Zenith color estate sale score
 

A couple of weeks ago, I ran into Dumonts left and right. Now, it seems, Zeniths.

While I don't exactly need another set ;) , how could I pass up this perfectly working 1969 Zenith color set for $25? Man, the estate sales out here are just LOADED with sets. There was a Magnavox SS console in dark wood that I could have had for the same money, but passed.

I don't think the set ever moved since new. The warranty sticker is right on the back, with the purchase date and warranty expiration.

It's a love hate thing though. I love it, my wife will hate it :D

That is sweet!! Please post some pictures of it when you have it up and running.

Drools!!!

I wonder if it's a 16Z8C50 or a 14A9C50. They both look alike.
Very well kept. :thmbsp:

Nice score!

Looks like a replacement crt as there's no halo or cataracts. I had this same model and it produces a decent color picture. Nice find!

My 14A9C50 has the original CRT and it's a tension band type. :scratch2:

Sure is, and great call.....16Z8C50 :)

Picture's pretty darn good, but the reception was off on this shot using the agile modulator and no antenna hooked to the TV....

I need to tweak the vertical height just a touch to get it to fill out, but I don't have the right long skinny tool to do it....

Hey Tim great score is that set total tube or hybrid fire that set up and enjoy it....Timothy

File down a knitting needle........

73 Zeno:smoke:

I think my wife has some, but she just might kill me if I did, and if she does ;)

Fortunately, I just won a nice big box filled with TV repair tools on eBay cheap, and it's got one of those in it. I'll just wait, unless it starts to drive me crazy, which it will :D

No time to watch TV at the moment though, my cap order for the Dumont RA113 just came in :)

I got a set like that 20cc50 a little newer, '71-72 I think, they produce a very beautiful picture..... Very nice find ! looks like a very good condition cabinet as well.... A real Keeper..!

The set's a early generation hybrid. 16 circuit tubes, a transistorized IF module and a few transistors in other circuits. :scratch2:

this is a really fine set.the crt s in those were unreal and delivered a stunning picture.great score

Good luck with that one Tim, its more of a worthwhile project than any RCA of that period! Zenith was on fire in 1969!

I have one myself but a 16Z7C50 with a swivel base =) thanks to Mr Gadow

Of course some RCAs and maggies were also on fire then....Though in a more literal sence...:eek:

Yes, infamously so and don't forget GE's, also blamed for a few infernos.:smoke:

Grew up with that exact same set, was our families first color tv.
If i had the room I'd like to have that set again !.

Bob

It's only about a 6 hour drive :)

Ha, fortunately for me I know one of very few women who are into this stuff.

Man, I hope that Maggie console wasn't a Star System set. Not that I could have gotten it anyway.

Couple of pics with a good source :)

Even white lettering is crisp with no hint of color ghosts. Only weird thing I did notice is an odd slight fluctuation of facial tones, which went away the last time I had the set going for about 15 minutes.

Typical Zenith quality!!

Weirdly enough, after a few hours of use, it's developed a weird issue, but mostly on flesh tones. Cycles from a good flesh tone to a purplish hue, and back again....constantly in a cycle that takes about 2 seconds to complete. Time to pull and test some tubes....

Just wondering if there's a H-K short in one of the color tubes! :scratch2:

Turns out that the 6BV11 was ALL over the place on the tester, so much so that I'm surprised that it wasn't shorted. The needle went everywhere but up into the green. Replaced that along with a 6GH8 (surprise surprise), and the set seems to be working fine :)

Had to tweak the vertical lin and size just a bit. Pulled out the old indian head pattern DVD, and got it pretty dang close. And now I can watch TV!

What kind of tube checker do you have?
I have a B&K Dyna-Jet 707, that I bought new in 1966. I still like it the best of my four tube checkers. :thmbsp:

I have a Seco drugstore tester. Not fancy, but it checks tubes quickly, and does what I need it to do. I used to have an Eico 666, but I sold the sucker when I realized that it was a huge impediment to getting tubes checked. By the time I worked through an AA5, my thumbs were killing me from the stupid roll chart.

Another one!
 

Seems that the estate sales around here are full of Zeniths :)

Half price day, so this one was $10 including the stand! Haven't fired it up yet though.....

That sure brings back lots of memories. Nice set and a great find.

Perfect picture and sound! Watched an episode of Wagon Train on a snowy afternoon :)

Here's the Zenith all shined up. Ain't she purty? :D

Tim,
That Zenith is the little brother to the one I just rescued from a snowbank last week, and it warmed up nice slow and played pretty good last night. No intervention needed!

Once I find my camera I'll do a post.

Zenith sure knew how to build a solid TV back in the day. looks like a couple very nice scores there :thmbsp: If you feel so inclined some pics with the backs off would be nice.

Great score on both Zenith's, Tim! That stand on the B/W Zenith, is about the coolest stand I've ever seen, and I have seen many styles of stands, over the years. Thanks for sharing the pictures. :-)

The stand is also adjustable to 3 height positions. At its tallest, the top of the set stands about 3 feet tall, as shown :)

You gotta love Zeniths of that era most of those TV sets STILL don't realize that they are now ~50 years old and should not be functioning on their original parts.