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1951 16" Zenith Porthole Restoration

I decided to work on one of my 16" portholes, while I work on alignment in my RCA projection set.

That's a very nice set.

Thanks! It's a pretty straight forward restoration with easy to get to parts. I'll replace all capacitors, sand coated resistors and the candohm resistors too. If I could only find the lazy bones remote for one of theses sets!

Don't we all wish we had a Lazy Bones remote? Some enterprising collector should start making reproductions...

I didn't know they had remotes for TVs this early, I know Zenith's very first wireless remote was the "Flash-o-matic" if I remember right which was basically just a flashlight that you would shine on 4 photoresistors on either one of the 4 corners of the TV that would either turn on the TV change the channel, raise and lower the volume and mute the TV if I remember right, and that was back in 1955 if I remember right, so I take it this "lazy-bones" remote was wired? :scratch2:

I was actually surprised that there were only 3 bids on the complete Lazy Bones kit, including motor, that was on eBay recently:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zenith-Lazyb...p2047675.l2557

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim (Post 3155659)

I was actually surprised that there were only 3 bids on the complete Lazy Bones kit, including motor, that was on eBay recently:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Zenith-Lazyb...p2047675.l2557

That is NOT the correct unit for the H-series chassis. That one might be for the J-series chassis.

I bid on one a couple months ago that was new in the box, but I gave up at around $115. Here's the cabinet with the doors closed.

All caps are replaced and it is a pretty good picture. It is very stable too. Deciding on if I want to replace the sand coated resistors or leave well enough alone.

Alright, calling this one done!

A classic set. Very nice!

Portholes RULE !! Still wish I'd sprung for the one I saw over in Pigeon Forge several. years back.. It WASN'T a Zenith, either... It was in a touristy "Aunty-Kue" shop.

I looked at the eBay listing for a Zenith SC400 remote kit. They want $999.99 for the thing, which, I am sure, is much more than an entire Zenith b&w non-remote console sold for in the early fifties. I tried to save the image of the remote kit, but no luck. :no: This is not a Lazy Bones kit, but the entire SC400 remote control system including the hand control box and drive motor. It is in as-new condition, so it may well have been intended as a replacement or a retrofit kit for a non-remote set.

The SC400 is not the rarest of the rare as far as TV remotes go, but still, just one penny under a grand for an opening bid is nuts. Even the gold-colored Computer Space Command hand units I've seen on eBay don't have opening bids anywhere near that high, for crying out loud! I think the seller is simply trying to get as much money as he/she can from this auction. If this were a CT-100 or one of the first CTC-series RCA roundie color TVs I could see an opening bid that high, but good grief, not for a remote control kit.