Daily watchers - Videokarma.org TV - Video

freakaftr8 · #1 09-18-2008, 11:39 PM

I know there has probably (most likely) a thread started here about this but Just wanted to chime in again. I really dont give my set any 2nd thought but you know what.. It is a great set and I just wanted to post a pic of what a magnificent set it is. It is our daily watcher and has been for the last 8 months. I figure if you got it, and you know you can fix it, why not use it. And this Zenith just keeps plunkin away day after day. (with the help of a pusher fan to keep the heat to a min.)
This is the set I picked up off JpDylon back in December

67 Zenith 25x4517

AUdubon5425 · #2 09-19-2008, 06:57 AM

My 13" RCA XL-100, model EC333W (6/78): I found this set covered in 2 inches of dust in a building my boss was prepping for demolition. I took it home, cleaned it up, and surprisingly it has the best picture of any set in the house! Clear, sharp, wonderful colors. Will hook it up to a cable box when signals go digital next year.

The orange 9" set is a solid-state Philco Ford model 311BTG, chassis no. 3BH15. Bought it from a thrift store in Fargo, N.D. for $1.75 in 1998.

Unpictured is a 3-year-old 25" Durabrand TV in the living room. A family friend gave it to us when we moved in our house last year, as they "upgraded" to a plasma/LCD type set. I also have a 13" B&W Zenith from the mid-60's that has a beautiful picture but loses audio when you focus in on the channel.

Sure would like to have the CTC-40 console I grew up watching, it was a 1970 model that swiveled on it's legs.

sampson159 · #3 09-19-2008, 09:09 AM

my daily watcher is a zenith chromacolor II from 1975 and the xl100 from the etf auction. i have a ctc 15 roundie that gets watched about an hour a month.working on a ctc 16 with a 25axp22.it may become my new watcher. will post pics.

andy · #4 09-19-2008, 11:01 AM

I have a CTC-12 in my workshop that gets used almost every day. It's conncted to a Replay TV box.

I also use my CTC-38 most days to watch a little news at lunch, and while I'm making dinner.

zenith2134 · #5 09-19-2008, 11:02 AM

My daily watchers are a '79 Zenith 25" system 3 with space command and zoom. And in the bedroom is my 82 GE with the AC chassis.

Like that 13" RCA! Those are good performers.

*zenithfan1* · #6 09-19-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AUdubon5425

My 13" RCA XL-100, model EC333W (6/78): I found this set covered in 2 inches of dust in a building my boss was prepping for demolition. I took it home, cleaned it up, and surprisingly it has the best picture of any set in the house! Clear, sharp, wonderful colors. Will hook it up to a cable box when signals go digital next year.

The orange 9" set is a solid-state Philco Ford model 311BTG, chassis no. 3BH15. Bought it from a thrift store in Fargo, N.D. for $1.75 in 1998.

Unpictured is a 3-year-old 25" Durabrand TV in the living room. A family friend gave it to us when we moved in our house last year, as they "upgraded" to a plasma/LCD type set. I also have a 13" B&W Zenith from the mid-60's that has a beautiful picture but loses audio when you focus in on the channel.

Sure would like to have the CTC-40 console I grew up watching, it was a 1970 model that swiveled on it's legs.

It sounds like the tuner is out of alignment on your Zenith B/W, I've had a few do that from that era. The XL-100 you have is indeed a great set, I have one that I found in the garbage. Someone busted a 1" by 1" hole in the back vents and routed the wires for the deflection yoke outside the set for some reason. I repaired that, but the hole is still there, it's a shame because the rest is mint. I have heard about trying to power fluorescent lights that way ect....stupid. But anyways you are right about the picture on those, it is wonderful. One of the best I've seen on an XL-100. To stay on track, my daily watchers are a '73 Philco-Ford 18" hotel model set, a '74 GE Porta-Color and lately but not permanently a '63 Zenith 21" roundie with the 26KC20 chassis that I just restored. Also, that is a very nice Zenith you got there Shawn. And Ron, when we were talking at the convention you were trying to decide whether or not to get the XL-100, it is a very good thing that you did. You're lucky to have a NOS XL-100! I wished I had the room in Bob's van for the other one, but the 9 was way more important.

freakaftr8 · #7 09-19-2008, 01:08 PM

Thanks Mark, I must say that your collection is looking good! Im somewhat envious!

The only thing I find interesting is that every time I have to move the set it requires a bit of realigning of the pincushion and purity rings. Im sure this is normal on most older sets anyway.

Adam · #8 09-19-2008, 01:28 PM

Currently my '60 Zenith 16D25Q (17" b/w SC300) on my desk and the '56 RCA 8-pt-7014 (8" b/w) in the bedroom get the most use.

Keefla · #9 09-19-2008, 06:11 PM

Heres my sylvania that you all have helped me keep going, its my only TV thats hooked up, its in my bedroom but i have a very small appartment so my stereo is in what you could call the living room, so i dont really need a tv there. I have a zenith hybrid B&W but thats a backup. I picked the sylvania up at a yard sale in '98 for 5 dollars with a blown speaker, fixed that since then ive replaced the contrast and brightness pots, had someone replace the tripler, you all helped my diagnose and replace the video detector IC and HV cup. So far so good since then. Anyway got a couple good action shots from tonite. Thing looks amazing, ive had many many people give me a hard time about it (cause its old and dated looking, blah blah blah) but once they see the picture they get why i keep it.

dtuomi · #10 09-19-2008, 06:53 PM

Here's my daily watcher. An excellent performer, it runs at least 8-10 hours a day. Although probably not too special to look at, or even rare for that matter.

David

zenith2134 · #11 09-19-2008, 07:40 PM

Is that zenith a b&w? Looks like it. Cool!

Keefla that Sylvania has got some nice picture!

sampson159 · #12 09-20-2008, 12:40 AM

nice set! i have the same one only wearing a philco label.during the 70s,sylvania was always the choice for best picture by consumer reports.here in central ohio,there was a large dealer and that was the house brand. also they were a wholesaler-factory seconds,one leg shorter than the other,mismarked controls,etc.regardless,they were nice sets to watch and relatively easy and cheap to repair.a good sylvania stood beside zenith as far as picture quality.but zenith beat em up in every other way.great set and i am happy for you!

Adam · #13 09-20-2008, 12:59 AM

Anyone out there using an early 50s or 40s set for a daily watcher? The '56 RCA is the oldest of the sets I have that ever really sees daily use. For a while I was watching my '54 Westinghouse on a somewhat regular basis, but I really only turn on my 40s sets maybe once a month or so.

AUdubon5425 · #14 09-20-2008, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtuomi

Here's my daily watcher. An excellent performer, it runs at least 8-10 hours a day. Although probably not too special to look at, or even rare for that matter.

David

Talk about ironic - at the same time I found my XL-100 I also took home two Zenith sets identical to yours! One had a mediocre picture and no sound, the other had sound but no picture. They were pretty beat up. I put them on the curb, as I had no room to store them in my rental (9 mos. after Katrina). If I'd have been online back then I'd have mailed them to you - I remember they were fairly light.

AUdubon5425 · #15 09-20-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

It sounds like the tuner is out of alignment on your Zenith B/W, I've had a few do that from that era.

Thanks for the tip - I am just beginning to learn about TVs (thanks to y'all) and look forward to putting her on the bench in the next few months.

Shame about the cabinet on your XL-100 - really, all that to power a light fixture? Just doesn't make much sense.

Somewhere online I came across an old newspaper ad for an appliance dealer advertising an EC333W - the price was $279, very reasonable for such a good set in the late '70's.