View Full Version : Thrift-store portacolor.


rca2000
05-31-2014, 03:42 PM
You NEVER know....around these parts...what you will find at the thrift stores !!

Today--after my dialysis treatment-I decided to go to the thrift store-rather than wait till tomorrow. I did NOT really expect to find anything....but every once in a GOOD while....I get something I REALLY want. I have LONG been hoping for a direct-address RCA set, to wander in there...but that has not happened yet. But i DID get a 4-tube chromacolor there--some time back. It 'kiinda" works"--with no analog reception around here--no actual pix--but it DID have a full raster and sound.

Well today---I saw THIS. Some kid was standing right next to it--but I am not sure he saw it--nor would care if he DID. I first saw the BACK cover....and IMMEDIATELY knew what it was. Now--I am not really a fan of portacolor sets--they are not that greatly made, are hot, and scream "cheap". BUT--they ARE vintage now--and a LOT of others here LOVE them. I had MUCH rather it had been a 13 inch chromaclolr set--like the 2 I have now--but " it is what it is"..


ANyway--here is is.; Not sure of the age--someone here may know for the model #. HD5204TK. It DOES seem to have a cap on the H-out tube--most I have dealt with did NOT use a cap type tube. No degauss switch--must not be a first-gen.



It does come on--with no vertical and no sound--other than a low hum. I did N OT run it long--just long enough to get a couple of pics for everyone. The tube looks to be good, has red and blue at the least.

At the very least--this may be something to "flip" to someone for something I REALLY do want.

egrand
05-31-2014, 04:04 PM
Nice score! I haven't seen a tube set at a thrift store in several years.

dieseljeep
05-31-2014, 06:48 PM
You NEVER know....around these parts...what you will find at the thrift stores !!

Today--after my dialysis treatment-I decided to go to the thrift store-rather than wait till tomorrow. I did NOT really expect to find anything....but every once in a GOOD while....I get something I REALLY want. I have LONG been hoping for a direct-address RCA set, to wander in there...but that has not happened yet. But i DID get a 4-tube chromacolor there--some time back. It 'kiinda" works"--with no analog reception around here--no actual pix--but it DID have a full raster and sound.

Well today---I saw THIS. Some kid was standing right next to it--but I am not sure he saw it--nor would care if he DID. I first saw the BACK cover....and IMMEDIATELY knew what it was. Now--I am not really a fan of portacolor sets--they are not that greatly made, are hot, and scream "cheap". BUT--they ARE vintage now--and a LOT of others here LOVE them. I had MUCH rather it had been a 13 inch chromaclolr set--like the 2 I have now--but " it is what it is"..


ANyway--here is is.; Not sure of the age--someone here may know for the model #. HD5204TK. It DOES seem to have a cap on the H-out tube--most I have dealt with did NOT use a cap type tube. No degauss switch--must not be a first-gen.



It does come on--with no vertical and no sound--other than a low hum. I did N OT run it long--just long enough to get a couple of pics for everyone. The tube looks to be good, has red and blue at the least.

At the very least--this may be something to "flip" to someone for something I REALLY do want.

I just finished my HD model, I bought from Zenithfan 1. I only had it a couple years! It has the 12JF5 horizontal output tube.
I think, it's the last model to use the 11SP22, low focus voltage CRT. About a '73 or '74 model.
It's a nice set! You'll like it.

Jon A.
05-31-2014, 07:34 PM
Nice catch. The thrift I worked at, one of those probably would have gone straight to the trash. Last older TV I saw there that they immediately threw out was a portable 1982 Lloyd's. I didn't even try to get that, what with the reputation of their audio equipment. Not much to look at either, very plain.

legenbass77
05-31-2014, 07:40 PM
Cool find!

rca2000
05-31-2014, 09:17 PM
Does the porta=color use ANY HV regulation? I would assume IF it does--it is a simple feedback type system--which is NOT all that good, compared to some active type--shunt or pulse regulation.

DaveWM
05-31-2014, 09:29 PM
just less to go wrong. Main thing to look for is dirty sockets, boost filter cap. Most of the time it takes very little to get them going.

marty59
05-31-2014, 09:50 PM
May need to dis-assemble and clean the height/AGC pot assembly for the typical tin wiskers.