Today a customer brought in a 26" Philips K11. The wide console on short legs with twin speakers and the 8 channel touch sensitive tuner. From memory these sets were actually assembled locally, but the labels on the back were long gone so I can't be sure. I think this was a late 70s model from the upper end of the range at the time. This is the oldest TV I've repaired for a normal customer this year (probably the last 3 years actually). It was a bit rough, the CRT is getting a bit weak and in an ideal world I would have touched up some other minor issues, but there's only so far you can go for so little money (As it is I did more than was probably economical). It will probably still be working when he eventually decides to get rid of it (though if the CRT keeps going downhill it may not be watchable). He does want to get a DVD player soon so I may end up taking it as a trade in. I may even find a CRT for it in the graveyard.

It got me thinking. For those of you who still do repairs what's the oldest set a non-collector has brought in for repair?

The shop I used to work for in West Los Angeles still has a few old ladies in Beverly Hills who won't part with their CTC-16s. Still a lot of 70s Zeniths come through that shop too. But the oldest this year that I know of would be Mr. Berkey's CTC-16. This shop has been servicing that set since new. There was also a lady in Santa Monica with a late 50s Westinghouse B&W console, which she keeps because she thinks color TVs cause cancer. Haven't heard from her lately though, so that may or may not still be in use.

Charles

I have a Philips K11, but with the push-button tuner. When i found it, the schematics and even the receipt was with it! It´s a great set with nice picture and very good sound, but they generate a lot of heat. Unfortunately, the colors went out on the one i have, but i think i will be able to fix it. The CRT is a little bit weak, but i have a strong A56-540X, and i think i can use it as a substitute for the original A55-500X if i replace the deflection coil.

There was also a lady in Santa Monica with a late 50s Westinghouse B&W console, which she keeps because she thinks color TVs cause cancer.

Charles

Early color sets had an issue with x-rays from the 25KV or higher anode voltage on the CRTs if I recall correctly. Using leaded glass and other tricks took care of that.

The oldest TV set still really in service we have done in the last 2 years for a customer is an early 1970's Admiral tube type color console with stereo, phono and 8 track, though I think she really was most concerned about getting the record player and 8 track working as they have another "main" TV. The only other tube type TV we did for a customer was an RCA 8" 1950's set.

There is a lot of interest from customers for jukebox, electronic organ, old radio, and phonograph repair but almost none for TV's. Most of the TV calls we get are for the fairly modern stuff and we refer those to a shop that specializes in them.

There were quite a few K11 variations out here, some almost identical to yours. From memory the full sized console cabinets were assembled here, but the chassis were imported. There were also some Kriesler sets in different style cabinets that used Philips chassis, but those were probably K9s.

I know of a few other old color sets around here that are still in use, but those are the ones that just keep going and going. There's a a GE set with click tuner sitting up on a wall bracket with an Sharp top loading VCR in a nearby warehouse. It hasn't come down off that bracket in years, gets probably 10 hours use a week and still has a damn good picture.

Other than collectors I don't know of any B&W sets still in use. The last time I saw a B&W set still in use it was a cheapo 12" set in a factory lunch room back in 96. There were at least a dozen such sets throughout the place that were used as process control monitors, but this one has been "borrowed" and had the tuner reconnected.

Most of the remaining shops around here would look at you stupid if you brought a B&W set in, especially if it had tubes in it.