Old TVs as "decor"

[Carmine]

A while back, I started a thread about using old TVs as a theme for a room (I posted pics of my "eyeball" Zenith on the B&W board). A few people asked if my whole house was done like this.

The answer is yes. (At least those rooms I've fininshed remodeling, previous owner's theme was Early American Dollar-Store Crap)

So without further delay, here are some shots of my computer-room/den. The 70s Space Command Zenith shown doesn't give up a thing in terms of picture quality to a new set. This TV probably sees the most use in the entire house. I didn't even have to get it from the curb....

[Carmine]

The general theme here is obviously old the 70s, Mopars (as in pre-Daimler) and Zenith. Note the white triangles, as in the prior bedroom shots? This is the opposite end of the house.

[Carmine]

Another angle....

[Charlie]

I remember that Zenith! We bought one second hand from a TV shop. My dad got it so we could hook up and play the original Nintendo game. That's all the set was ever used for. I think he was tired of us playing games every time he wanted to sit down and watch TV. It lasted for about 10 years and finally died. I guess it was tired of Mario jumping over mushrooms.

Nice work on that room! Very nostalgic! I recognize that poster on the wall. Could it be a Charger? My parents bought one of those after our return from Germany. They drove that car forever. Here we are in 1972 with our '71 Charger.

[Eric H]

Hi Carmine, nicely done!
I have that same computer desk <gratuitous banana><end banana>

Here's one of my rooms, would this count as "Decor"

(this also explains why I haven't worked on my CTC-7 in a while)

[Charlie]

Eric,

Do you go in there very often???

[Eric H]

Originally posted by Charlie
Eric,

Do you go in there very often???

Usually only as far as the green plastic containers.

[drh4683]

what you see here is my only photo I had from the past. Its a deceiving photo. I have way more than whats pictured. the other side of the basement is stacked with sets and junk chassis! You'll think I'm nuts when you see that...........photo comming soon!

[Jeffhs]

Carmine,

I like the way you've set up your computer room (and the rest of your den as well). Groovy, man! I grew up in the 1970s and recognize the decor--it brings back memories for me from thirty-odd years ago, when I was a teenager in suburban Cleveland.

Attached is a picture of the computer area in my small apartment. The image is a bit outdated (I have since replaced the monitor, which died about a month ago) but otherwise everything is the same as it was when I took the picture, over a year ago. However, I didn't show my TV (RCA XL100), as it is too new (1999) to be considered a classic, let alone antique. I used to collect old TVs years ago, but in 1972, when my dad and I moved, I had to get rid of every one of those old sets, except for a 1961-vintage Philco 19-inch portable and a 1970-vintage RCA-built Silvertone color set. I swear, my neighbors back in my old neighborhood must have thought I was running a TV repair shop out of my basement, from the looks of the treelawn every week for about a month while our house was being cleaned out!

Every time I visit AK's antique-TV forum (which is quite often), it reminds me of those days in the early '70s when my basement in my former home was half full of old TVs. My situation was not nearly as bad as drh4683's, not even close (how on earth does he get around in his basement?), but I know the feeling of having lots of sets (all of which were trash-day finds) sitting around. Many of my old ones just sat there, inoperative (parts sets; I often swiped tubes and parts from one set to get another going). I had one old Zenith 23-inch console I had restored from the ground up (new tubes, etc.) that was working very well by the time I finished the restoration, but--darn it!--I had to give it up when we moved. It nearly broke my heart to get rid of that set after all the work I had put into it, but what could I do?

Ah, memories.


Good luck and very kind regards,