Would you pick this up for free?

[maxhifi]

Found this guy and a console stereo together advertised for free. Leaning towards not getting it, but tempted.

[Eric H]

Depends, do you really want it cause you'll be stuck with it forever.
Nice set but those 60's models seem to be unloved.

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Depends, do you really want it cause you'll be stuck with it forever.
Nice set but those 60's models seem to be unloved.

That's kind of what I'm thinking... I should let this one slip by, or I'll be dealing with it in perpetuity. On the other hand, well, it's an old tube tv, and old tube tvs are cool!

The console stereo he has is similarly bland, it looks like something I would use for about two weeks, spend money to fix it up, and then forget I owned until I tripped over it.

[marty59]

May be considered unloved by some, but do you have any other sets or a collection? This could be a good starting point to work some skills on and may be enjoyable with minimal work. And besides, if the CRT is shot or some other major component you won't be out anything and scrap it out for parts.

[maxhifi]

So far, I've got

Silvertone colour roundie console - 1965 or 1966
RCA 8" portable B&W - 1957
16" Zenith color portable with SC-100 remote - 1973
Admiral B&W portable, 16 or so inches. - 1966

The Admiral came with the Silvertone, the guy insisted I take it. It's got a vertical linearity problem I have yet to deal with. All other sets in good working order (thanks in no small part to videokarma).

[bgadow]

There's something about that cabinet style I've always liked. The price is sure right. I was getting ready to write "but, like the other guys said...". It occurs to me that we've been saying that for a long time now. Thousands upon thousands of these now reside at the bottom of landfills. Could they turn the corner, might they become collectible? Don't hold your breath! I'll just say, if you like it, don't be ashamed to get it.

[miniman82]

Originally Posted by bgadow

if you like it, don't be ashamed to get it.

So, these are like that fat chick with a sexy face?

[maxhifi]

Originally Posted by bgadow

There's something about that cabinet style I've always liked. The price is sure right. I was getting ready to write "but, like the other guys said...". It occurs to me that we've been saying that for a long time now. Thousands upon thousands of these now reside at the bottom of landfills. Could they turn the corner, might they become collectible? Don't hold your breath! I'll just say, if you like it, don't be ashamed to get it.

Hmmm you've got a good point.

[Eric H]

If you have the room for it then get it, my previous post was biased by my own lack of space.

[Phil Nelson]

You could get it and think of it as a practice set. For the price of a few capacitors, you can get some experience restoring a TV. If that works out and you want to upgrade to a more interesting set, give it away to someone and move on. That's what I did with one of my early TV projects. It was fun to work on at the time, and I learned some good things, but I didn't miss it a bit after it was gone and I had room for something nicer.

Other pluses: a TV of that vintage should be simpler to restore than a really early set, and easier to get working well.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[Adam]

If you like it, get it.

There is a tendency in tv collecting to automatically think older = better. And while I like the 40s-50s sets, many of my favorites are 60s-70s models. For a while, I had a rule, "no solid state sets", but then I found out there were a few ss sets that I really liked, and plenty of tube sets I really wasn't that interested in. Nowadays I only collect color sets if they're high-end consoles with remote controls, and avoid any tv with a phonograph in it. I'm also trying to amass the largest 1960s Zenith metal tabletop b/w collection I can - they're not worth much, but I like 'em alot.

[stereorob]

hell, for free, yeah id snatch it

[wa2ise]

You can always strip it for parts if it does turn out to have a fatal flaw, like a dead CRT. Power transformers can be useful for other projects like audio amps. Some of the caps (like ceramics and micas, can be useful, as well as some of the resistors. And various other parts too. Ask any ham about the "jubk box" concept.

[bgadow]

About 20 years ago I had all kinds of 60s/early 70s color sets. Motorola, Zenith, GE, Philco-Ford, RCA, Admiral, Sylvania, Bradford, JVC. I loved 'em, every single one, but trashed them. Everyone told me they weren't collectible, that I shouldn't like 'em. Maybe not their exact words, but it was clear that I was not "normal" for wanting to keep them. So they are all gone, long gone. I didn't start rebuilding that part of my collection until I found VK, and I knew it was okay to enjoy such things! (you could probably have a pretty deep discussion about this, deeper than I want to delve into). My message to anyone out there is, ignore anyone who says you're a fool for wanting a 60s bw console or a late 70s solid state color set or something from the 80s. The last time I checked it's not a sin to own one, so what does it matter?

[Electronic M]

Anything pre-early SS is fair game in my book. I have a 77' Quasar SS inline table top color set that I trash picked, and I'm not ashamed of it. I think that it is cool, so I will keep it....at least untill I have to get rid of it for something which I like better.