Kutztown TV finds

[consoleguy67]

I really miss not being able to use the tuner in my vintage sets to change channels. People that were not alive during those times don't understand how things were.

[consoleguy67]

Also, the networks had better shows then.

[DavGoodlin]

I run three VHF(3-7-11) and one UHF(45) B-T channel modulators so I can use any set with rabbit ears around my place.

Four of the Funai-made Magnavox/Philco DTV boxes run 24/7, connected to a roof antenna of course..

Its just like old times with a little bit of snow and ghosts sometimes but yes, TV writing is not very clever anymore so its all old stuff for me too.

Channel 3 is a CBS (3-KYW or 21-WHP) in honor of those classic "Westinghouse Broadcasting" call letters. Before that, 3-WPTZ in PHL was Philco's station!

Channel 7 is a local NBC (8-WGAL) can't use 8 but there is no 7 locally.

Channel 11 is used for METV, a throw back to 11-WPIX in NYC, which was an independent that showed great cartoons and re-runs of Star Trek

Channel 45 is Grit, RTV or some channel that shows old movies, a tribute to WBFF-TV 45 in Baltimore, which often showed classic movies and was home to "Captain Chesapeake" who showed Popeye and 3 Stooges at 6-7am before we caught the bus.

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by LukeSimon

This is why I think people here are wrong to criticize the high prices on Ebay. Those high prices are caused by vintage TVs not being easily accessible in all locations, and it is the free market incentivizing people to spend the time and effort to cherry pick TVs from flea markets and other places... and make money selling them to people like me, who are not in a part of the world where these TVs are found in the wild. Everyone wins: the seller makes money, the buyer gets a TV they never thought they'd find in real life, and a vintage TV is preserved.

Well said because we need to share this excess, thanks!

[Tube TV]

Originally Posted by LukeSimon

Sounds like Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory compared to the area I live in. In "the wild" here in the San Francisco bay area, I have never seen a TV older than the 1980s. I'd drive several hours to attend a massive swap meet, if I knew there'd be 1960s color non-solid state TVs there. Kutztown would be 86 hours of non-stop driving for me.

Same thing here in BC. I see a local tube TV once in a blue moon these days.
There's stll all kinds of radios still hanging around, mostly console floor models but very few TV's older than the 80's.
I did miss out on a 1951 GE that local back in December and that was the first one I'd seen in a long time.

[LukeSimon]

Originally Posted by Tube TV

Same thing here in BC. I see a local tube TV once in a blue moon these days.
There's stll all kinds of radios still hanging around, mostly console floor models but very few TV's older than the 80's.
I did miss out on a 1951 GE that local back in December and that was the first one I'd seen in a long time.

After driving back from getting my covid shot, I saw a yard sale with 2 mid century bakelite radios and 1 wood console radio. I slammed on my breaks so hard it made a noise. I bought a small table top bakelite 1950 Arvin tube radio for $5. Buying stuff online is nowhere near as fun as finding a vintage tube electronics in the wild. It is actually a good thing I never find any mid century tube TVs in the wild because I would not be able to pace myself when it comes to acquiring yet another TV.

[AlanInSitges]

Originally Posted by consoleguy67

I really miss not being able to use the tuner in my vintage sets to change channels. People that were not alive during those times don't understand how things were.

See also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHNEzndgiFI

[consoleguy67]

I had two stepsons that couldn't grasp the concept of black and white televisions.

[Electronic M]

IIRC most flat screens have a color level control in menus that can be set to min for monochrome opperation....It wouldn't be hard to syrup-ticiously change that setting some April Fool's day and watch their reaction when they turn on the TV.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by DavGoodlin

I run three VHF(3-7-11) and one UHF(45) B-T channel modulators so I can use any set with rabbit ears around my place.

Four of the Funai-made Magnavox/Philco DTV boxes run 24/7, connected to a roof antenna of course..

Its just like old times with a little bit of snow and ghosts sometimes but yes, TV writing is not very clever anymore so its all old stuff for me too.

Channel 3 is a CBS (3-KYW or 21-WHP) in honor of those classic "Westinghouse Broadcasting" call letters. Before that, 3-WPTZ in PHL was Philco's station!

Channel 7 is a local NBC (8-WGAL) can't use 8 but there is no 7 locally.

Channel 11 is used for METV, a throw back to 11-WPIX in NYC, which was an independent that showed great cartoons and re-runs of Star Trek

Channel 45 is Grit, RTV or some channel that shows old movies, a tribute to WBFF-TV 45 in Baltimore, which often showed classic movies and was home to "Captain Chesapeake" who showed Popeye and 3 Stooges at 6-7am before we caught the bus.

The Funai built convertors aren't as sensitive as the Zenith/Insignia units, but are more reliable. You need a real good signal. I use either Zenith/Insignia or Digital Stream. The same thing goes wrong with the Zenith/Insignia boxes, the 1000mfd 16volt capacitor in the power supply board. When repairing, that's the only one I change!

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

The Funai built convertors aren't as sensitive as the Zenith/Insignia units, but are more reliable. You need a real good signal. I use either Zenith/Insignia or Digital Stream. The same thing goes wrong with the Zenith/Insignia boxes, the 1000mfd 16volt capacitor in the power supply board. When repairing, that's the only one I change!

Thanks! I was wondering if I need to do all of them eventually or that I missed a surface-mounted electrolytic.
The Funai get local RF (those not my DX choice either) and their best feature: when they lose power momentarily, it does not turn them off.
The Channel Master CM-7000s quit long ago, by far the best for storing channels as you rotate you antenna, but once scanned - virtual and rf numbers get duplicated and direct access tuning of RF is lost.

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

IIRC most flat screens have a color level control in menus that can be set to min for monochrome opperation....It wouldn't be hard to syrup-ticiously change that setting some April Fool's day and watch their reaction when they turn on the TV.

I have to try that!

[Zenith26kc20]

Don't throw the Channel Master boxes away. If you have a ESR meter go thru the main board and you will find at least half of the electrolytics bad. The power supply board needs every electrolytic changed. I increased the value of the power supply capacitors to at least double their value. Great boxes made as cheap as possible!
When I am not using mine, I unplug it.
The Digital Stream and Insignia boxes run 24 hours a day. Both of mine have had their power supplies rebuilt.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Zenith26kc20

Don't throw the Channel Master boxes away. If you have a ESR meter go thru the main board and you will find at least half of the electrolytics bad. The power supply board needs every electrolytic changed. I increased the value of the power supply capacitors to at least double their value. Great boxes made as cheap as possible!
When I am not using mine, I unplug it.
The Digital Stream and Insignia boxes run 24 hours a day. Both of mine have had their power supplies rebuilt.

I did several of those and all I replaced is the 1000mfd 16v lytic. I suppose the proper way is to change them all, but didn't see the need, at the time.

[iong]

Do y