Found a unique Zenith System 3 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

MRX37 · #1 07-08-2009, 06:17 PM

I do not have the energy to post a pic of it right now, but a description should suffice.

It's a 25 inch TV with a curved wood grain cabinet. Speaker(s) are on the bottom. I do not know when it was made because the date sticker on the back is totally faded.

I plugged it in, and it works! The CRT took a little while to warm up, but once it did, the picture looked pretty darn good. Convergence in the corners might need a slight touch up.

I'm probably going to keep it, because it looks like an early system 3, and it may be the closest I ever get to a CCII...

radiotvnut · #2 07-08-2009, 07:15 PM

I think I know exactly what cabinet style you have and Zenith used many different chassis versions in that cabinet. It started off with the CCII, 1st generation System 3, 2nd generation system 3, and the 3rd generation system 3.

The first generation system 3's are from '78-early '79 and use a big power transformer in the power supply. The modules are 9-151, 9-152, 9-153, etc.

The second generation system 3's are from around '79-'82 and used the 9-160 power supply/horizontal sweep module. There is no power transformer in this chassis. The rest of the modules were the same as the first generation.

The third generation system 3's were made between around '82-'86 and used the 9-181 main module and a 9-186 horizontal sweep/HV module.

These sets came in remote and non remote versions with single knob tuning, varactor tuning, or digital cable ready tuning.

MRX37 · #3 07-08-2009, 07:18 PM

This model has buttons, no dial.

Channel numbers are displayed on the TV screen.

Maybe tomorrow if I have some time, I'll snap a pic or two of it. I'm certainly keeping it. It's the most unique TV I've found to date.

MRX37 · #4 07-09-2009, 06:43 AM

Okay, here's a shot of it running off my DTV box:

kx250rider · #5 07-09-2009, 10:10 AM

Looks 2nd generation SysIII (???). Nice set! I have the Chromacolor II version.

Charles

Sam Cogley · #6 07-09-2009, 10:23 AM

A long time ago, I saw one of those in a TV/furniture store with the matching base. I forget what the base looked like, but it stuck in my head because the curved case and base were so different than the norm.

*zenithfan1* · #7 07-09-2009, 12:23 PM

I figured that's the one you found. I love that design, I've been looking for the CCII version for a long time. Haven't found one like yours either. That is a keeper.

MRX37 · #8 07-09-2009, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kx250rider

Looks 2nd generation SysIII (???). Nice set! I have the Chromacolor II version.

Charles

Yeah, probably 2nd generation since it has buttons...

They made a CCII version... and you have one... you lucky #$%^&@##!!!!!

This may be as close as I ever get to a CCII...

colortrakker · #9 07-09-2009, 07:54 PM

I'd say 3rd gen since it has on-screen display. I'm trying to make out from the picture if it has Space Phone. Looks like it might.

MRX37 · #10 07-09-2009, 08:42 PM

I think it does, since it says 'Space phone" on it... whatever that is.

zenith2134 · #11 07-09-2009, 09:02 PM

Nice. I had a '79 with Zoom and LED electronic tuner.

colortrakker · #12 07-09-2009, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRX37

I think it does, since it says 'Space phone" on it... whatever that is.

That's a very cool piece of technology I think we've talked about here before. Basically it's a giant speakerphone. There should be a white phone cable hard-wired into the back of the set. You press the Space Phone button on the remote, dial the phone number (the buttons on the remote have numbers and letters) and chat away. If you get a call, the TV rings and the show's sound mutes automatically. My Space Phone even stores two numbers! Only problem, it only works on pulse lines and all I have is touchtone since I get my phone through cable. Lots of fun and a real conversation piece - literally!

MRX37 · #13 07-10-2009, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colortrakker

That's a very cool piece of technology I think we've talked about here before. Basically it's a giant speakerphone. There should be a white phone cable hard-wired into the back of the set. You press the Space Phone button on the remote, dial the phone number (the buttons on the remote have numbers and letters) and chat away. If you get a call, the TV rings and the show's sound mutes automatically. My Space Phone even stores two numbers! Only problem, it only works on pulse lines and all I have is touchtone since I get my phone through cable. Lots of fun and a real conversation piece - literally!

Ahh. It HAD a white phone cord attached to it, but someone cut that... I was lucky to get to it before they cut the power cord...

kx250rider · #14 07-10-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRX37

They made a CCII version... and you have one... you lucky #$%^&@##!!!!!

This may be as close as I ever get to a CCII...

I'm not attached to the set... I could be talked out of it easily

Quote:

Originally Posted by colortrakker

I'd say 3rd gen since it has on-screen display. I'm trying to make out from the picture if it has Space Phone. Looks like it might.

The on-screen display was available on the 1st generation sets, and I'm 76.2% sure the space phone was also.

Charles

radiotvnut · #15 07-10-2009, 11:01 AM

Oh come on, just pull the back and let us see the insides. Then, we can tell you real quick what generation you have.