Saved an '87 19" GE off the roadside - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Trance88 · #1 07-09-2009, 03:08 PM

Hey everyone! I just picked up my first roadside TV, A March 1987 19" GE. Knob tuned. It works but I don't have anything with me to test it out at the moment.

My problem is, I'm away working at a fine arts camp and living out of a dorm for the next month and don't really have room for it here. I'm not sure if I should take it back home with me or should I give it to the local goodwill? Do any of you guys know if this TV worth saving in the first place?

Zenith26kc20 · #2 07-09-2009, 03:39 PM

Some of these were good sets. I would at least take it home as these could give a good picture and were reliable. It may need a good tuner cleaning if it just has snow when you turn it on.

radiotvnut · #3 07-09-2009, 04:34 PM

If it uses the "PC" chassis, I would probably keep it. The "PC" chassis was one of the last, if not the last, "real" GE TV's. I think GE got out of the TV business in '87-'88 when they sold their consumer electronics line, including the RCA name, to Thomson; and, some of those later sets were rebadged Panasonic's or Goldstar's. When Thomson took over, the GE badge was nothing more than a logo only. Your set could be a "real" GE, a Thomson CTC136, or a rebadged Panasonic or Goldstar chassis. There should be a tag on the rear of the set that gives the chassis number.

Trance88 · #4 07-09-2009, 10:57 PM

Well, I just checked it a second ago and I guess it is a real GE! It's not a Thomson. I couldn't find a chassis number. The little sticker on the back says it was made in the USA with imported parts and it gives GE's address as somewhere in Portsmouth, Virginia.

radiotvnut · #5 07-09-2009, 11:05 PM

It's likely either a "PC" chassis or a Panasonic built "MK-II" chassis. During the last days, GE outsourced their TV chassis to Panasonic. I had a 17" "BC" chassis set from around '83-'84. The main chassis was built by Panasonic. If you can post a picture of your set, I can probably tell by the cabinet style what chassis it uses.

Findm-Keepm · #6 07-12-2009, 01:02 PM

Replace the 100uF, 50V cap near the heatsink in the vertical section. That is by far the #1, most common problem with an PC-chassis set. C621, IIRC.

And yes, the PC chassis was born at the Portsmouth plant.

17", 19" and 25" sets came with the schematic in the little box attached to the back - bonus!

Cheers,

zenith2134 · #7 07-12-2009, 01:10 PM

Briefly used a 19" PC chassis and it had a fantastic picture.

radiotvnut · #8 07-12-2009, 01:18 PM

The PC chassis, IMHO, was GE's best solid state chassis. Except for a few bad electrolytics, the chassis was fairly trouble free. Unfortunately, many of these sets that turn up today have weak CRT's. It seems like the CRT's in the early '80's GE sets held up better than the ones from the mid '80's. About 12 years ago, I bought 20 19" rotary tuned "PC" chassis sets from a motel for $5 each. I think I fixed 19 out of 20 and sold them for $50-$75 each (yeah, you could still do that back then). Every one that I fixed had bad caps and many had weak CRT's. Fortunately, these CRT's usually come back to life after being hit with a good rejuvenator.

Trance88 · #9 07-12-2009, 03:12 PM

Sorry for the wait but here are some pics! I hope someone can tell me if this is a genuine GE.

Whats amazing to me is, it can hook up to cable TV and receive cable channels 2 through 13!! 2 through 13 is coax hookup while 14 and up uses the two screw in terminals. I don't have a screw to coax type adapter with me so I can't check and see if it gets the full range of cable. It's got a fantastic crystal clear picture.

radiotvnut · #10 07-12-2009, 05:03 PM

That set actually has a Panasonic chassis in it. They were still decent sets. The most common problem with them was a orange disc cap in the HOT collector circuit that would burn and usually take the HOT with it. I've seen a few with weak CRT's; but, your CRT appears to be fine from the picture. This was one of the last sets before GE handed everything over to Thomson.

*zenithfan1* · #11 07-12-2009, 05:03 PM

Man! does that set bring back memories! My Grandma had the EXACT same one from 1985-6 until about 1996 when I gave her a set to replace the dead GE.

bgadow · #12 07-12-2009, 09:06 PM

Did GE close Portsmouth prior to the Thomson sale, and just build sets itself with RCA? I was thinking they did for a short period...call me crazy, but I like knowing the facts about things like that!

Findm-Keepm · #13 07-12-2009, 11:12 PM

The GE Portsmouth plant closed in 1985 - and the RCA buy was in 1986. The last color chassis made there were the PM and PC chassis. Then they shifted to assembly of sets with Matsushita chassis, but only for a few months.

My Dad got about 40% of their Engineering Department parts and chassis when they closed - lots of prototype "Franken-chassis" sets and quite a few Pre-UL Safety tested CRTs labeled -"Not UL tested, not for Production" - And the flybacks......a whole pallet skid of them - old MA/MB and earlier stuff, mostly. The VIR demo sets he got were a hoot - about 70 jacks and switches mounted in the side cabinet of a 19" EC chassis set, used for engineering and demonstration of the VIR and autocolor feature that used the VIR signal.

I've got a bare PM or PC Chassis board used to test some of their automated parts insertion processes. I'll post a pix, perhaps later today.

Cheers,

Trance88 · #14 07-12-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

That set actually has a Panasonic chassis in it. They were still decent sets. The most common problem with them was a orange disc cap in the HOT collector circuit that would burn and usually take the HOT with it. I've seen a few with weak CRT's; but, your CRT appears to be fine from the picture. This was one of the last sets before GE handed everything over to Thomson.

It's a Panasonic eh? Well, everything on this TV seems to be in good working order other than some slightly oxidized adjustment wheels. What I really want to know is if this TV can accept full analog cable. That would be sweet if it did!

The TV here at dorm lounge has a mid 90's BPC Magnavox TV, the buttons on the front of the TV are almost totally worn out. The remote is lost on the Magnavox so it would be really cool if I could right out replace the current TV in the lounge with the GE untill I take it home at the end of the summer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

Man! does that set bring back memories! My Grandma had the EXACT same one from 1985-6 until about 1996 when I gave her a set to replace the dead GE.

That is really sweet! This TV really doesn't deserve to be kicked to the curb!

Findm-Keepm · #15 07-12-2009, 11:28 PM

Here's the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/07/bu...tv-supply.html

It states the plant closed in Nov 1986 - not 1985, but no sets were produced in 1986 there, for sure.

Cheers,