Old Zenith Tube Set - Page 2 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

vinyldavid · #16 11-25-2007, 08:29 PM

Chromacolor has a remote that works, although I have to hook up the antenna in the set for it to work. Also, the RF connector is broken on that RF wire that comes out the back. I can't seem to get any stations when I adjust each individual channels inside the tuner. I might get a channel one night, and the next one, it's gone. I can do this between hours, too. I have not opened up either Zenith, but I will open up the old one to check. Might be a remote set, after all.

drh4683 · #17 11-25-2007, 08:55 PM

Nope, your 15L23 set is a basic set with out space command.

radiotvnut · #18 11-25-2007, 10:50 PM

I'd like to see some pictures of those sets. The Chromacolor sounds like the very first color TV I ever fixed. Mine had the four button "clicker" remote. Those sets have darn nice pictures when they are working and adjusted properly. You'll need to fix that broken RF cable before any decent reception will take place. In the '90's, I got a few B&W Zenith consoles here and there. They all either worked or didn't need much to get them working. Try to hang on to those sets if you can. No TV made today can measure up to the build quality of those old Zenith's!

Boobtubeman · #19 11-25-2007, 11:45 PM

I had a chromacolor in my day. Same model as the one forest gump jr is watching in the movie. Someone gave it to me with a blown tripler. Put a brand new one in it and enjoyed it for years. It had the slider for changing channels. Ive had a few of them chromacolors. Nothing left these days but spare parts. I miss those sets, they were great

Steve

vinyldavid · #20 11-25-2007, 11:59 PM

Next time I am over there, I will bring my camera and snap some pics. They sure are nice sets. Anyone know how much a Chromacolor II weighs? I can barely move the one at my Grandmothers.

radiotvnut · #21 11-26-2007, 12:10 AM

How much a Chromacolor weighs? A TON!!! That thing is built on a metal chassis and there's a power transformer in there that is HUGE. Wait until you find the 23" or 25" metal cabinet version of one of those sets. Those big RCA metal cabinet Lyceum classroom TV's were about the heaviest table model sets I've seen in the 25" category.

vinyldavid · #22 11-26-2007, 12:15 AM

Ya know, I think that the chromacolor might be 23".....but maybe not, I just don't know.

That would explain why is has taken me until I turned 15 to barely lift it.

My grandmother wants them THROWN AWAY I think. Unless they are worth anything. The OLD one is MINT, but I really never looked at the newer one too closely. Do they have any value? I don't want to sell, but I would like them kept.

drh4683 · #23 11-26-2007, 03:50 PM

no real value to these old sets. I like the 60's-early 70's sets myself and they really do not bring in any considerable amount of money if you were to sell them on ebay. Honestly, your lucky to get $40 a piece for those sets. I cant even give them away locally.
Hopefully you can save them for yourself. Its always neat to have your familys OLD tv sets. Sounds like you are in the same predicament I was in when I was 15. I wanted to save the TVs and the family said NO way. I lost out on my great uncles 19" 4 tube hybrid because of that, but I was only 9. If I remember correct, it was a space command 500 model too as it didnt work unless the remote was used (little did I know of the bypass switch on the back). We though it was broken, but I still wanted it badly. I remember that TV was left all by itself on the floor of his apartment in chicago after we cleaned it out when he passed away back in '92. I have a few family sets myself and they are important to keep.

radiotvnut · #24 11-26-2007, 04:27 PM

To the average person, old TV's are the epitome of junk and you could not give an older set to them. They all want the most modern TV's with all the latest features. All of my "peers" in my age group think they must have the most modern of everything. They would probably need a course in changing the channels on older TV's, LOL! I have a 1977 RCA XL-100 color set that has a better picture than a lot of newer models; but, I can't give it away because it's TOO OLD! About the only luck you will have selling most vintage TV's would be to a collector; and, not for very much money. Like Doug said, about $40 a piece if you're lucky. Try to keep them and use them yourself if you can. You will be pleased with the results. I remember when I was a kid (not that long ago) that I often caught flack from my parents for bringing more junk home. It really got bad when supper time rolled around and I had a TV or radio torn apart on the kitchen table.

I guess the best advice as far as value would be "what's it worth to you." If you enjoy collecting radio's & TV's (like I do) then go for it. A lot of my stuff wouldn't be worth two cents (even to collectors) but I enjoy fixing it and I enjoy getting use out of it. And, to me, that's all that matters.

vinyldavid · #25 06-08-2008, 03:13 PM

WOW! I forgot all about this!

going to grandma's house tonight, and pix forthcoming!

vinyldavid · #26 06-08-2008, 10:55 PM

Pix as promised so long ago....

truetone36 · #27 06-08-2008, 11:23 PM

I have one like that in the shop. Mine belonged to my uncle. I got it when he passed away in '01. In 7 years it's always worked fine, which is typical of Zenith.

radiotvnut · #28 06-09-2008, 12:13 AM

Yes, you've got a good B&W set there. The main trouble they gave were weak or shorted tubes and dirty tuners/controls. Those are good DX sets when working properly.

vinyldavid · #29 06-09-2008, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

Yes, you've got a good B&W set there. The main trouble they gave were weak or shorted tubes and dirty tuners/controls. Those are good DX sets when working properly.

Sad that I will no longer be able to use the tuner in it after 2009.

Always worked perfectly.

Old1625 · #30 06-09-2008, 07:41 PM

I'd say snag it--but reject the extended warranty pkg. I never take up on those meself!

J/K...

I had a late '50s Zenith table model as a kid--16E21 chassis, Rauland CRT in the set that originally called for a 21CXP4. I used to use it as a loaner as a teenager when folks would let me take in their color sets for repair. They liked the set so much that they were almost reluctant to take their color sets back over that lovely B&W! It was as sensitive as a bum tooth, and seemed to pull channels in favorably over competing sets of its time or later... Figure that one out....

I never did much with that set except to watch it....There were minor hum bars in the picture that could be nulled with the contrast control. While I was curious as to why this was happening I never pursued it; the set worked well enough with the contrast control arranged at the null-point, and I was too busy buying parts to build amplifiers and radios to be concerned about such a minor issue.

Go figure....