My two Zenith portholes - Videokarma.org TV - Video

frenchy · #1 01-03-2005, 12:34 AM

The console is one I recapped and put in my mom's house, the table model is at my place amongst my other junk...

***Eric H*** · #2 01-03-2005, 01:10 AM

Beautiful!

Never been able to find a Porthole for my collection

Eric

frenchy · #3 01-03-2005, 02:51 AM

And here's another set I have, a Hoffman. I replaced the yellow screen glass with clear lexan to make the picture brighter and untinted. Sorry for the picture, it's just hooked up to a lousy vcr with a lousy tape right now and is tearing like a son of a gun. I'll get a cheapo dvd player some day to play my Honeymooner dvds on it : )

Sandy G · #4 01-03-2005, 05:51 AM

Wow, Frenchy, man, those are GREAT !! Congrats on bringin' 'em back from the dead. Never have seen a working Zenith porthole-they're kinda weird lookin' in a way-no offense. Have run up on a few, but they've always been way too much money-or hopeless. Ahh, someday...<grin>-Sandy G.

#5 01-04-2005, 09:57 PM

Nice portholes.I also have yet to have a porthole in my collection

#6 01-05-2005, 02:01 AM

I have a similar Hoffman (813?) in a darker cabinet with front doors (and cheesy looking handles). It features an AM/FM radio too. Right now it's pretty ratty looking and was told by the previous owner that only the radio works (on AM). This is the earliest set I own (1949? and predates lil ol me by 9 years)

Anthony

***Eric H*** · #7 01-05-2005, 02:23 AM

I have a similar Hoffman also http://www.vintagetvsets.com/hoffman.htm
Still haven't finished it.

#8 01-05-2005, 02:56 AM

Yup yup, that's the critter. Are those doors the silliest thing you've ever seen? At first I thought some crazed previous do-it-yourselfer owner had made the doors or at least modified the hardware.....that's how chintzy they look......pretty crude and not very professional. The yellow tint glass is bizarre too......they could've used this set on the Addams Family in lieu of that Farnsworth!

Anthony (when I grow up, I wanna be just like Uncle Fester)

asynchronousman · #9 01-05-2005, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathkit tv

I have a similar Hoffman (813?) in a darker cabinet with front doors (and cheesy looking handles). It features an AM/FM radio too. Right now it's pretty ratty looking and was told by the previous owner that only the radio works (on AM). This is the earliest set I own (1949? and predates lil ol me by 9 years)

Anthony

Please post it? I'll try to get the one I mentioned posted last night very soon, and I want to compare. Thanks.

#10 01-05-2005, 03:04 PM

It's in storage right now and won't get a chance to take a pic for about a week or so.

Anthony

asynchronousman · #11 01-05-2005, 03:19 PM

I'll have a good shot of mine within a couple of daze. It'll floor you!

frenchy · #12 01-06-2005, 10:52 PM

One cool thing about my Hoffman is the tuner knob, has little factory-made inserts that are pushed into the back of it that show the call letters of the stations back then (1949 I think from the date on the tube) - like KTTV 11, KTLA 5, KFI 9. Those first two are the only ones that haven't changed call letters for 56 years! Adds more nostalgia to the set...Frenchy