Got it for free...hehe... needed the 9-246 remote module repaired, just the soldering that is. The picture is most excellent (its displaying a blue screen from the dvd unit, obviously) I did not have it connected to anything else

That must be one of the handful of rare sets to get Channel E........did Zenith make it for the Klingon market? ;)

Seriously, all kidding aside, I have to give you props for getting her going. I have always admired the resourcefulness of our TV guys here at AK :)

Why are the photos backwards?

Delicious TV!

Because I didn't know what I was doing in '06 :D

Warning, archaic thread alert. Its amazing how much better the 9-160 set looks as opposed to this 9-181.

This was a trashfind. Like-new condition though.

It's a shame we had to dump it though... Well.. we gave it away.. but I'm sure it's dumped by now. Great set that little TV. Got us through some boring college nights, didn't it?

Hell yeah it did. zenith2134 had to bring a Zenith to the dorm, naturally haha. We watched it pretty heavily that year. It might not be dumped. But I bet it is, unfortunately lol.

Because I didn't know what I was doing in '06 :D

Warning, archaic thread alert. Its amazing how much better the 9-160 set looks as opposed to this 9-181.

This was a trashfind. Like-new condition though.

Yep, those 9-160 sets had the tri-pot CRT and looked very good when working right. The very first 9-181 sets had the tri-pot tube; but, it was soon replaced by the basic inline tube like what we have today. I guess it was cheaper for Zenith to use the plain inline CRT instead of the tri-pot tube. Those 9-181 sets were usually a PITA to fix; especially if they were dead. One module could fail and take out the other module. I finally got to the point where I'd change both modules (HV and main) at the same time if I couldn't repair the set to the component level. Of course, that was back when these sets were worth something to the general public and the modules were still fairly cheap. I think the last 9-186 HV module I priced was something like $126.00. I doubt you could even get those modules now.

Yep, those 9-160 sets had the tri-pot CRT and looked very good when working right. The very first 9-181 sets had the tri-pot tube; but, it was soon replaced by the basic inline tube like what we have today. I guess it was cheaper for Zenith to use the plain inline CRT instead of the tri-pot tube. Those 9-181 sets were usually a PITA to fix; especially if they were dead. One module could fail and take out the other module. I finally got to the point where I'd change both modules (HV and main) at the same time if I couldn't repair the set to the component level. Of course, that was back when these sets were worth something to the general public and the modules were still fairly cheap. I think the last 9-186 HV module I priced was something like $126.00. I doubt you could even get those modules now.

I have one of those sets, been in daily use since 1983. I'm always looking for spare parts to it. I know a little OT but I'm one of those with that set. Mom just loves the set and would like to keep it going.