I was out thrifting and stopped at a place that had tons of TVs just piled out in a parking lot. Most were 80s crap, but I spotted to older looking sets. i guessed late 60s-early 70s portables. One turned out to be a Channel Master portable color, the other a magnavox portable.
I asked an attendent what was going to happen to all these sets. She told me they are picked up every monday afternon and taken to the recycler
I asked if I could have the two I had my eyes on, but she told me no. I then went to the manager with my inquiry. She was reluctant at first, but then said I could have any one I wanted for 4.99 each plus tax. I have her 10.75 and tossed the two sets in my car.
I cracked both open this evening. THe channel master is really a toshiba. Seems to be a wel built set for its time. Definitely no zenith, but not bad. The CRT is toasted unfortunately. It had a brightner on it, and it tests weak. I may toss it on a rejuvenator and give it another try. All the tubes are original except for the HO and vid out tube. The CRT is stamped with a 71 date. The set works ok, just has a dim blue picture.
The magnavox is from about 73-75. its a hybrid with about 6 tubes in it. The HV has a damper and HO tube, but no HV regulator or rectifier tube. Instead it has a trippler unit for the HV and one for the focus. The breaker was popped when I opened it. i found the cause to be a shorted B-Y transistor and an fried resistor. I probably won't get to these in awhile, but its nice to know they didn't get crushed.