Estate Sale Finds in 2010!

[old_tv_nut]

I'd be interested in the B&W set if no-one else has snapped it up, but can't pick it up until late April. Any chance of it finding its way to the ETF convention for pickup?

[Robert Grant]

Originally Posted by Carmine

<snip>

and, no surprise here... It more/less worked. I was really surprised at the sharpness (just a low-power Canadian station using a UHF loop)



Grey scale needs touch up, but green gun does work, drive control is dirty.

Your "Canadian" station with Ion is actually a low-powered American station, W48AV, which was not required to go digital because it is low power (they have a CP to switch to digital, however).

All the way from Shore Club Apartments (9 Mile/Lake St. Clair waterfront)!

Nice saves, BTW.

[drh4683]

This was a rather unexpected find. I didn't have a chance to go to any estates today but I made a rare visit to a local resale store. I pretty much gave up on resale shops for TV's as most of them won't sell TV's anymore for obvious reasons. As soon as I walked it, sitting on the shelf was a GE Portacolor! It was priced at $18.00. Its the later production so I turned it around to check the build date. This one is January, 1976. By far the newest I've ever seen of any portacolor. Does anyone have a newer one out there?
Its a clean little set. Works pretty good too. I need to repair the UHF tuner as it won't receive any UHF stations.

[radiotvnut]

Nice! I would have jumped all over that one, too.

Back in the mid '90's, I had a couple of these sets from October and November, '76. Some folks, I think on this site, mention that they've worked on some from '77 and '78. I think I remember reading on the portacolor website that there are reports of a tube type portacolor being made as late as 1980, although there have not been any confirmed sightings. I think it would be safe to say that there are actually examples out there from '77-'78.

On late GE tube sets, I think Mark has a 19" GE from '75 and I've seen some 12" GE B&W's with click stop UHF tuners from '75-'76.

[peverett]

I have one dated to 1977. I am not sure there are any tube type ones with later dates.

[AUdubon5425]

This G.E. ad from March 1978 implies that '78 was the first year for the 100% solid state models: GE Porta Color Ad

[Electrohome]

I have a 1975 GE Portacolor I got here in North Bay in about 2006 approx that pretty much is very identical to this January, 1976 portacolor shown here. Mine works quite well for being an 11-tube set plus the 9-inch inline color CRT also used in GE Portacolors in the mid-1970's. I also have a JC Penny(Rare!) Portacolor rebrand in a slightly different cabinet made for JC Penny in 1975. It also works pretty good. Same 11-tube chassis and 9-inch inline color CRT. Both have a stop-click UHF tuner as well. The Portacolor was made as late as 1980-this has to be verified with that same 11-tube chassis. I have seen a 1978 Portacolor once here on the internet. The Portacolor was introduced in 1966 as a low-cost color TV for those on a budget who now can get color TV at a price that suits their budget and is easy on their wallet. Yep, the Portacolor was truly the first real portable color TV as well unlike that 1968 14-inch Zenith color "portable" that left a 5-inch bruise on my leg as I bright it home-ohhh:-(

[Electrohome]

That 17-inch 100% solid-state GE color is not a true Portacolor in the sense seen in this March, 1978 advertisement. It uses the Portacolor trademark, which was owned and registered by GE in 1965-66. A true Portacolor uses a 9-inch color CRT, an 11-tube chassis and this will not have a black-matrix or black-stripe CRT as well. Also, another error in that March, 1978 ad is that it states the Portacolor being introduced in 1965, that's not the case. The Portacolor was introduced in 1966.

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by Carmine

As usual, let me know if you are interested. I can't keep these and they will be parted-out if there are no takers! It was me or the dumpster boys, so don't hate!

Cabinets are in good shape, just dusty. Non-smoker, no-kid house.



Surprise, surprise... it's a Zenith B&W set that hasn't been powered on in decades and it works fine. (No antenna) They were in a very nice, dry garage covered with an insane amount of dust.



Here we have a very similar cabinet (all the furniture was this style!)



and, no surprise here... It more/less worked. I was really surprised at the sharpness (just a low-power Canadian station using a UHF loop)



Grey scale needs touch up, but green gun does work, drive control is dirty.


As usual, let me know if you are interested. I can't keep these and they will be parted-out if there are no takers! It was me or the dumpster boys, so don't hate!

I have that same Chromocolor set.

[AUdubon5425]

Originally Posted by Electrohome

That 17-inch 100% solid-state GE color is not a true Portacolor in the sense seen in this March, 1978 advertisement. It uses the Portacolor trademark, which was owned and registered by GE in 1965-66. A true Portacolor uses a 9-inch color CRT, an 11-tube chassis and this will not have a black-matrix or black-stripe CRT as well. Also, another error in that March, 1978 ad is that it states the Portacolor being introduced in 1965, that's not the case. The Portacolor was introduced in 1966.

My point in posting the link to that ad was its statement that the Porta Color was revised for 1978, all solid state and an inline CRT. Also, the Porta Color was available in time for Christmas 1965.

[old_tv_nut]

Anyone know what's happening with Carmine? He asked for interest in those 2 sets and then disappeared - not answering PMs either.

[Electrohome]

Thanks on the info-will update my notes on regarding when the Portacolor was introduced on the market-I will then note the date being approx. late November or early December, 1965-Thanks once more on the precise date and correct info.
Also, Thanks on the correct info regarding the Portacolor changes for 1978 from tubes to solid-state devices and a black-matrix inline CRT as well for 1978 and later GE Portacolor TVs. Will make note here and Thanks:-)

[ChrisW6ATV]

Originally Posted by AUdubon5425

This G.E. ad from March 1978 implies that '78 was the first year for the 100% solid state models: GE Porta Color Ad

Interesting, that ad says the 12" B&W sets had DC restoration (which it also mentions for the Portacolor set). I have never seen a small-screen B&W set that had it.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by old_tv_nut

Anyone know what's happening with Carmine? He asked for interest in those 2 sets and then disappeared - not answering PMs either.

You have a PM. The TVs are safe and being made comfortable. I have just been busy lately.

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by Carmine

You have a PM. The TVs are safe and being made comfortable. I have just been busy lately.

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