1992 Zenith J0920X Portable Color TV

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by davet753

At that time, $300 was just about right for a premium Zenith model with a digital, cable-ready tuner. Zenith had other 13" models that were cheaper priced, but they were in larger cabinets.

I remember Zenith had a 19" cable-ready portable that we retailed for $329 (remote control model) and $299 (non-remote control model) about 1990 or so. In those days, anything around $299 was a good price-point for a full-featured 19" portable TV at independent dealers.

I remember some Zenith TV's that used a non-cable ready digital tuner with a red LED readout and the the cable ready sets had a green LED readout. I also remember the non-remote models that had a standard power/volume knob; but, an electronic tuner.

Several years ago, the Zenith shop gave me what was probably the last knob-tuned Zenith 19", a "custom series" badged set that used the 9-470 module from circa 1988. I remember the CRT being weak; but, I rejuvenated it and sold the TV for cheap.

[davet753]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

I remember some Zenith TV's that used a non-cable ready digital tuner with a red LED readout and the the cable ready sets had a green LED readout. I also remember the non-remote models that had a standard power/volume knob; but, an electronic tuner.

Several years ago, the Zenith shop gave me what was probably the last knob-tuned Zenith 19", a "custom series" badged set that used the 9-470 module from circa 1988. I remember the CRT being weak; but, I rejuvenated it and sold the TV for cheap.

You're right. My 1992 catalog shows a 19" model S1902S and a 13" model S1320S that has a volume control knob, a red LCD display, and is not cable ready. By 1992, all the cable-ready models (13" and larger) had on-screen display.

I was off a little bit on my recollection of the series names. In 1992, the Zenith line included (in ascending prices) the custom series, Sentry 2, System 3, Advanced System 3, a line of projection sets called "Digital", and the most expensive "Sound by Bose" line.

[Jeffhs]

There was also, if memory serves me correctly, a line of Zenith color sets that had sound systems the company called "SEq". These were used in Zenith's higher-end color TVs and may have even been used in the firm's first projection sets.

BTW, I have a Zenith "Sentry 2" 19-inch color TV, now 18 years old and still working like new. (It should, as I only actively used it for four years in the mid-late 1990s until I moved and replaced it with an RCA CTC185, which I still have as well.) The only problem with it, if you want to call it a problem, is the gray paint on the cabinet is flaking off in spots, revealing the black cabinet beneath. The Sentry 2 sets were one step below System 3 and were, again if I remember correctly, some of the last sets made by Zenith of Chicago to use the original Zenith lightning-bolt logo as the first letter of the name "Zenith"; the name appeared just above the remote sensor on the vertical control panel to the right of the CRT, looking at the set from the front.

I also owned two Zenith 13" color portables, one of which was part of Zenith's "Custom Series" of portable televisions in the 1980s. My "Custom Series" set had one-knob varactor electronic tuning, as well as a faux woodgrain plastic cabinet and front panel; I purchased it in 1982. The other, my first new Zenith color set which I purchased new in 1979, was their model L1310C. This set was in a rather nondescript black cabinet, with silver color trim around the edge of the top of the set. I left both of these sets at my former home when I moved to an apartment 13 years ago; I have no idea what happened to them after I left the old house for the last time. The TVs were still working like new at this time, so if they were unceremoniously junked after I left town it would have been a shame; however, I wasn't even around when the house was being prepared for sale (long story and OT), so I have absolutely no clue what actually happened to the sets. For all I know they may well have been junked and sent to a landfill.