57 Zenith SC200 console
 

Remember the one from a few months ago with the fake automatic fish feeder craigslist ad, here it is! It's the first model of Zenith to use the space commander ultrasonic remote. I have no time to work on it now, but I hope to get it working in December. And Fluffy sure likes it. That cat sat down on it just as soon as I brought it in.

Fine kitty!! Nice TV as well:)

Apparantly, the cat knows quality!!

That and its not even warmed up!

The quality goes in, before the cat goes on!! Very pretty kitty!!

I looked through my boxes of knobs and found that outer metal ring missing off of the tuner knob.

I like that line, I'm going to use it…

Everytime I got something from UPS, my cats were right there to help unpack.

Gosh, I sure can identify with that here!

Everytime I bring some new item into this house--either for myself.... or something I am working on for others, such as a tv or commercial microwave oven--MY CAT angel is there to "inspect it" !!

For cats on electronics, see over in AudioKarma http://audiokarma.org/forums/index.p...o-gear.193866/. 209 pages of cats. :banana:

The vertical mounted chassis can be a pain to work on but once restored and repaired it should be good player.

The whole assembly with the CRT, etc. all comes out through the front of the set, unlike most Zeniths.

Looks a lot like the blonde set I just brought home....except yours is in better condition.

Very nice Zenith, it looks like Fluffy wants her tv set repaired!

Cat thinking, so much grille cloth, so little time...

"Cat thinking, so much grille cloth, so little time..."

Hahahaha! Good one!

Lots of grille cloth on that Philco 39-116 and Zenith console stereo too. The Philco grille cloth is a little water damaged, but the grille cloth on that Zenith stereo is perfect. Luckily my cats don't seem to be too into grille cloth.

I took me a while to figure out how best to get the chassis out. The way to go is to pull it all (the CRT and chassis as one unit) out the front at once. I was going to just take the chassis down to the basement and use a test jig, but there's enough space in-between the CRT and chassis for me to recap it like it is. I think I'll leave it together, and make enough room to put that whole unit on the bench.

I've never had a Zenith with this chassis before. Looking through my manuals it looks like it was only used for 2 years, on some 56, and most 57 models.

I also recently picked up a binder which contains images of all the Zenith TVs for 1957. I scanned the 2 pages for this set, and some of the space command advertising that was included.

With a set this old sometimes I just like to recap it before I even try it out. Then solve whatever other problems it has later. Well I did that with this one and it worked after the recap with no further problems. I had to adjust the vertical lin, and replace a a burned out dial light, but that was it. Even the remote works.

This has a good strong CRT and produces a great picture. It's an old set for which you could really sit down and watch a few shows on every now and then. I had been wanting a 1950s Zenith 21" space command console, but had considered not getting this one and holding out until I found one in a cabinet I liked better. But now that I see it running, I'm really happy I got this one.

I put the 57 Zenith back together...

Turned out great Adam, well done! I really like the sets from that time, they are easy to work on and always give a good result.

Gregb

Adam, this set uses a non-polarized 10mfd@400v for the B+ boost. Looking at your pictures I would imagine it's the rather large, white capacitor. Where did you find the replacement? Large value/voltage non-polar's are 'kinda hard to find!

This is the best picture I've had on a 50s 21" set, I've had 60s and 70s 19 and 23" B&Ws look this good, but not the earlier ones (I think it's mostly that the CRTs are usually a bit week on the 21" sets I find).

I ordered 1 of these film caps: http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...pVP4v9aA%3d%3d

But searching around they also have them:

here: http://www.digikey.com/product-searc...=0&pageSize=25

And here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...p2045573.m1684

There's probably other sources too. I couldn't find any non-polar electrolytics with that high a voltage rating, and had to go with those big film caps.

I think Zenith got the message when all their long-time dealers and servicers complained about, how hard it was to repair them, because of that design.
It probably started with the "Y" chassis. :scratch2: