80s Emerson - Videokarma.org TV - Video

zenith2134 · #1 01-08-2012, 06:55 PM

For some reason I tend to seek out newer tv's from pre-85 or so and have been looking for an early 80s Emerson color set since I've always regretted throwing out 2 of em when my grandmother died in '03...one was a 19" from 87 and the other an 85 i think. Used to watch those a lot growing up.
I located a free one , working perfectly dating back to 83.
Anybody know who made these? I want to say GoldStar but I seem to remember one of them being a Daewoo.
I know, i know, zero collectors' value, not the best chassis or crt, but I do plan on grabbing it.

Thoughts?

Electronic M · #2 01-08-2012, 07:20 PM

My first working TV as a kid was a late 70's to mid 80's knob tuned Emerson. I loved that set, and was real sad that I had to give it to a thrift about 8 years back in a move.

zenith2134 · #3 01-08-2012, 08:30 PM

Nice. the one I have fondest memories of was the 85 one.. Had a simply amazing picture.

radiotvnut · #4 01-08-2012, 09:47 PM

All of the '80's Emerson's I had were either made by Goldstar or Orion. I had a lot of problems with flyback failures in both the GS and Orion sets and the CRT's were not that great in the GS sets. Still, I fixed a lot of those sets and made good money off of them.

I remember the 13" and 19" Orion-built sets with the side-mounted chassis. Those sets had an auto-kine bias circuit board in them and that board was prone to have loose solder connections on them. Those sets did have a very nice picture when they worked.

In '87, my Dad bought a 13" Emerson knob tuned color set to replace a worn out 13" Truetone tube-type color set that was used in our motorhome. He paid $149 for it and it always had a great picture. After he got rid of the motorhome, that set was re-located to his bedroom. When he passed away in '97, I sold the TV. If I found one of those TV's for cheap, I'd probably grab it.

bgadow · #5 01-08-2012, 10:05 PM

In about '91 I met a semi-retired TV repairman who talked me into buying most of his inventory. (he was a good salesman-it was mostly junk) He must have saw a ton of those sets because I ended up with 3 or 4 good used Orion crts for those plus he told me some trick to fixing them. He mentioned that they went through horizontal output transistors pretty bad. I do remember the early 80s knob-tuned models well. Most of the discount department stores carried them. My cousin, who was very young at the time, got one for Christmas one year. My uncle gave me the owners manual to it last year but I don't know if the TV still exists. Not old enough for me to keep one but I'm glad somebody cares for them.

RobtWB · #6 01-09-2012, 12:08 AM

I have a late 80's Emerson EĆR2100D. Crt is Orion so I will assume rest of set is also.
Side mounted chassis in this one. Only purchased it because case is flawless.
Was pleasantly suprised to find it produces as good a picture as any set I have seen.
Never use it anymore. If someone was to drop by and want the set I would gladly load them up
With it. I do like that red led xhannel display.

radiotvnut · #7 01-09-2012, 12:31 AM

There were a few versions of that side-mounted chassis. One was the cable ready remote version with the red LED readout. The second one had a 14 button varactor tuner with the small channel tuning thumbwheels for each position and was non-remote. The third used a similar style varactor tuner with remote. These came in 13" and 19" versions.

zenith2134 · #8 01-09-2012, 12:38 AM

I just spoke with someone who would know about the set Ive been calling the 85.. a family member who also used it..it was non-remote and had the pushbutton tuning which radiotvnut describes, and they think it was bought in 86.Come to think of it, even I didn't save this back then.
But it looked good. I bet it's nearly impossible to find a replacement flyback for one of these nowadays...is that true?
i'm at a point where i'm trying to reclaim nostalgic tv's from my youth.

Electronic M · #9 01-09-2012, 11:47 AM

If you see another one that is beat to heck at the thrifts then there is your spare flyback, etc, etc.

I got mine for 10$ at a yard sale in the mid 90's and always found it to have good picture and OTA reception in the time I owned it, but I was a kid then so take the user endorsement with a grain of salt.

radiotvnut · #10 01-09-2012, 02:05 PM

I'm sure a generic brand flyback could be found. Back in the '90's, I used ECG brand flybacks in these sets.

zenith2134 · #11 01-09-2012, 06:28 PM

hmm good thoughts here... I found a cache of 80's Sams photofacts and the Emerson I'm talking about is in one of em.. Along with similar cheap sets like 80s Capeharts, Midlands, and Daewoo..One reason I like these is because 'aint nobody saving em!'

zenith2134 · #12 02-16-2012, 02:04 PM

Got a 1983 Emerson today.. model EC-131 with a 13" screen
This thing has a really strong crt...great picture.

Hemingray · #13 02-16-2012, 06:45 PM

I have a 19" with a side mounted chassis and LED readout, found it off the side of the road just up the hill from here, initial problem was no vertical height at all (top of the pic was completely gone, bottom was fine). after finding and replacing a (literally!) leaking electrolytic, full vertical appeared.

zenith2134 · #14 02-16-2012, 06:52 PM

Mine isn't the side mounted chassis..it's the singleboard Goldstar with 370FCB22 tube. and knob tuner.

marty59 · #15 02-17-2012, 02:31 AM

Pick this (Emerson labeled) up from a friend of mine a while back and I'm surprised at the picture. I haven't even looked inside it and today was the first time I used it for any amount of time. It was going to be left behind as he was moving and I saw it play before and it was too good for that! Besides using a little degausing it plays great and the CRT is strong. This set was made April '86.

Sorry about the first blurry picture. I could bring it with me to the ETF....