1966 Zenith Royal 1290 set..(1M30T20)

[rca2000]

This is a 1966 Zenith Royal 1290 BW solid state TV.

From what I have been able to gather--this set is VERY rare. I got it some time ago on Ebay.

This is the first time I have brought it upstairs and opened it up. It is VERY well built as others have pointed out. there are NO chassis tubes--the HV rect is a "stick", as found on many later tv sets.

Tue tube was asleep. It produced a very weak raster. It was NOT listed in the CR-70 setup book. I used the schematic to figure out the pin-out. The fil is a 12 volt one and runs BRIGHT at normal operation. It has a 9 pin base with NO plastic insert. after a little "prodding" it woke up pretty well.

The one knob missing..is the result of my CAT angel. It fell off last night onto the floor....and she "did something with it"..we love out cats''but often they do things that....

NOW...if ONLY I could find it's "newer, bigger brother--the 19 inch 1968 Zenith SS set--1Y21B55...

[Findm-Keepm]

Originally Posted by rca2000

This is a 1966 Zenith Royal 1290 BW solid state TV.

From what I have been able to gather--this set is VERY rare. I got it some time ago on Ebay.

This is the first time I have brought it upstairs and opened it up. It is VERY well built as others have pointed out. there are NO chassis tubes--the HV rect is a "stick", as found on many later tv sets.

Tue tube was asleep. It produced a very weak raster. It was NOT listed in the CR-70 setup book. I used the schematic to figure out the pin-out. The fil is a 12 volt one and runs BRIGHT at normal operation. It has a 9 pin base with NO plastic insert. after a little "prodding" it woke up pretty well.

The one knob missing..is the result of my CAT angel. It fell off last night onto the floor....and she "did something with it"..we love out cats''but often they do things that....

NOW...if ONLY I could find it's "newer, bigger brother--the 19 inch 1968 Zenith SS set--1Y21B55...

Do you have the carrying case? I couldn't believe the first one I saw - it was in the carrying case. Seemed odd to me. Nice set - hope you find your knob!

[Boobtubeman]

Threaten to re-cap the kitty and the knob will appear

SR

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by rca2000

This is a 1966 Zenith Royal 1290 BW solid state TV.

From what I have been able to gather--this set is VERY rare. I got it some time ago on Ebay.

This is the first time I have brought it upstairs and opened it up. It is VERY well built as others have pointed out. there are NO chassis tubes--the HV rect is a "stick", as found on many later tv sets.

Tue tube was asleep. It produced a very weak raster. It was NOT listed in the CR-70 setup book. I used the schematic to figure out the pin-out. The fil is a 12 volt one and runs BRIGHT at normal operation. It has a 9 pin base with NO plastic insert. after a little "prodding" it woke up pretty well.

The one knob missing..is the result of my CAT angel. It fell off last night onto the floor....and she "did something with it"..we love out cats''but often they do things that....

NOW...if ONLY I could find it's "newer, bigger brother--the 19 inch 1968 Zenith SS set--1Y21B55...

Nice set.

I know what you mean about cats. My last one used to shake the draw-string bags of meal soldiers open and empty them whenever my family would play 'Risk'....One day we left it unattended over night and just found the bag the next day....For years we were finding those metal soldiers all over the place (like under furniture and in shoes).

[zeno]

You are sure lucky to find that, I have wanted one since the '70s.
Never saw one & didnt know any Zenith dealer that had either.
The 19" was more common, I worked on prob 4-6 of em.
They got the Zenith bad ground problems & had a gang on/off
switch that went. Otherwise near 100% reliable.

73 Zeno

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by rca2000

The one knob missing..is the result of my CAT angel. It fell off last night onto the floor....and she "did something with it"..we love out cats''but often they do things that....

Check out the attempt at an innocent look, ha.

At least she only hid the knob. A dog would likely have chewed it up.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

Check out the attempt at an innocent look, ha.

At least she only hid the knob. A dog would likely have chewed it up.

And or swallowed it.

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

And or swallowed it.

If it's merely swallowed, it's all likely to turn out in the end.

[Dave A]

Cat videos will soon overtake that other popular video form on the internet. Now they have landed a beach head on VK. Our cat overlords have won and neither humans or dogs have not figured it out. Why is my one-eyed cat looking at me suspiciously from underneath my CT-100? Perhaps his laser glare could weld the 15GP22 air leak problem and save television history. I will talk to him or sell him at ETF.

[drh4683]

I was fortunate enough to run across two of those Royal 1290's in the past. One of them came from a retired Zenith engineer I met back around 2002. One thing he told me was that production of the 1290's was very short lived because the sets were extremely expensive to build and very tedious and temperamental to align *just right*. When working properly, they produce an excellent sharp picture. I think they were first marketed in 1965 and into 1966, but no later than that. I have a 1965 show room catalog from Polk Brothers and a salesmen penciled in the prices for the sets on each page. I want to say there was a $200 difference in price between the 1290 at $299.00 and the comparable tube type 14N22 chassis set which was $99.00. Quite a considerable difference at the time so you can imagine not too many were probably sold hence why Zenith discontinued them after such a short run.

These sets also offered the optional lead-acid cell battery pack that slid on the bottom of the set and plugged into the back via molex connector. The complete package made for a very heavy little portable. Zenith designed the battery pack to be serviceable too, you can remove a cover and have access to the batteries that simply plug in with spade connectors. The one I have came with the battery pack and the cells were standard sized which were easily replaced without modification. The battery pack has a hand wired subchassis in it with a transistorized voltage regulator and power supply. There is also a red pilot bulb that shows the charge status of batteries which goes out once the batteries are fully charged. (battery pack not shown in my old photo below)

Captainmoody has the other 1290 that I had leaving me with just the one. So with Jacks, there seems to be three survivors among the collecting community now unless someone else has one?

Finding a clean 1Y21B55 has also been on my want list for years. I've only seen one of those and it was a beat up parts unit.



Here's a Royal 1290 vs. the tube type 14N22:

[zeno]

Does anyone have the equivalent RCA set ? IIRC not
AC/DC but much more common. Had a built in handle & the
knobs face at an angle like some other RCA's. Everyone
hated working on them......

Not counting Jap made sets I remember early SS B&W's
from GE & Sylvania, Philco & Maggy. Any others ?

73 Zeno

[rca2000]

KCS_153 set. I have a couple of them I think.

Not built NEARLY as nicely as the Royal 1290, but the 153 has a nice big sink on the bottom rear of the chassis . Not sure if mine was a 67 model or 66 model--the 67 had an IC in the audio...THE first set said to use one.

[BigDavesTV]

Very nice, first time I've ever seen or heard of one of those SS Zenith BW, from '66! I have a "Clepto-Kitty" that will steal knobs and screws, and look innocent afterwards! I have to immediately put knobs and such in a plastic container with a lid, to keep her out of them!

[Electronic M]

I remember seeing one or two of those Zenith sets at the ARCI radiofest a good 3-6 years ago. If I'd have know how rare they are and had more money I would have grabbed it.

[Findm-Keepm]

Doug, do you have the carrying case for either of your 1290s? That would be rare....

Cheers,