GE Portacolor II knob

[holmesuser01]

That tuner that GE used in the porta-color sets must have been a real terror to turn. I replaced many VHF knobs on them when they came in for service.

I think at one point we tried to buy a stash of knobs from GE for these sets. I don't think it ever came to pass, though.

Seeing these pictures of your set brought back some real dog memories for me. Most of the time, they were straight-forward repairs, and other times they were dogs.

[DaveWM]

dont forget you can replace just the inside part of the knob, that way it does not have to be a perfect match.

[andy]

...

[DaveWM]

indeed there are a lot of knobs that have that style, easier than finding the exact match.

[Findm-Keepm]

PM sent.

[Steve D.]

Tried to turn the channel selector knob on my old Portacolor. It refused to turn.
I applied a little more force and the tuner, it self, broke into pieces.
That was all she wrote for that set. This was many years ago.

-Steve D.

[zeno]

Originally Posted by Steve D.

Tried to turn the channel selector knob on my old Portacolor. It refused to turn.
I applied a little more force and the tuner, it self, broke into pieces.
That was all she wrote for that set. This was many years ago.

-Steve D.

I forgot what brand tuner GE used but the strips would break
& grind up the others. Usually you could pull strips from a
junker & save the day. GE knobs were just plain cheap.
We sold more of them than any other. Also on the C-2 ??
chassis 18 /19" sets the tuner bracket was plastic & would
dry up leaving the tuner falling into the set. It was a stocked
item. You get what you pay for.................

73 Zeno

[Steve D.]

Originally Posted by zeno

I forgot what brand tuner GE used but the strips would break
& grind up the others. Usually you could pull strips from a
junker & save the day. GE knobs were just plain cheap.
We sold more of them than any other. Also on the C-2 ??
chassis 18 /19" sets the tuner bracket was plastic & would
dry up leaving the tuner falling into the set. It was a stocked
item. You get what you pay for.................

73 Zeno

My Portacolor was a first year of introduction set (1966). Couldn't wait to go to the GE distributor and by this set. Used it for several years then went into storage. It was working at that time. Perhaps that tuner bracket did dry up. Just know the tuner was in many pieces after the "forced" turn of the channel selector. Photo is similar to my early model. The ad exclaims "light weight".
Not hardly.

-Steve D.

[zeno]

Originally Posted by Steve D.

My Portacolor was a first year of introduction set (1966). Couldn't wait to go to the GE distributor and by this set. Used it for several years then went into storage. It was working at that time. Perhaps that tuner bracket did dry up. Just know the tuner was in many pieces after the "forced" turn of the channel selector. Photo is similar to my early model. The ad exclaims "light weight".
Not hardly.

-Steve D.

They had a turret tuner with a strip for each channel & one for UHF.
Normally a turret tuner is better cause you could service them
much easier than a wafer switch job. Problem was if the plastic
failed on a strip & you forced it to turn it was like making hamburger.
Not the end of the world if you got a junk tuner to pull the strips from.
Funny thing is other brands used the same tuner but it was a GE
problem. Probably heat related.
Portacolors are strange animals kinda like a Studebaker, you either
love them or hate them, no middle ground........
BTW I love Stude's

73 Zeno

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by Steve D.

My Portacolor was a first year of introduction set (1966). Couldn't wait to go to the GE distributor and by this set. Used it for several years then went into storage. It was working at that time. Perhaps that tuner bracket did dry up. Just know the tuner was in many pieces after the "forced" turn of the channel selector. Photo is similar to my early model. The ad exclaims "light weight".
Not hardly.

-Steve D.

I've got two of those exact sets (one mint the other rather rough), and a newer parts set (missing newer type CRT). If things go right (or wrong if I look at it another way), then I may have a spare set of tuners for you down the road...

[Steve D.]

Originally Posted by zeno

They had a turret tuner with a strip for each channel & one for UHF.
Normally a turret tuner is better cause you could service them
much easier than a wafer switch job. Problem was if the plastic
failed on a strip & you forced it to turn it was like making hamburger.
Not the end of the world if you got a junk tuner to pull the strips from.
Funny thing is other brands used the same tuner but it was a GE
problem. Probably heat related.
Portacolors are strange animals kinda like a Studebaker, you either
love them or hate them, no middle ground........
BTW I love Stude's

73 Zeno

Ha Ha 73 Zeno,

I also love Studes. I've been a member of the Studebaker Driver's Club since 1971. I've owned and restored several Studebakers.

And Electronic M,

Thanks for the offer of the Portacolor tuners. Unfortunately that set was tossed many many years ago.

-Steve D.