I got an Avanti
 

At least I think it's an Avanti. Like an idiot, I didn't bother to write down the model number and now that it's in place, I really don't want to drag it back out and check. I did note that it was manufactured in August of 1979.

Anyhoo, I got if off Craigslist for 50 bucks and a two-hour trip to Pennsylvania. It works really well (the seller was watching Speed Racer when we picked it up), even though I neglected to take a picture of it in operation... When I got it home I pulled off the back to vacuum out the dust and was pleasantly surprised to note that it was clean as a whistle inside.

Does anyone know what the remote for this set looks like? I want to check ebay for one, as the universal remote I got for it doesn't work. There's apparently a Zoom feature that looks like it might have potential. I'm also confused about the settings on the remote switch. Off and Remote I understand, but Manual? Is Off the same as a "vacation switch" that turns off quick warm-up?

Here are the few pictures I did take:

veg

That's just about the very last Avanti made. Kind of rare! Most of the ones I see are either Chromacolor I or II, with the occasional hybrid. Nice!

Charles

Nice! I didn't know that Zenith made an Avanti into the system 3 era. I can tell you that the remote for that set will be of the ultrasonic variety. I don't think Zenith switched to IR until '80-'81. I wonder when Zenith actually discontinued this style of cabinet.

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I didn't even know Zenith made a system 3 in the Avanti cabinet, I always assumed they quit making these cabinets at the same time as the chromacolor 2 sets. The basic cabinet even looks the same (except for the controls) as my '74 with the horizontal ss chassis. I used to have the smaller 19" Avanti with the vertical chromacolor 2 chassis, but I've never seen an older Avanti with the hybrid chassis either.

And that one even has the zoom, I've had a lot of Zenith system 3s, but never got one with the zoom.

Yep, that's the one.

I have that exact remote siting right here. Ill have to see if it goes to anything I have.

Thanks for the assistance and the kind words. I'll keep my eye peeled for that remote--the Zoom button will remind me what I'm looking for. Def. an ultrasonic remote, as I can see the mic for it and it's covered by a grill. Kinda sucks that neither the set itself nor the remote will let you scroll through channels. And you have to press Enter every time or it'll flip right back to 2.

veg

Thats the same exact set as my 79 system 3 although mine is a wood cabinet. the remote is certainly Ultrasonic. The zoom is a cool feature and they make a good pic as long as the crt ain't weak.

A perfect set for you! If you don't have luck finding that remote, let me know. Fairly good chance I have one here.

If I remember correctly, the Manual position of that switch disables the remote receiver so the TV will work from the front panel only. This is handy if the batteries go dead in your remote or if it gets broken or otherwise damaged; when these sets were made the universal remote had not yet been invented (today's universals will not work with ultrasonic remote control systems anyway), so if not for that defeat switch, the TV would be completely unusable if anything happened to the hand unit. I'm not sure what the "off" position was used for, although it makes sense that it would defeat the instant-on feature. If I had one of these TVs and were going on vacation, however, I wouldn't trust just that switch to kill all power to the set; I'd pull the plug. Unless the switch actually does open the power circuit entirely, there would probably still be a small amount of voltage going into the set--for preset channel memories and the like.

From what I have read about the Zoom function on high-end Zenith color TVs, it was just a frill that served only to raise the price of the sets and probably wasn't used much. The same could be said for the Space Phone system built into some high-end Zeniths; this feature was often included with the zoom function. Most of the time the Space Phone feature of these high-end sets probably went unused anyway, since most American homes have a telephone within easy reach of the couch in the living room or else the family keeps a cordless handset on an end table.

Awesome score! That Avanti is clean as a whistle! I had a 19" 1979 Zenith and I swear it used IR for the remote... I could be mistaken for the 82 Zenith 19" I had a long time ago..

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I have a Avanti system 3. Posted the pics a years ago on the old forum.

I believe it was always either SpacePhone or Zoom, but never both on the same TV.

I've also seen some mention by more that one person of a hybrid Avanti... To my knowledge there is no such thing... In other words, Avantis are SS-only.

I'm sure Doug knows for sure. :thmbsp:

Going by memory, the Avanti came out in '72-3 and was a 4 tube hybrid. Then the flat horizontal SS chassis after that. I think they sold them both at the same time for a little while before going completely SS.......IIRC.