estate sale finds again, for 2004

[Carmine]

that "SS K" mark is the old K-Mart (S.S. Kresge stores) logo; Admiral used to make specially-marked TV sets for K-Mart.

Damn, I knew that logo was familar! Should have known since I worked for K-mart 2-years during high school. In that case, "ss" stands for Sabastain S. Kresge (fore-runner and co-exsisting with K-mart).

Sometimes date-codes count weeks/days of the year rather than the traditional month/day/year. "77" could mean the 77th day of 1973.

[Eric H]

Your set looks like the little brother to the set Captainmoody and Classiscradios dug out of the barn in the "Found some more sets" thread!
http://audiokarma.org/forums/showthr...threadid=21267

Originally posted by drh4683
Its been rought the past few weeks, estate sales were not too good, and I was moving into a new home. Just went to a few estates again today and found a nice little 1973 Admiral 12" portable color set

[drh4683]

Its funny that you show a picture of that set eric. I was just talking to captian asking what kind of shape that set was in (before I found this one). Not sure if he was going back up to pick that set up. Id like to have it as a companion to the little one.

I completely forgot about the Kmart connection. I always remembered "S.S. Kresge" on the back of the kmart electronics, especially the radios. Other than this logo up front, the set has nothing about kmart or ss kresge anywhere. All the labels and tags are still on the set, both back and bottom.

Also, marty, I looked inside the set and DID NOT notice any indications of Rockwell International. The 3.58 is dated 9-73, and being continuous UHF, Im going to stick with the 1973 date. It makes more sense, and the TV styling looks more like its from that time.

I have a picture of the logo. Im still confused about the "solid state" part? Here is the only things that uses tubes:
Color difference amp, Vert. Osc+out, Horiz Osc, Horiz out, Sync AGC, Damper, HV rect.
Everything else is solid state. I think its safe to say is certianly a Kmart set. I made the connection to that design just to the left of the "K", apparently its two letter "S" interlaced with each other.

[bgadow]

That looks like a pretty well built set. I had a 19" Admiral that couldn't have been more than a year or so newer, was a hybrid, but it was made in Taiwan. I have some service manuals for some Kmart sets, and they made no effort to hide the true identity in the manuals, but the co-branding is a little odd. I guess Admiral was kinda desperate for sales at that time.

[Chad Hauris]

The Admiral portable must have some kind of an inline CRT...the convergence controls look simplified from the usual for delta-gun crt's.

Inline CRT? That sorta reinforces my first thought that this set kinda resembled a Portacolor. The SSK nameplate may be a subliminal attempt to gain some prestige as there was a very fancy schmancy Mercedes Benz model with that same name back in the 30's.

Anthony

[drh4683]

PortaColor!

Found this late model pc at the salvation army in Oak Park yesterday. The set was sitting on a console with a bunch of other newer sets and this was the only one playing! I was blown away, for a portacolor, this is got to be the best picture Ive ever seen! The focus and color is outstanding. Very nice set to watch by todays standards!
It cost me $15. Resale shops dont bargain around here, its either pay it or get out. Took the back off and blew the dust out etc. All original GE tubes. The sticker on the back of the set is indicates the mfg. date of "November 1975". TV is like new inside and out. I think the biggest plus is that the antennas arnt broken off! Most little portables got abused pretty bad. Around here, if you are lucky enough to find a portacolor, its either mint or totally destroyed (missing knobs, busted cabinet etc.)

[drh4683]

chassis shot:

[Charlie]

Clean find! Hey wait a minute here... aren't you trying to clear out some sets???

[peverett]

I am watching a white cased version of that very TV as I write this. I like these little sets.

[andy]

It looks like it has the high focus voltage CRT. I've never persnally seen one. Does it have shaerper focus than the earlier low focus voltage portacolor CRTs? Does it have a slot mask CRT?

I have a 1976 version of that TV. Almost the same except with slightly different colors on the front. All original tubes, and after tweaking all the controls, it get excellent picture quality, sharp focus. Just depending on the source I have to adjust the color intensity due to lack of automatic chroma gain.

[drh4683]

Picked this up today from an estate in North Riverside, IL (8048 country club Ln). Spotted it durring estate sales saterday. This was well cared for. Had the manuals and papers in the record compartment. The home was built in 1962, so was this. Moto date stamp of "6 M 62". The wall in the basment was specially made to fit this unit into, so it never got a ding or dent. Its a very high quality drexel cabinet.
Notice the huge 16" speaker in the middle. thats a center channel speaker. Has 2 8" speakers for L+R channels and small tweeters. The sound will blow you away! Full bass shakes the whole house! Has "vibrasonic" which is a variable reverb control. Also has FM stereo (with the seperate multiplex chassis) Best part about this unit is, its all american componetns and tubes. Moto even used 6V6GT outputs (6 of them) (2 for L+R and center channels). and one for the center channel. No foreign tube types in this set! (Im rather tired of finding the typical EL84 euro type tubes in american consoles.)
I though my zenith console was best sounding. This moto is by far the best sounding console Ive ever heard! The reverb really adds a great touch to any music!

[drh4683]

picture 2

[drh4683]

tuner pic. AM and FM tuning is controled by center knob for each dial. Flywheel type dial tuners. Has EM84 magic eye tube and is still bright! All original tubes are within this set!