RE:Sound?

Did you work at RE:Sound?
No. Professional Electronics A.K.A Custom TV Natick Mass.
Warrantied everything but NAP, Sony & JVC. Still there but
doing video transfer, recovery & commercial work. Still does a few TV's,
and anything someone will spend real money on.

73 Zeno:smoke: