I went thrift store TV hunting yesterday. Was actually looking for sets thrown in the free pile. This set was at the Salvation Army for $10. I already have about 9 porta colors. I do not have this model. It is in REALLY nice shape. Not a scratch on it!!! On the rear was a key hanging from a lock. Once I got back home I had to take the back off the see what was up. The lock is used to cut power from the power cord. Good way to prevent the kids from watching too much TV:nono:

polaraman

Ugh. Talk is cheap; I'm trying to picture the kind of person who'd actually do that...

I wonder if the key hung on the same hook as the paddle? :sigh:

oooh, very nice Portacolor, and definitely an interesting mod.

Ugh. Talk is cheap; I'm trying to picture the kind of person who'd actually do that...

I wonder if the key hung on the same hook as the paddle? :sigh:

Maybe it was someone who loved their kids and didn't want them to veg out all the time. My Godparents, when their kids were old enough to be home alone, would take a tube out of the TV when leaving the house. Their kids got wise to what was happening and to the fact that it was always the same tube, and bought a spare at the drugstore! They and we all got a laugh out of it when the story came out later.

In this case, a cheater cord would probably do, like maybe the one from the electric mixer. Are Porta Colors polarized?

John

...

Got the SAMS out and decided to attempt to repair the set. It is SAMS 1384-1 dated March 1974. My first thought is to look for obvious problems with the chassis. Got a real solid lead on the problem-s. Somebody replaced C268 .1 @ 1KV with a wax paper version. The cap is so fat it rests up against the Horizontal output tube. Can we say a potential FIRE! Was the lock a safety device?

I also posted a pic of the back side of the lock.


polaraman

No, the guy used the lock to tell his wife that the TV was locked onto the football game, and couldn't be changed. She was blonde ..... :yes:

I've seen a few small sets that were modified with keyswitches before. They had come out of hospitals. That way they could leave the sets in the rooms, but you couldn't watch unless you'd paid extra.

One place even changed the connectors. They used oddball connectors for power and antenna to stop people from using a set they brought from home.

Though with that paper capacitor in there I hope that set wasn't in a hospital.

I had a friend that had a psycho mom like that. She used to steal the mouse off the computer to prevent them from using it and playing games - so of course he simply bought another one and kept it hidden. She also had a heavy duty chain and a Master padlock around the handles on the TV cabinet, to prevent them from watching it. Of course, my friend an his brother would simply turn the TV cabinet around and take the nails out of the back, remove the back, and turn the TV around.

Parenting techniques like this don't actually work. It just teaches kids at an early age how to lie, cheat and steal.

Interesting set - I'm really surprised that wax cap didn't melt from being that close to such a hot tube. Hehe. Maybe it was never turned on long enough...

-Ian

Something about 120v into an exposed metal switch gives me the willies..

Maybe it was someone who loved their kids and didn't want them to veg out all the time. My Godparents, when their kids were old enough to be home alone, would take a tube out of the TV when leaving the house. Their kids got wise to what was happening and to the fact that it was always the same tube, and bought a spare at the drugstore! They and we all got a laugh out of it when the story came out later.

Another story that reminds me that real life is better than fiction.

I learned how to roll-back odometers at age 13.

I learned how to roll-back odometers at age 13.
I ask you, would you buy a used car from this boy? :D

I learned how to roll-back odometers at age 13.

Not the same way as Ferris Bueller I hope. :D