Finally settled down enough to show what I brought back from my recent vacation, including the convention. At least I didn't bring back as much as I took!

First up, this set should look familiar-its the "NOS" DuMont that Doug found out in Illinois; then Captain Moody had it; then Veg-O-Matic had it. I plan on giving it a permanent home here! As you can see, the vertical has shrunk, bad resistor or cap that I'll have to track down someday. Built in 69, a 70 model I think, it used a relabled Sylvania crt. The rest of the tubes are Japanese. Made in Jersey City. From what I've heard, this was close to the end of TV production for Emerson/DuMont/National Union. In about 71 they apparently sued several big Japanese makers, accusing them of dumping sets here (selling below cost) thus destroying the sales of "bottom feeder" companies like this. Interesting that prior to the lawsuit they were in bed with the Japanese, so to speak, using their tubes.

Here is a pile of bw sets I brought home mostly out of pity! Of the suitcase sets, the white one is a Zenith that came from Parkersburg, WV. I should have some knobs for it around here. Still has what looks to be a repair ticket taped to the front. The suitcase in front is an early 60s Westinghouse-I don't see these much around here. It was at the convention, I picked it up as I was heading out the door for a 5 dollar bill. Supposed to work. The little GE's on the right are not identical twins, but close cousins. One shows in Sams as a '66, the other as a '74. That probably about covers the date ranges for those things!

My trip took me to Parkersburg to do some trading with Robert Cikovich-darn, whats his screen name again? Anyway, a heck of a nice guy. He owns-and I got to see it in operation-a real Setchell-Carlson color roundie, unitized chassis & all! Great picture! Anyway, he set me up with a couple of the bw sets...I told him, like I told a bunch of others, that I was trying to find a color console for our buddy Veg. Well, here we almost found one. Unfortunately, this set (which as free!) was just a little too big. This one has a story behind it. Remember back a few months ago, the posting about a defunct tv shop in Parkersburg, was it RCA2000 who went down there and saved some stuff??? Well, thats where this came from. Robert said this one was one of the first put out on the curb; the shop had been closed for about 20 years. So, think about it-the TV sat all that time (maybe longer-the newest tubes have late 70s datecodes & are clean as a pin) then it sat on its end in the back of a van all winter, then it rode nearly 500 miles in the back of my pickup, then we brought it inside-I soft-started it...I did not have to adjust the vertical, I did not have to adjust the horizontal, I did not have to adjust the TINT! Folks, this is where Zenith got its once sterling reputation. There was one defect of note, I ran out of travel on the focus. After some digging I found a resistor that had gone way up in value. After replacement it focuses very sharp. I am very impressed with Zenith right now!

The business end. One thing I had to do, when trying to fix the focus I decided to check the HV but found no "slug" in the pot. I would assume they came with something? It was just smooth & round all the way through. I thought I would have to change the pot but found a small shaft that fit in from the back side (had to pull the chassis halfway out) & that worked fine. As further proof that I am an amateur, it took me awhile to figure out why the convergence wasn't working right. When I pulled the chassis back I inadvertantly unplugged the convergence cable. Yeah, that would kinda do it!

Allen looks great in his new home! I knew he'd be happy living closer to the water...

How the heck did you horse him up on top of that other set? He weighs a ton! Can't wait to see the pics when he's finally working the way he's supposed to.

Man, the picture on that Zenith looks great! Sorry I had to turn it down. Enjoy all your new treasures!
veg

I don't need to get in the habit of toting Allen around by myself, thats for sure! Kim helped carry him in, along with the Zenith. But I'll tell you, most everything else in that room I brought in myself. Most have been in the house for about 7 years, just slid around; I think I was stronger back then!

Bryan,
You should have seen me getting that RCA CTC40 combo i got from you in the house by myself while keeping the legs from snapping off...lol! The neighbors have watched me drag in old appliances, consoles and just about everything else by myself without as much as a dolly..i'm beginning to think they are scared of me! :D especially since i look like a big bubba anyway...lol!

I'm using the combo as my daily watcher now as it plays well after a well needed tune-up and cleaning. The tv and the fm on it is the best i've seen for awhile for picking up stations especially with my crude set-up i have at the moment. It has the same deep vivid colors on it that comes pretty close to the roundies i have had. I like the fact that it looks and plays like a tube set even though its all transistor except for the hv rect. tube. I hope to post pics soon so you and the rest of the gang can see how well its playing now.
-Tony

Tony, that would be great to see. I'm glad it worked out, I had been wondering. I was just thinking yesterday, that CTC-40 was the single heaviest set I ever brought home. The poor little old man who helped me load it, man, I still feel sorry for him & wonder if he is okay! It was all I could do to load it back up for the trip to you.