1954 Zenith on CL should I get it?
 

I was just looking through CL for Zenith's and Philco's and the like, and I stumbled upon this! Should I get it? I really like the cabinet. I'd like to get it just so some idiot doesn't turn it into a fish tank or worse - put a modern "Flat Screen" thing in there.

I hope someone here can rescue it!
Cool set.

Is Noo Yawk big ? Is the Pope Catholic ? Does a Big Bear... OF COURSE, you should get it..

I have almost that identical set, in a red mahogany finish, waiting to be restored over the winter :)

OK then! I'll try my best to get it! I really do want to get this TV. The money is really tight right now, but I'll try my best to convice my parents to loan me the money. I can just imagine the looks on the guys' faces when I haul this in at the antique radio club!

Well the former pope was Catholic at least...........

I'd try to get them down to $50-60 on it so if post restoration you ever need to sell it, you have hope of breaking even.

The present one seems to be more green and red (and not in a Christmas like way) than Catholic.

[QUOTE=
The present one seems to be more green and red (and not in a Christmas like way) than Catholic.[/QUOTE]

Good eye.

dominus vobiscum

Zeno:smoke:

Does anyone know how much this TV would be completely restored?

just go get it.... It's not like they come along EVERY day....
And it will keep you out of trouble for years.....

.

You kinda lost me there!
This guy seems to be a little more progressive! That's what we needed.
At least he likes Jeeps and Harleys. :scratch2:

The set looks like the TOTL, that year. Some had push-pull output and multiple speakers.

Very few sets have real value. Most that go to non collectors
are for the decorative value & coolness. It is worth what
someone will pay. A collector wants a restorable set that
fits his taste & needs repairs. Restored it is probably worth
less to most of us. This sets "value" is in its brand, quality,
era, and repairability. It is NOT a rare set, tons of them are
still out there. Many rare sets are worth next to nothing.
Compare it to stamps.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_Jenny
Rare but there are more rare stamps that sell for much less.
They lack the mystique etc.
So if you got room & like it get it BUT beat him down. You have
no idea if the CRT is good so it is a gamble.

73 Zeno:smoke:

Right now, it looks like this is going to be a go! Hopefully, I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow.

Relatively common or not, what matters is that you like it. I've paid "too much" for things I like before, but still, no regrets.

Phase 1 Complete!
 

I'm one step closer, so now I can cross that off my list. Now for Phase 2 - buying it.

To the contrary. I was talking about this TV at the radio club the morning, and one of the old "know it all" dudes told me that no one will want to help me because I'm stupid and don't know anything. He said "you don't know your ass from a hole in the ground."

Whaaa? Geez, I know some of those guys can be grouches, but that one takes the cake. I'll be he either never worked in a customer service setting, or got fired from every such job.

Ignore that cranky old guy. Plenty of help available here. Even better if you can prove him wrong by getting it working and showing it off. If you can possibly get the picture tube tested, do so. Even better if you can arrange that before the sale is completed. Not much point in starting a restoration if the CRT is dead. Replacements can be had if it is no good: if you are patient a good one will show up eventually.

Thanks guys. I've been watching all sorts off stuff on YT sbout CRT testing and capacitor stuff.

I received that line for a few people --when I was young..whom I THOUGHT were friends....and a COUPLE of them... ACTIVELY worked to keep me OUT of this hobby !!

He's probably right.... I don't know my butt hole from a ground hole either,
and we had a number of presidents that don't know one from the other too.
Hasn't stopped me from anything in my life, & they got to be president, and I
bet you'll be able to do your stuff too....

I think knowing yer butt hole from any other hole has been over rated for
hundreds of years...... It's a stupid saying... Ignore it......

Did ya- get that tv yet....?


.

Oh yeah, the TV! I fergot. I'm going tomorrow after church to get it! I called the guy this morning, offered $40, and he didn't even try to negotiate! It'll be mine tomorrow!

Is that the radio club you frequent, like once a month?
Did he ever help you out with one of your radio problems?
I worked with a guy years ago, that told me that. Once he got to know me and what I was all about, we got to be pretty thick. He wouldn't say anything good about anyone, even his own children. He was rather comical at times. :D

I hope it's the one I'm thinking about! Push-pull audio and twin 5U4's. :thmbsp:

When I first met the guy, he seemed helpful and nice. He helped me a few times, but as of late, he's gotten pretty vulgar. The radio meet is every Saturday morning. I've skipped a few mornings here and there, but I've been there for the most part. What started the kerfuffle was that everybody was having a class in the common area and he asked why I wasn't out there, and as joke I said "Well I already know all that." I was about to leave anyway, and I didn't have time. After that he said "OK, Then! Draw me a half wave rectifier circuit!" And then it exploded.

What a schweinhund ! None of us including him knew squat
once. I knew nothing but had a strong interest. I read, tinkered,
asked & took classes. Got me almost 40 years with a Zenith dealer
& some of the best times of my life.
So like the urban legend about Bozo tell him "cram it clown !".
BTW lots of help here. All of us enjoy doing it. Just take it slow
& go with the flow.

73 Zeno:smoke:

I got it!
 

I got the Zenith TV! I got it for only $30. There is only one thing wrong with it. The deflection yoke is messed up and I don't know what to look for. I'll get better pictures when I get home.

Not bad at all. Nice solid wood cabinet. The only TV I have whose cabinet is solid wood is my 1971 Admiral.

The plastic covers of the yokes of this era like to rot off....If the terminals etc are not shorting to anything, make a piece of plastic to slip between the centering rings and the terminal (so you don''t get electrocuted while adjusting centering) and call it good.

It appears to have the same chassis as my 1953 Zenith (only the tuner is mounted to the chassis in mine). Watch out for the parts list and schematic having different values listed for one of the vertical caps (go with the vlaue installed)....That royally screwed up the restoration on my 1953 for a while.

Even If the CRT is shot, at 30$ you could get that back in parts if you had to.

I see at least one 5U4..... And a giant Rock Video Speaker ! !I already like it !

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I got it home
 

And I'm very happy with my purchase. The set is in very good condition, and I think I will get it working very soon. I had to do one minor repair already, and that was screwing the brass bezel that holds the glass in place. The screws were just sitting there and the glass could have fallen out at any time.

Another
 

The front of the set.

I have one like that. A pair of 5U4's and P-P 6AQ5 audio. THINK it has doors too. It is in my shed--and WILL soon have to leave there--as I will NOT be living here too much longer.

I forgot to mention that the CRT has been replaced. It has a Raytheon.

Is it a 21YP4?

I'm pretty sure it is.

Does anybody know where I can find a schematic for this thing?

The styling looked similar to me!
IIRC, the more expensive model, that had dual 5U4's and P-P audio also had 90degree sweep.
The set, just bought is the more common model. Most of that chassis series, had the chassis mounted tuner and volume control. Still a good performing set.

I can't find this model anywhere on Google or anything. I found some similar ones here.