Modern Zenith Console

[jstout66]

I keep seeing the SAME Zenith console listed on my local craigslist. I love the style, and it would be perfect for my office, but geeezzzz.. talk about a seller having an item overpriced. They want $125.00. They just keep re-listing and relisting.......
It's a 27", would it be the era of the bad picture tubes, or was that only the 25" ?

[holmesuser01]

I have recently run across no less than 6 of these 27" Zeniths with bad CRT's. Yes, these are made during the bad tube era.

[radiotvnut]

You don't want that set, unless they PAY YOU to haul it off. Those are from the bad CRT era and I was seeing them with bad CRT's when they were only 2 years old (sometimes less).

Concerning the price, there are some people still living in the past when it comes to used TV prices. And, I guess they keep relisting it in hopes that some sucker will eventually come along and pay their price.

If you want an upright console, find an RCA or Magnavox from the '90's. They are much better than a Zenith from that era.

[holmesuser01]

I was doing warranty service for Zenith thru a major retail store when these set were brand new. I put a rebuilt (store brand) CRT in a set that was less than one year old over and over and over.

When I closed down my shop in 2005, I had over 50 newer Zenith TV's with bad CRT's in the junk building. I pulled chassis modules and re-used almost all of them. Run, don't walk, away from this set, and any 1990's and up Zenith TV's!!!

[jstout66]

I kinda figured.... My Uncle who had his Zenith dealership closed shop in the early 90's, so I'm not familiar with ANY Zenith set after 1992.
I do remember I was surprised when I found out Zenith had gotten so bad. (this was before my VK days) I worked at a used shop and serviced the sets that came in. (well.. the older stuff) anyway.. we got in a 27" BPC Zenith that was fairly new, and I was shocked that the picture tube was bad in it. I NEVER saw a bad Chromacolor delta tube OR a Zenith tri-focus System 3 era tube for that matter. I figured it was a fluke until I joined here. I wasn't sure if the set I was asking about was of that era, but pretty much figured they wer all bad. I wouldn't pay 125.00 anyway, and I'll pass on it as it would be replacing a 32" Toshiba BPC that has a picture tube that's going soft......

[rca2000]

There were at LEAST 10 of those Zenith sets of all sizes, on the "Wyoming pickup" yesterday. ALL of them were still there at 3AM last night--along with many other modern tv's--though people were grabbing nearly ANYTHING else of value, all day long!!

[radiotvnut]

I got burnt on those Zenith's before I knew better. I'd get one in with a shorted regulator IC and the associated parts that blow up with it. I'd change those parts and the set would work. Within a short time, the set would come back with the same parts blown. I finally figured out that it was the CRT that would intermittently short; which, drew an excess amount of current that would blow up the power supply.

Sometimes, they would fry parts in the video output circuit. I remember one '97 Zenith that came in with no green and the CRT tested fine. I replaced a defective green video driver transistor and the set once again had a nice picture. Two days later, the set was back with no green and the same transistor had failed. Once again, I determined that the CRT was intermittently shorting and causing the problem.

It finally got to the point where I would not accept and of those sets for repair. During the late '90's-early '2000's, I was getting the junk from our none out-of-business Zenith dealer and I got tons of these newer sets with bad CRT's. Sometimes, I'd rejuvenate the tube and sell the set really cheap after explaining to the buyer why it was cheap. Other times, I'd steal a good non-Zenith tube out of something else and that move probably made the set more reliable than it was from the factory. I also got many CCII's and early system 3's that the customers didn't want to spend the money to have them fixed. Those sets were much better than the newer ones and it's rare to find a Zenith delta gun CRT from the '70's that's dead.

[bgadow]

While cleaning out the inventory of a former Zenith dealer I found a partial kit he bought which would repair everything the crt typically wiped out. It also included an isolation transformer (as I recall) for the crt, to keep it from happening again. I think I may still have that kit somewhere, if there is any interest.

[jstout66]

I noticed the seller keeps listing it day after day.... he needs to get a clue. I think it's come to the point you can barely give a CRT set away. Case in point... I saw a seller that had one of the last Toshiba CRT sets (36") WITH the factory stand. 40.00. I was gonna attach a pix, but that one actually sold........

[holmesuser01]

I've got a 36" Trinitron built in 1992. Paid $30 for it, and the guy helped me load it! Complete with owners manual and unused original remote. I checked out the color and the grey scale, and didnt touch anything, other than a tiny focus adjustment. It's beautiful.

EDIT: It's got a ton of usable inputs!!!

[DaveWM]

picked up a 32" digital ready CRT set a year or so ago from the curb, guy was outside, asked what the deal was, he said take it if you want it, works fine.

GREAT set he said he was "upgrading" to a flat screen. it was only a couple years old.

[holmesuser01]

I'm often amazed at what folks will give away if you tell them you will use it instead of reselling it.

(I dont resell.)

[andy]

...

[jstout66]

I was bored today, and playing with the basement hoard.. looks like I have a wall of Zenith's. I fired up the 2 Chromacolors ( they have been idle for awhile) The Console is a 1975 Chromacolor 2. The portable is a 1971 Chromacolor Hybrid. Pictures are great on both (altho my camera doesn't show it) I think the hybrid has the better pix of the 2.....

[DaveWM]

yep, nice looking sets.