Picked up this Rare 1972 Sharp 2U-121C Black and White Vacuum Tube TV for free, untested. Gave it a cleaning, polishing. It is in real nice condition, no cracks or faults on the case.Turned it on waited 45 seconds and it works. I believe this was made in 1971-72 ?? Made in Japan.
I cant find any info on it. I peeked inside and noticed it is a tube hybrid set ?

Some pics and video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_h7gILzuw4&feature=em-upload_owner

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9610301004_2ca1cf8d4c_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/9610193672_7861dcfbe9_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/9607060513_f83cab0951_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/9607049029_992a206284_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/9610271698_3f5d8afefe_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9610258614_2c0f18294a_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/9610245516_d1a765fb31_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9606993409_660770ffab_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/9606984189_d4742696f0_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/9610181468_5dacc32051_b.jpg

Hi!

I would take the back off, remove the metal clip holding on the power cord, and turn on the tv and look to be sure all the tubes light up, I assume its a series string, so if one comes on they all should, but its a simple thing not to overlook...... See if you can feel any static on the front of the screen when you turn it on and off... If you can't tell, try testing for HV with a neon light. Get one, tie it to a wood stick and move it near the hv lead to the picture tube, if it don't light when the tv is on, you may have something wrong with the horiz, or hv rectifier.... Be sure none of the tubes have hot glowing red plates, like around the horiz output, that could be an oscillator not working...... Turn it on in a not too lit up room so you can see the plates...

Cute l'il feller ! Hope you get it goin' !

That thing looks pristine... but we still want to see some shots of the naughty bits inside ;)

Yah, we need to see the inside.... Take picts of the bottom of the pc board around the horiz output section & HV area.... Could be a bad spot on the pc board.....

Well, I'm an idiot ! :sigh:
I turned it on again after dinner, and waited roughly 45 seconds (longer than usual), and what do you know, I got a picture.
Here's a video of it. :smoke:


http://youtu.be/kL_Bmrzoc_s

Sams lists a 2U-121S about 71-72
Would guess the C is for Canada.
I remember them but all tube or hybrid? Been too long.

73 Zeno:smoke:

Yah, I would agree on the years.... Very nice......

Cool. Thanks zeno.

Sams lists a 2U-121S about 71-72
Would guess the C is for Canada.
I remember them but all tube or hybrid? Been too long.

73 Zeno:smoke:
I'm surprised there is no CSA approval sticker on it.
Canada seemed to be pretty strict with that. :yes:

I'm surprised there is no CSA approval sticker on it.
Canada seemed to be pretty strict with that. :yes:


The heat of the tubes probably dried off the glue and it peeled off.

That thing looks pristine... but we still want to see some shots of the naughty bits inside ;)
That's another set that was reasonably clean to begin with.
Grungy sets, no matter how hard you work cleaning them, don't come back that nice. Especially the lousy cigarette crud, plus the odor! :smoke:

That's another set that was reasonably clean to begin with.
Grungy sets, no matter how hard you work cleaning them, don't come back that nice. Especially the lousy cigarette crud, plus the odor! :smoke:

If the set doesnt look like it'll clean up well, or has sign of smoke, I just leave it !
Not worth getting it. I only pickup cosmetically 'clean' small sets !

Man, that things in nice shape.

Man, that things in nice shape.

Thanks.
Here's my others..

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/172730-anyone-collect-vintage-portable-crt-tvs/

clean as a pin!

clean as a pin!

The term is usually "Neat as a pin". Real Estate jargon.
Just how neat or clean is a pin? :D

The term is usually "Neat as a pin". Real Estate jargon.
Just how neat or clean is a pin? :D

Really depends how well you washed it after giving that last craigslist fishtanker a million pinpricks as punishment...? :D

WOW, that's CLEAN!!!!! Nice find, and I think it's in the best shape I've ever seen a small B&W plastic portable in.... ever!

Charles

Thanks.
Here's my others..

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/172730-anyone-collect-vintage-portable-crt-tvs/

Let's get together next time you come to Buffalo. I'll send you home with some nice additions to that collection :yes:

Let's get together next time you come to Buffalo. I'll send you home with some nice additions to that collection :yes:

Find me a mint Porta Color set and I will come right away !

Well, just have one shipped here, then come get it! There's enough of them for sale here and on ebay....just not up North :)

WOW, that's CLEAN!!!!! Nice find, and I think it's in the best shape I've ever seen a small B&W plastic portable in.... ever!

Charles

My other B&W Are mintier. :D
There's a lil Magnavox here that is flawless.

http://www.stevemeadedesigns.com/board/topic/172730-anyone-collect-vintage-portable-crt-tvs/

Well, just have one shipped here, then come get it! There's enough of them for sale here and on ebay....just not up North :)

You guys are always searching for them on ebay. I dont have patience to search ebay consistently !

Picked up this Rare Sharp 2U-121C Black and White Vacuum Tube TV for free, untested. Gave it a cleaning, polishing. It is in real nice condition, no cracks or faults on the case.Turned it on waited 45 seconds and it works. I believe this was made in 1971-72 ?? Made in Japan.
I cant find any info on it. I peeked inside and noticed it is a tube hybrid set ?

Some pics and video

http://youtu.be/kL_Bmrzoc_s

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2826/9610301004_2ca1cf8d4c_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3765/9610193672_7861dcfbe9_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/9607060513_f83cab0951_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/9607049029_992a206284_b.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/9610271698_3f5d8afefe_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9610258614_2c0f18294a_b.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7357/9610245516_d1a765fb31_b.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9606993409_660770ffab_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5506/9606984189_d4742696f0_b.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/9610181468_5dacc32051_b.jpg

How do you know the set "works"? :scratch2: Your Youtube video shows the set getting nothing at all on any channel except snow.

BTW, in the '70s I had a Sharp 12" portable, model TU-40PA, but with the controls mounted horizontally above the CRT, a monopole VHF antenna, and an earphone jack. Worked well at first, and I enjoyed watching it, but after a couple years the VHF tuner developed a problem (a poor connection, I suspect), although after 40 years I don't remember anymore; I could get the set to make a picture by wedging a screwdriver between the tuner shaft and the cabinet, but later the TV developed another problem (don't remember what) and I finally wound up junking it. I would think that TV would have lasted at least five or perhaps ten years with only an occasional tube replacement, if that. That set was built in the NTSC era and, supposedly, was made to last, so I would have expected it to work at least through the '70s and perhaps most of the '80s. However, with most of the set on a PC board, it might have developed serious problems anyway after a short time due to the horizontal output and other high-power tubes (such as the audio output tube) generating so much heat. I lost a CTC-12 RCA clone color TV in the early '70s when the video output board cracked, probably due to high heat inside the set and other factors (such as the materials early PC boards were made of, which I suspect was phenolic that doesn't stand up well to high temperatures).

How do you know the set "works"? :scratch2: Your Youtube video shows the set getting nothing at all on any channel except snow.



Because if set turns on ans shows snow, it works.

How about connecting it to a source (VCR/DVD player with modulator output
set to channel 3 or 4) and looking at a real picture?

How about connecting it to a source (VCR/DVD player with modulator output
set to channel 3 or 4) and looking at a real picture?

Not really on my high priority list right now.

Because if set turns on ans shows snow, it works.
Robb is correct. I used to tell Jr. techs about "good snow" &
"bad snow". You can tell a lot by how the snow looks. Streaky or
weak snow is bad. Lack of snow is worse. Nice sharp snow & a
nice waterfall in the audio is a beautiful thing. If you have a
good snow picture you will almost always get a very nice picture.
You may get a snowy pix but a new RF amp or mixer/osc will
take care of that. Kind of strange since most of the snow is
noise that is generated inside the TV............

73 Zeno:smoke:

Robb is correct. I used to tell Jr. techs about "good snow" &
"bad snow". You can tell a lot by how the snow looks. Streaky or
weak snow is bad. Lack of snow is worse. Nice sharp snow & a
nice waterfall in the audio is a beautiful thing. If you have a
good snow picture you will almost always get a very nice picture.
You may get a snowy pix but a new RF amp or mixer/osc will
take care of that. Kind of strange since most of the snow is
noise that is generated inside the TV............

73 Zeno:smoke:

Sets with more I.F. stages will produce more snow. I have noticed that 1940s sets, especially the lower end models will even when working correctly not produce much if any snow on unoccupied channels.

My first Boss, in explaining replaced parts to a customer, would refer to the RF amp as the "de-snower" tube.

My first Boss, in explaining replaced parts to a customer, would refer to the RF amp as the "de-snower" tube.

That reminded me of this classic sketch, which I think we can all appreciate... :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoPXQ9fotZM

That reminded me of this classic sketch, which I think we can all appreciate... :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoPXQ9fotZM

Thats bloody hilarious !

IMO the "2372" stamped over the serial number is probably a date code: manufactured the 23rd week of 1972.

IMO the "2372" stamped over the serial number is probably a date code: manufactured the 23rd week of 1972.

yup

OMG! That set is super cute! I would love to have one of those, nice score man! The little japanese portables are fun to work on, and pretty much the only "newer" thing I collect tv wise. Otherwise, roundie color sets are my thing. It looks to me that your set was like never used or was very loved, you are lucky to have found it. I'm happy for you! ☆*:.｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆......lol where in the hell is the "like" button......I spend too much time on Facebook.......:3

uploaded a video of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_h7gILzuw4&feature=em-upload_owner

thats a nice sharp , where are these nice sets been hidden i was watching on utube new sets still in the box after 40 yrs still un opened , be nice to find some.