GE 19" TV - late 70's - any good ?

[Snade]

I keep forgetting I have a camera on my cell phone and can snap a photo.

Local thrift has a General Electric 19" TV with simulated wood plastic (on all sides and the front right over the speaker and around the controls), square keypad (black, flat push buttons) in upper right to change channels, made in Virginia plant, looks in great shape. I think it looks late 70's.

I noted a plastic compartment in the back that holds a small folded red technical manual (visible through clear plastic cover).

Are these nice sets ?

I did not test the picture, but there was not a scratch on the exterior.

TVs like this typically sell for 25 bucks at this thrift.

Thanks, Snade

[zenith2134]

I'd try and get them down to 20 dollars for a set like this. And I would also make sure the tube is still good.

If it was built in VA and has the little folded up manual, it's probably a well-performing set. IME, all these need in general are a good control cleaning and maybe some caps changed out. Good luck!

[radiotvnut]

What chassis is in it?

The "YA" chassis was a modular set from the mid to late '70's that used a large neck inline tube. They had a decent picture.

The "EC" chassis was from the late '70's to very early '80's. This was my least favorite GE chassis. They were hard to work on, had loose connections, and tended to eat flybacks.

The "PC" chassis (my favorite) came along in the early '80's and stayed around to the end of real GE TV's in around '87. The early "PC" sets had that late '70's look. The "PC" chassis is on a single board and about the only trouble they gave was bad caps in the vertical and power supply circuits. It's getting harder to find one of these with a strong CRT; but, I guess that's to be expected after 20 to 25 years. Most of the ones I've found with weak CRT's took a good hit from the CRT rejuvenator.

[bgadow]

15 years ago I went through a spell where lots of old GE solid state sets were showing up at my door. All the folks in the neighborhood had bought them new at the local GE dealer; whoever was working his repair bench was very quick to give up on "dogs". Anyway, I mostly remember lots of sets that wouldn't power up, or would only do so intermittently. We had a GE console that was single chassis and was a real trooper. GE sets have a certain character, like most American sets used to.

[Eric H]

My first real (i.e. bought new) color TV was a 1979 GE 19", typical woodgrain cabinet, electronic tuner but with a knob, I think it was a YC chassis.

I picked the GE because it had DC restoration and most of the others in that price range didn't or didn't advertise it, it was a step below the sets with the VIR auto color.

It had a really good picture, I kept it for 10 years then sold it.

It only broke down once when a capacitor went and took the HOT with it, a common failure on that model I was told.

[sgtrob]

I have a 19" color GE made in 1980, I got at a yard sale for $10. It also came from the Virginia plant. Mine has rotary tuning though. Works great, just needed controls cleaned up. I say if you can pick it up, go for it!

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by sgtrob

I have a 19" color GE made in 1980. It also came from the Virginia plant.

I had a job interview for an electrical engineering job there back then. Nofork VA. They showed me around the plant, and one spot you could see conveyer belt hooks with TV chassises hanging from them, overhead. Didn't get that job, but from what I've heard, the place died a year or so later anyway.