Zenith B1717J portable, anyone?
 

I've never really gotten into vintage TVs, but I picked a couple up the other day that look to be easy projects. One is a Zenith B1717J portable. About 16" tube, B&W, and fairly stylish with a large tuning knob jutting out of control cluster on the front top edge. I'd guess late '50s.

Anybody have information on this series of sets? Age, schematics, model-specific issues, etc. It's in excellent shape, and has sound and high voltage. Seems to just need the vertical scan repaired and a general age restoration.

I have one; when I got it, it worked but with the typical vertical issues. After recapping it is a very solid performer. This is a set you might get away with doing just the bare minimum (new caps in the vert circuit.) It's in Sams 426-3; I have a spare, yours for postage.

These are great sets, I have one that's like new with paperwork. All original except a few tubes I changed and kept the originals. Mine is a '58 so yours is probably close. What colors are yours BTW? Mine's a beige and brown combo. I'll be envious if it's the blue one:)

Bryan, PM sent

Zenithfan, it's the beige/brown two-tone. I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression the other colors got different letters in the model number.

Major thanks to Bryan for the Photofacts. I hope to have this thing running again sooner or later.

That the series of Zenith TVs with those 3 legged disc cap looking things? That actually house caps and resistors. And have codes like 22-3 stamped on them? Had to replace one of those to get the vertical to work better. Had to guess at what the values of the caps and resistors should be, using some vague info off the 'net. My set:
http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/zenithtv.jpg

Dunno about that funky component, but here's my TV after a little cleaning:

http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...io/zenith1.jpg
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...io/zenith2.jpg
http://i442.photobucket.com/albums/q...io/zenith3.jpg