Jack Benny on Zenith Porthole
 

Just experimenting with a new Digital Camera so thought I would post a few pictures. These photos were taken with the Nikon 5200 in the "Sunset" mode.
The video source is from a DVD I bought for a dollar at a Dollar store.
Jim

Don't you love those dollar DVDs? Most of the good old shows are available, though I've only seen two volumes of The Dick Van Dyke show.

Dollar DVDs
 

Where are these $1 DVDs available? There is a Dollar General store in my hometown; I wonder if that's where they are. I have a subscription to Netflix, but if I can get classic TV shows on DVD for a buck I'll jump at the chance.

BTW, the picture on classicradios's Zenith Great Circle console (aka Porthole) is great--I don't care if it is from DVD! I don't know what vintage that set is (late '40s or '50s), but no matter. It's a Zenith, and all Zeniths made during the pre-GS era (late '40s to late '80s) were good--excellent, even. I once had a Zenith 23" console which I rescued from a trash pile, minus the tubes. Retubed the whole set (except the 1J3 HV rectifier and the CRT, which were still in place) and was rewarded with an excellent picture on Cleveland's three VHF network stations at that time. We moved three years later, so I had to get rid of that set. Nearly broke my heart to do it, especially after all the work I put into getting it going again. However, in 1977 I found another Zenith SC300 portable on the curb some distance up the street from my home. It worked well for a year, then the horizontal output tube went gassy, throwing the keyed AGC system out of gear (I'll say--the picture on all three VHF stations was so weak and washed out I couldn't watch it). Couldn't find another HO tube (one of those oddball novar tubes with a non-standard filament voltage) locally or anywhere near where I lived at the time, so the set was relegated to my basement and eventually put out for the trash. The next day I bought a new Zenith 12" solid-state b&w portable, which lasted 22 years (and was still working amazingly well when I got rid of it a year after moving to my apartment--I already had two color TVs, one of which is a Zenith which still works, and well, after almost ten years, so I had no use for the small portable any longer). Oh, I suppose I could have found someone who could have used the set (even though the UHF selector was jammed on one channel), but I had too much else going at the time.

I've gotten the dollar DVDs at Dollar Tree and Wal-Mart. I think Target has some in their dollar section in the front of the store.

I have gotten them at Big Lots, but the quality has been iffy, like they did not worry about focusing the projector in the transfer process.
Marlin

I was checking up on this thread yesterday when a delivery man walked in: "Is that a TV? Wow! That thing has got to be worth a lot of money!" He just couldn't get over it!

For Christmas I got a Dick Van Dyke DVD; Last year I bought my wife an Andy Griffith DVD for a few dollars at Dollar General. The Food Lion had them during the holidays pretty cheap, but not $1. I might have to buy a cheap second player for use in the tv room. Too much hassle to disconnect the one in the living room everytime I want to play with one of the old sets.

Jim, that is a sweeet looking Porthole! I love that cabinet style with the smooth wraparound corners. :thmbsp:

It is a great console TV, By far my favorite. Many many sets have come and gone but this one always remains. Eric, Do you still have that metal cone 12UP4 CRT? That You mentioned in the other thread. Sure could use it to finish up the tabletop version Porthole set I have. (Same model year as my console)

I've only seen the dollar DVD's at Wallmart and a few Dollar stores. I bought Jack Benny (3 episodes on the DVD) and TV Detectives. I also have the TV connected to Tivo so when TV Land broadcasts something decent I record it and play it back on the vintage set. TVland has been quite a dissapointment lately with shows like Wings, Macgyver, etc... When will they bring back the Honeymooners! or more 1950's shows. Oh well, I have plenty on DVD now anyway.
Jim

Jim, I haven't heard from anyone wanting it for the $25 Porthole yet, so unless someone let's me know real soon that they bought that set and want it, it's yours.

Eric

Eric:

I'm picking up the $25 porthole set tomorrow. I wanted to test the crt first before I gave you a call. I do have a good 12LP4 that might work in that set with some slight modification.

Steve

Vintage TV in 3D
 

Here's something different, A 3D photo of my Zenith TV and 1922 Victrola. Of course you'll need Red/Cyan 3D glasses to view it in 3D. Thought I would post 1 picture in the off chance any members had 3D glasses, I'll post more 3D Photos if there is any interest.
Jim

Still trying to find my 3D glasses... I know i have a pair around here somewhere. That's a pretty cool idea... your digital camera has a setting for 3D?

3D?? I just thought it was my hangover!
Marlin

I use a gadget I bought off ebay called Photo3d. You connect your digital camera to it, Take a right eye image and then a Left eye image then use the included "Photo3D" software to create a 3D image. As you can see in the photo the camera connects and slides horizontally and gives the correct distance for the 2 shots. Really easy software to use too.
Jim

Another 3D photo
 

Here's a color 3D Photo I made.