My chromacolor II is alive and beautiful!! - Videokarma.org TV - Video

jpdylon · #1 11-09-2005, 08:55 PM

If your clueless, This is a follow-up to an OLD post.
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthr...omacolor+focus

It's taken me awhile to get back to this TV, but I am glad I did

The New trippler is installed, and As you can see from the pictures This set is in awesome shape. I bought it at an estate sale. The older couple that owned it hardly used it at all. The tube test more than 90% emission on my B&K tester ALL GUNS!

IMO these are the best lookin color sets PERIOD. I have never seen a better picture even on newer sets that are more than 500 dollars at times. It rivals my bud's Sony XBR trinitron in color reproduction and picture quality. The only thing the sony has that the zenith doesn't is an HD input.

Attached are pics of the cutie cook, Rachael Rey and one of a CNN broadcast. Both are just plain cable TV. I use my VCR as a tuner. Pics don't do this justice, Great picture!

jstout66 · #2 11-09-2005, 11:10 PM

Hey Jordan, Cool set! I have a 75 Chromacolor 2 that is the same chassis as yours. I got it about a month ago and have it in my office. And you're correct. The pictures are outstanding. Mine is better than the new Toshiba flat screen I have in the livingroom. Found mine a little over a month ago in a junk/antique store for $20.00. Where did you end up getting the tripler from? I have ton of modules for these sets, so give me hollar if you're ever in need of one. I think these sets are under appreciated in the collector crowd because they are solid state. The 70's Chromacolors had the best picture of ANY set on the market. Period. NOTHING could match the picture quality of these sets. They often have better pictures than new sets even tho they are 30 years old now. I have a dumb question for you or anyone reading this post. How do you change the VHF channel light? IIRC there is a way to do it from the front so you don't have to pull out the set and remove the tuner, but I can't figure out how to do it. Shoot me a message if anyone knows how! Thanks!

3Guncolor · #3 11-09-2005, 11:11 PM

Great Picture.. I think those sets and CRT's were some of the best Zenith ever made.
Glad you were able to save the set.

Steve

jpdylon · #4 11-09-2005, 11:14 PM

I got the Trippler from MCM electronics. moyers has it to, but MCM was the first to get back to me on pricing. It bolts right up. I will definitely keep you in mind if I need modules. i scrapped my last chromacolor for the vert module and newer color modules that inproved the color quality quite a bit.

Unfortunately you have to pull out the tuner to get to the light. The front face is not removable, its integrated with the whole front of the set.

jstout66 · #5 11-09-2005, 11:23 PM

I'll have to pull it out one day when I'm not feeling lazy. I just tried to change mine from the front and got stumped. Our control layouts look the same, but I think my set is 1 year newer. Anyway.... I did try to change mine from the front and got stumped. On mine, I removed the channel knobs, and there is a small phillips screw holding in the black logo plate. I couldn't get the channel drum out . The bulb fell out tho......

southernguy · #6 11-10-2005, 04:41 PM

Thats a very nice set there Jordan, Your set looks just like the chromacolor II that I have. Mine was in rough shape when I got it. Full of dust. Needed some repair work to the color circuits and a good cleaning. After that, it has been playing well for a year now. CRT is in perfect condition. One of these days I might move it to the living room, it stays in the guest room now. Too bad they don't make sets like this anymore.

jpdylon · #7 11-10-2005, 06:10 PM

I like your cabinet more than mine. Its the same TV, but the cabinet has that older look from the 60s,whereas mine is really boxy. it doesn't have legs or trim. The vineer is still in awesome shape, but I like the ways your cabinet looks better.

It is a shame they don't make em like this. If they did now though most companies would probably go out of business. THese things just last and last. I read in a vintage electronics mag that these zeniths had the fewest repairs among every other brand on the market then.

Carmine · #8 11-10-2005, 06:19 PM

Quote:

I think these sets are under appreciated in the collector crowd because they are solid state. The 70's Chromacolors had the best picture of ANY set on the market. Period. NOTHING could match the picture quality of these sets. They often have better pictures than new sets even tho they are 30 years old now.

I agree 100%. I'm not "huge" into SS sets either, but those early SS Zeniths were such quality pieces that you just gotta respect them. Probably the "Zenith" of US built/Designed televisions... All seemed to to be downhill after that.

TVtommy · #9 11-15-2005, 01:13 AM

Hands down, The BEST! I am preparing to assist an older couple I know of ridding their house of one

They honestly want it gone - has an unknown problem. I too have a ton of modules for these!

compucat · #10 11-15-2005, 07:36 AM

I am contemplating rescuing a 1977 Chromacolor II from a local thrift store. It will need a front control door. It's a full size door with openings for single channel selector, slide volume control and two pushbuttons. Anyone have one of these? If I can find that part, I just might save this otherwise cosmetically pristine set even though I don't know if it works.

andy · #11 11-15-2005, 11:35 AM

Does that have a vertical hold control sticking out the back? If so, it's one of the last Chromacolor IIs and uses an in-line tri-focus CRT. The chassis design is like the older ones, but most of the modules are different. The tuners drifted in warm up on the few of those I had over the years.

compucat · #12 11-15-2005, 12:05 PM

It does have a vertical hold control on the back left of the set. The woodgrain plastic cabinet has a rounded top edge. The two buttons on the top front are rectangular and are for power and color sentry. It is a 19" table model. It is a very nice set but the black perf metal grille on the control door has dents. Could these be tapped out to make the grille flat again? I might buy it if I can make it look and work like new.

jpdylon · #13 11-15-2005, 12:48 PM

It may be worth getting going again, however if the in-line CRT is going, your picture is going to suffer greatly. The build quality of these CRTs was poor, and as they aged they bled like crazy.

If the picture looks good as is, fix it up, if its not great don't worry about cosmetics. Just play it until it dies.

The biggest mistake zenith made was discontinuing the Delta-Gun Chromacolor Tubes. Best CRTs ever, PERIOD.

Good luck with your set. Post pics!

compucat · #14 11-15-2005, 01:03 PM

I don't have the set. It's sitting in a thrift store right now. If that in-line CRT is not so great, maybe I should hold out for an older model. What I would REALLY like to find is one of the old all metal cabinet table top Zeniths. Now there was a TV.

jpdylon · #15 11-15-2005, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compucat

the old all metal cabinet table top Zeniths. Now there was a TV.

Built like a tank, and weighed about as much as one too. I've got an all metal 62 zenith space command 300 B&W, and a 68 Zenith 21" all tube color tabletop that weighs about 90 pounds.

If I could find more old tube-type color sets I would be a happy man.