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  #76  
Old 01-01-2015, 06:33 PM
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rca2000 rca2000 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by andy View Post
I've heard various stories about what caused the problem, but I'd love to find out the real story. I'm not sure that even Zenith knew what was wrong (if they did, you would think they would have fixed it).

The problems I saw with these CRTs were that the guns lost emission quickly, and they tended to develop various shorts. That seems to point to some kind of contamination. The phosphor screens never showed any signs of trouble, but that doesn't mean it wasn't the source of the contamination. They acted like shoddy rebuilds.

Thomson made excellent CRTs, and Sony made decent CRTs in the US at that time...


I would like to know this MYSELF. And if it was due to the "greens"--then why did RCA continue to make GOOD crt's that last and LAST__until the mid' 00's or so-?

I mean...I have a CTC 169 RPTV from 1993. My sister watches it EVERY day...12 or MORE hours EVERY day. I have had it in the family room for over 9 years now. I calculated she has put OVER 40 THOUSAND HOURS on it since july or so of 2005 when I put it there..-- and it STILL looks decent !! I repaired it ONCE since then--just a couple of cps in the PS_-and I did some PM soldering on it when I replaced them too. HOW Many flat-panels would handle that sort of use ? how many CCFL tubes would have failed? How many DLP sets or LCD projo sets with Xenon/mercury lamps--how many bulbs would they had gone through in that amount of hours--? light engines? Color wheels ?

Think about it for a minute.

Zenith used to made the BEST Crt's in the WORLD. We all KNOW how good their chrmacolor DELTA tubes were. They are often STILL good today--wello over 35 YEARS since the last sets used them. The round col,or tubes of their also werte pretty good--maybe not QUITE as good as the chromacolors--but not bad--and somewhat likely to still be found good now.

THEN--they went to the "tri=potential' 100 degree chromacolor tubes. There are NOT as long-lived as either the delta chromacolor tubes or the round color tubed and not real likely to be found good now. I would classify them as 'fair' lifespan wise--maybe on the level of most trinitron tubes-- they had a great picture but trinitorns are NOT known for long-life and CANNOT be rejuved. Tri[potentials maybe can be--but I was seeing them bad in the late 19*80's, when they were often only a decade or so old.


After this--they came out with their 110 degree tubed--also only fair--but seem to hold up a BIT better then the 100 degree ones. These tubes had not magnetic shield--no doubt another cost-cut measure. This was the early 1980's or so..

THEN---something DID "happen". By maybe 1991 or so...Zenith went form making indestructible CRT"s...to tubes that died in maybe 3 YEARS !! This has been covered here. Probably cathode contamination. But WHY couldn't they FIX that? I am SURE they HAD to have known about it--the problem went on for over 6 YEARS. By 98 or so...Zenith was using someone ELSES tubes--n their sets--saw no brand name on most--some had RCA looking tubes though. These hold up pretty well.


It just does not make SENSE....how could a company go from the BEST tube--to the WORST tube--in about a DECADE?? Was the QC that much BETTER--in say, 1973 or so--than 1991?
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  #77  
Old 01-01-2015, 09:44 PM
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Well you guys who have more information on this should make a thread on the timeline
of stuff that happened with the tubes.... Someone said earlier that these bad tubes
came from a brand new factory...... So who knows about that...? Did it all start there....?

We all know a lot of companies made better stuff years ago.....

And I don't mean the whole decline of Zenith, we got that covered.... Just the picture tube
issue.... what sizes, years, etc...

.
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Last edited by Username1; 01-01-2015 at 09:49 PM.
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  #78  
Old 01-02-2015, 12:42 PM
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Last edited by andy; 11-20-2021 at 03:42 PM.
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  #79  
Old 01-02-2015, 05:36 PM
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Talking about portable "Zenith"s: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/elec...k0hf6pqs9hefj4
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  #80  
Old 01-02-2015, 07:35 PM
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I have seen a FEW bad chromacolor tubes, mostly the tri-potentials but a COUPLE Of delta tubes too. But ONLY a couple--out of MANY delta chromacolor tubes over decades.
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  #81  
Old 01-03-2015, 01:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Telecolor 3007 View Post
I have the remote admiral model featured in one of the ads at the top of the page. Thanks for helping me find the AD for it.
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  #82  
Old 01-03-2015, 11:38 PM
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RCA2000 just helped me understand why I have the two of the better looking later model Zeniths, 1988-20" monitor at my shop bench, and a 1999 25" I just put in my garage for the service bay set(replaced a 1966 Sylvania 19" BW that spent 12 years there)

Such a shame, the best and worst CRT's from 1 plant, and as DaveT says, sent the old faithful customers away for good.
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  #83  
Old 01-04-2015, 12:41 PM
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etype2 etype2 is offline
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I just read through this post and find it interesting. I want to share with you a comment I received this morning from someone viewing my website that features many Sony Trinitrons. I blocked his email address for privacy.

"....there I go again. Competition not completion! Lol

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 4, 2015, at 6:50 AM, Marshall Wozniak <[email protected]> wrote:

CD,

Thank you for your comments.

If you read enough of my site, you know I'm a big Sony fan. I grew up seeing early color from about 1957. Was in the military and in NYC in 1968. Knew about the new Sony Trinitrons coming out so payed a visit to the Sony showroom on Fifth Avenue. There, I saw the first two models, KV 7010UA and the KV 1210U. The images on those sets blew me away. The difference back then was almost like comparing SD with HD. The superior focus, depth of field and brightness were far above the completion. From that time forward, purchased nothing but Sony televisions and they are reliable. I still have my original KV 1722 from 1973 in very good working condition and it never had a service! The KV 1210 was an original purchase from 1969 and was working well in 2006 when my wife mistakenly gave it away. Lucky to find a replacement.

To my eyes the KV 1210 had one of the best images Sony made. Still have a KD 34XBR960, probably the best imaging set Sony ever made.

Your comments support what I have always felt about Sony. With regards to my spelling and grammar, thanks for those comments, will clean it up. My wife gets on me for the same reason. :-). I appreciate comment, tell me more about yourself.

Best regards,

Marshall

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 3, 2015, at 10:49 PM, CD wrote:



User Submitted Values:
Name: CD
Email Address:
Reason For Message (optional): Multiple points
Your Message: Thanks for the pictures and history. I was researching my long gone Sony KV-5000. When I studied TV repair in college, in '82, ex-Sony Service Manager / teacher told it was most difficult Sony product to repair at that time. Close behind were Trinitrons with SG613 gate controlled switch (a k a Thyristor) for horizontal output transistor, e.g., KV1741R, KV1941R, etc. I repaired over 100 Sony sets and as many other products of theirs over the years. Many Betamax rigs came across my bench and every Sony product until ~1990 was built like a tank! FYI: The KV-1210U used a different type of high voltage focus arrangement with second anode connection on the neck. It was tough to service, but had a great picture. I also worked on Panasonic's "Pop-Up" portable TV circa 1974 which was well made, but couldn't hold a candle to Sony. Last thing, and very minor, but worth knowing. You have then in place of than, in a few places. Then relates to responses: If it breaks, then I fix unit. Than is a choice: I would rather have it working, than broken. Check out m-w.com (Merriam- Webster) for the finer points. It's stuff worth knowing well. Thanks again! CD"
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Last edited by etype2; 01-04-2015 at 12:47 PM.
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  #84  
Old 01-27-2015, 04:59 PM
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I found this very interesting thread on an investing forum from last couple years of Zenith's existence. Very interesting reading, it starts in May '96 and runs through the bankruptcy...of course a lot is speculation from a shareholder's position.

http://www.siliconinvestor.com/subje...subjectid=4290
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  #85  
Old 02-09-2015, 01:38 PM
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I have two Zenith consoles, my 1982 and one from 2002 that I acquired from my friends wife's brother. The 2002, ironically was the set Mom and I looked at back then for just in case the 1982 model needs replaced. The 1982 one is a real trooper and the 2002 model is a good one too. I think it was one of the last consoles made by Zenith.
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