View Full Version : Random find 1955 zenith! I will have at least one stupid question


Donny
08-01-2021, 03:52 PM
I got my motorcycle inspection and there it was. I don't think I will restore but I would like to disassemble to clean. My current question. How do I get the right knob off? The left knob pulled off with ease. The right one, I've gotten as aggressive as I dare and it's not giving.

Electronic M
08-01-2021, 04:14 PM
One option if you can't get the right tuner knob off is to unplug the TV chassis from the tuner chassis (there's usually plugs and or spade/barrel connectors on the ends of the wire).

I don't think these used set screws(though you can check for them) so the tension spring in the knob is probably stubborn or corroded to the shaft... penetrating oil might help. I know some people who slip an old T-shirt behind the knob to act as a knob puller.

dieseljeep
08-01-2021, 04:37 PM
I got my motorcycle inspection and there it was. I don't think I will restore but I would like to disassemble to clean. My current question. How do I get the right knob off? The left knob pulled off with ease. The right one, I've gotten as aggressive as I dare and it's not giving.

That set was probably the TOTL model that year!
It looks pretty clean for it's age. Original tubes, looks like the CRT has been replaced

zeno
08-01-2021, 05:51 PM
As far as the knob goes it should pull right off. If its stuck pry with a
screwdriver or two. BUT use some cloth under the screwdriver to protect
the cabinet.
That set looks near mint & complete so fix it up. Its hard to find one this
nice. It will out preform anything else made & the basic chassis was built into
the 70's.

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

jr_tech
08-01-2021, 06:00 PM
Cool looking set ! :thmbsp: Is it a 24 inch?

jr

tvdude1
08-01-2021, 06:28 PM
Great find good for you

Donny
08-01-2021, 07:49 PM
One option if you can't get the right tuner knob off is to unplug the TV chassis from the tuner chassis (there's usually plugs and or spade/barrel connectors on the ends of the wire).

I don't think these used set screws(though you can check for them) so the tension spring in the knob is probably stubborn or corroded to the shaft... penetrating oil might help. I know some people who slip an old T-shirt behind the knob to act as a knob puller.

The t shirt suggestion gave me an idea to use some wood wedges. I had some soft feeling pine and gently pushed in the wedges. Worked very well :)

Donny
08-01-2021, 07:50 PM
As far as the knob goes it should pull right off. If its stuck pry with a
screwdriver or two. BUT use some cloth under the screwdriver to protect
the cabinet.
That set looks near mint & complete so fix it up. Its hard to find one this
nice. It will out preform anything else made & the basic chassis was built into
the 70's.

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

Thanks. I plan on cleaning it and displaying it. I have a lot of mid century modern stuff and just couldn't pass up this set.

Donny
08-01-2021, 08:00 PM
Cool looking set ! :thmbsp: Is it a 24 inch?

jr
I haven't measured but I think it's a 21-22inch
Great find good for you

Thanks. I just asked if it was fore sale. The lady replied "yes but the least he will take is $200" My reply sold! Much to her surprise! She seemed happy to sell it. Someone unbolted the chassis...So I got a huge crash when I loaded it. Also looks like a cap exploded!

Aaron H
08-02-2021, 01:33 PM
Oh man....I have a set just like this. I found it in Cary, Nc about 5 years ago, and hauled it home in my car (in pieces). I actually used it for about a year after the electric restore, but one day something popped and I lost video. Then the flyback started to arc. So I bought a new old stock flyback. That one arced, too. So I've some more investigating to do. Definitely outperforms any other set of this era. You won't be sorry. Just be aware that buzz is nearly impossible to get rid of from these sets.

Donny
08-02-2021, 03:12 PM
While cleaning I found a broken tube and worse. It looks like scrapnal from the crt. I tried taking a pic. It looks like it came from the back of the crt by that adjustment. Otherwise it cleaned up nice and I just need a better place to put it.

Notimetolooz
08-02-2021, 05:57 PM
Yeah, capacitors don't just explode while you move them.
I don't know what you are talking about on the first picture there. Everything looks about right. You you break the CRT you would have just about thrown your money away.
Many chassis are bolted down with 1/4-20 screws inserted from below the chassis.

Yamamaya42
08-02-2021, 06:16 PM
I haven't measured but I think it's a 21-22inch


Thanks. I just asked if it was fore sale. The lady replied "yes but the least he will take is $200" My reply sold! Much to her surprise! She seemed happy to sell it. Someone unbolted the chassis...So I got a huge crash when I loaded it. Also looks like a cap exploded!

20 inch

how zenith does model numbers is number of tubes in chassis by CRT size
so the 22t20 zenith will have 22 tubes with a 20 inch CRT.
this can be confirmed by the tube chart on the left side, of course :)

dieseljeep
08-02-2021, 08:11 PM
20 inch

how zenith does model numbers is number of tubes in chassis by CRT size
so the 22t20 zenith will have 22 tubes with a 20 inch CRT.
this can be confirmed by the tube chart on the left side, of course :)

That CRT looks like a 21AMP4, aluminized, possibly an RCA.
I hope that CRT isn't damaged. It should be recapped.
The audio can be aligned so it doesn't buzz.

Electronic M
08-02-2021, 08:15 PM
All Glass CRTs usually have a conductive black graphite coating on the back of the bell called aquadag... Sometimes it dries up and flakes off with age/bad storage conditions.

On Zenith's with above chassis terminals you want to clean off every speck before power on or things could short and burn up. Best thing to do is remove the CRT, clean off all the old loose dag, mask off the areas that aren't supposed to have a dag coating, and spray on a new coating of Slip Plate to replace the old coating/seal the old coating where it wasn't yet peeling.

jr_tech
08-02-2021, 09:04 PM
That CRT looks like a 21AMP4, aluminized, possibly an RCA.

Then it would be a 21 inch, for sure... I think that I found the set (in blond) on the Tv History site: http://www.tvhistory.tv/1956-Zenith-X2359E.JPG

jr

Donny
08-02-2021, 09:25 PM
Yeah, capacitors don't just explode while you move them.
I don't know what you are talking about on the first picture there. Everything looks about right. You you break the CRT you would have just about thrown your money away.
Many chassis are bolted down with 1/4-20 screws inserted from below the chassis.
Well someone has been messing with this set previous to me buying it. I don't think it was a cap. I think it was what is discribed below.

All Glass CRTs usually have a conductive black graphite coating on the back of the bell called aquadag... Sometimes it dries up and flakes off with age/bad storage conditions.

On Zenith's with above chassis terminals you want to clean off every speck before power on or things could short and burn up. Best thing to do is remove the CRT, clean off all the old loose dag, mask off the areas that aren't supposed to have a dag coating, and spray on a new coating of Slip Plate to replace the old coating/seal the old coating where it wasn't yet peeling.

Thank you,that is some good info. I fear damage is done. I think it was that coating that was in pieces all inside the set. I found a piece big enough to see that it had two factory made holes.

Electronic M
08-02-2021, 10:08 PM
Well someone has been messing with this set previous to me buying it. I don't think it was a cap. I think it was what is discribed below.



Thank you,that is some good info. I fear damage is done. I think it was that coating that was in pieces all inside the set. I found a piece big enough to see that it had two factory made holes.

Aquadag is basically paint... There were never factory made holes in it.

The yoke housings on these crumble sometimes (they were made of a soy based plastic that rots with age) and so do some card stock wire loom positioners.
Maybe fish that piece out and take a picture of it next to a quarter to aid identification.

Yamamaya42
08-03-2021, 07:17 AM
That CRT looks like a 21AMP4, aluminized, possibly an RCA.
I hope that CRT isn't damaged. It should be recapped.
The audio can be aligned so it doesn't buzz.

Well, I was going by what he said in this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lZIJQ-cKDs&t=354s .

about Zenith numbers, right /wrong no idea, he seemed to make sense though.

But as I mentioned, the CRT# should be on the CRT, and the tube placement chart, and should remove all doubt? :yes:

Notimetolooz
08-03-2021, 09:01 AM
I don't consider Shango to be a great authority on things. His indifferent tone of voice troubles me, sounds like he couldn't give a zip how things turn out. Fix it or trash it, seems not to make any difference to him.

Yes, Zenith chassis in that era did use the code #tubes, year, CRT size.
However CRTs at the time and size range tended to be odd inches, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, etc. Also the chassis could be used with a small range of CRT sizes, to that same chassis would work with a 19 inch or 21 inch CRT for instance.

jr_tech
08-03-2021, 12:21 PM
Yes, Zenith chassis in that era did use the code #tubes, year, CRT size.
However CRTs at the time and size range tended to be odd inches, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, etc. Also the chassis could be used with a small range of CRT sizes, to that same chassis would work with a 19 inch or 21 inch CRT for instance.

Indeed, a list of Zenith model numbers and some chassis numbers from the 50’s show no exact correlation to CRT size: http://www.tvhistory.tv/1950-59-ZENITH.htm

jr