Show us your vintage B&W sets! - Page 19 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Jeffhs · #**271** 05-07-2003, 04:59 PM

Hi Rob -

Don't have to turn it off; it goes out automatically at night. Seriously, I took that picture last year on a very sunny day, which accounts for the window being so bright.

BTW, thanks for the comments on my coffee table. It is part of an entire set of new furniture I bought when I moved here three years ago. What can I say--I like the warm appearance of wood. Every piece of furniture in my apartment is either cherry or oak, and matches everything else.

BTW (2): Did you do any more with that 1949 TV you said (in one of your posts a few months ago) you were going to convert to an entertainment center? If you did, and if I were a betting man (I'm not), I'd bet it looks very nice with the doors and all. I'd hang on to that cabinet if I were you, since this kind of cabinetry is only available nowadays in commercial entertainment centers like Sauder, Bush, et al--and they cost an arm and a leg.

I think recycling old furniture like that, and as I did with my Sauder utility cart, is an excellent idea, and an inexpensive alternative to purchasing an entertainment center. I hope that if you did go ahead and convert that cabinet, you enjoy it for many years to come.

Kind regards,

Rob · #**272** 05-07-2003, 06:37 PM

Jeff,

I haven't had a chance to convert the TV cabinet yet. I have so many irons in the fire now it is in real danger of going out. When and if I do it will make a fine piece of furniture in the living room, and will match the other similar vintage TV's I have on display there. I actually have a real need for three audio/video equipment rack/stands here. I don't like piling too much gear on top of itself on a small wobbly table.

Rob

***Eric H*** · #**273** 05-11-2003, 03:33 AM

Here's one I don't think i've posted before.

Got this 6 or 7 years ago so it's actually one of the first sets in my collection. Found it in the back yard of a thrift store, it was overpriced at $75 and still overpriced for the $60 I gave for it but it looked like rain and I didn't want it to get ruined so...

It has a 16" tube and a radio, that's the dial scale under the screen. The cabinet is rough but inside the doors it looks like new!

Got a NOS CRT off eBay, it has been recapped and works but I just never seem to get around to doing all the little details to finish it, could be because it is a huge heavy pain in the a-- to move.

***Eric H*** · #**274** 05-11-2003, 03:40 AM

I got this pic off eBay too, it shows the exact same model being given away for a prize.
Check out the price tag!

Rob · #**275** 05-11-2003, 10:52 AM

Eric,

I like your latest avatar!

Rob

***Eric H*** · #**276** 05-11-2003, 12:58 PM

Thanks Rob, it's cropped down from this Rider booklet:

ChuckA · #**277** 05-15-2003, 11:03 AM

Picked this Zenith up at a local auction, furniture dealer ran me up on it a little more than I was hoping to get it for, but still a good buy. Has all the original Zenith tubes and 50 years of dust in it.

12" Model G2340R "Saratoga"

Chuck

Marlin Mackley · #**278** 05-17-2003, 04:41 PM

Chuck - great looking set! I got one just like it in restored condition for $250 and considered myself lucky. While I have other rarer sets in the collection I use this one on my TV collecting business cards.
Marlin

ChuckA · #**279** 05-17-2003, 05:13 PM

Marlin,

These Zeniths sort of grow on you, I have two now. I like this one better than the 16". Guess I'll have to find a combo unit next.

No idea where I can shoehorn it in, between my stuff and outside repairs everything is getting full.

Chuck

***Eric H*** · #**280** 05-26-2003, 11:16 PM

Picked this up this morning.
Circa 1959, I think this uses the same CRT as the 17" Predicta.

It was filthy but it's cleaning up pretty nicely.

#**281** 05-27-2003, 05:54 AM

Eric,

That's a nice set. Good performer, with a good picture, and works well in fringe areas iirc.

ChuckA · #**282** 06-11-2003, 05:48 PM

Been a little quiet on this thread.

Here's my Zenith 12" Saratoga, after recap and a few other parts.

After getting it all done I still had the same vertical problem that I started with - severly expanded center of picture and compressed top and bottom. After 2 days of beating my head against the work bench, it finally came to me (must have been all those shocks from the metal CRT shell) on the Zenith chassis ground isn't always ground everywhere on the chassis. The top is insulated from the bottom and sides, when I replaced the 3 sections of one of the electrolytic cans, I grounded the replacement caps at a convenient point on the BOTTOM section of the chassis. This was the same as having the original open electrolytic can in the circuit. Moving the ground point back to the top section of the chassis and a great picture popped in.

Chuck

Charlie · #**283** 06-11-2003, 08:51 PM

Great Zenith there! I've always wanted one of those porthole sets. I have a radio chassis that goes in the console model. Been saving it in case I come across one.

Hmmm... perhaps I will try beating my head a little more often!

Marlin Mackley · #**284** 06-12-2003, 07:25 AM

Chuck, great jop on the "Z"! Makes me brood over not having time to finish mine. I had the same "chassis isn't ground" prob on a radio/wire recorder I restored a couple of years ago, and the Sams did not show it! Gave me fits after I grounded a replacement cap instead of using the terminal the old one used, new caps being smaller I had used a closer connection point.
Marlin

Cory · #**285** 06-17-2003, 07:16 PM

What a beautiful Zenith!

I was having fun looking at the online chronology of RCA cameras and fired up the 'ol 8T241. I still can't believe how clear and bright the picture is on this set