The Eagle Has Landed!

[Carmine]

...or whatever this model of gigantic roundie-combo Zenith is called.

I was finally able to unload this monster. I popped the back off and found it largely intact and fairly clean, with the exception of the CRT being disconnected. Still, I wanted to comb over it a little closer and in better lighting than I had out in a garage.



I figured the (tube) stereo would be safe to try, so I plugged it in. Immediately the TV started warming up.. Whoops! Don't really understand why, as there is no selector for TV/radio/phono. There is some kind of weird relay-looking gizmo where the power cord comes in... Quite different than my '66 and '67 Emperors. I suspect it has something to do with the Space Command, although these were the actual chassis tubes, not the SC unit.

I killed the power and realized the TV had a power cord, interlock-style, but only the relay-thing was interlocked. So I pulled the TV cord and tried again. This time no pretty orange lights in the TV section.



The stereo controls are not like any other Zenith I'm used to (pull-on power?) with the exception of their stupid concentric volume balance control. How in the hell can I tell if the speakers are balanced when I'm standing right in front of the left channel and 6-feet away from the right? That said they are pretty, with lots of cool lights! Odd that my '66 Emperor uses an old-school magic eye tube, but this one just uses a simple read light to indicate a stereo signal. Everything is really dirty. Not cig smoke, just good ol'fashioned grime. It will look much better after a cleaning... I am leaning towards this being a low-hours unit judging by all the working lights and lack of wear on the remote and user controls.



After who knows how many years, it came back to life singing Karen Carpenter's "No Place Like Home for the Holidays" Warm tube sound, from both channels, lots of volume and no hum!

I let it play for a few minutes and took these detail shots:



You can't see it here, but I think it's missing the rubber mat. Although finished, it seems like too hard of a surface for a record.







This is the worst of the cabinet damage. Looks like it got dragged on it's side. Will require some veneer splicing.

[drh4683]

Chris, that set looks really good for the most part! That radio tuner control automatically tells me this one is a 1963 model. It's called "The Chancellor". What TV chassis is in there? Is it a 26KC20Q?

[Carmine]

27-don't-remember-the-rest-of-the-numbers-X?

[drh4683]

Not a 27KC20 is it? If so, that's one of the "never seen before" TV chassis'!

The phonograph is also really good quality. Zenith and CBS Columbia co-developed it. It's the first generation Micro Touch 2-G turntable. The early 2G's had the 45 adapter that was built into the base of the turntable.

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by drh4683

Not a 27KC20 is it? If so, that's one of the "never seen before" TV chassis'!

The phonograph is also really good quality. Zenith and CBS Columbia co-developed it. It's the first generation Micro Touch 2-G turntable. The early 2G's had the 45 adapter that was built into the base of the turntable.

My car fixin'-up knowledge tells me that hardened rubber can be softened by soaking in vinegar. Now I just need to find a 1000-gallon, 6-foot+ tank.

[zeno]

As many Zeniths I have serviced I just dont remember the
control layout on this one. The flip up 45 adaptor is a super nice
touch. Hope you restore this one to the max, its just a pissah
example of a balls out combo. No plain Jane RCA here

73 Zeno

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by zeno

As many Zeniths I have serviced I just dont remember the
control layout on this one. The flip up 45 adaptor is a super nice
touch. Hope you restore this one to the max, its just a pissah
example of a balls out combo. No plain Jane RCA here

73 Zeno

Balls-out Zenith combos are my specialty!





...also guts-out.

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by Carmine

...or whatever this model of gigantic roundie-combo Zenith is called.

%$#$! I had to run to the living room to make sure mine is still there - exact same model.

Only, I have never applied power to it. All the chassis are at Amptech being restored, and I'm glad I did it that way, since they discovered a couple of the germanium transistors in the audio amp were dead and the lytics were doubtful. Firing it up might have killed some unobtainable transistors. Because of the rarity of those transistors, I'd be wary of firing yours up again until you check or replace those lytics.

The CRT in mine has a cataract, but worse, the filaments are open. The good news is I have a replacement CRT, one of the last rebuilt by Scotty.

Good luck with getting your aircraft carrier seaworthy again!

[Username1]

WoW- Carmine you have a really nice carrier there..... Did that really fit in a "mini" van !? The tv chassis is sooo big.....

Looks like you got a few other gems at home too......

Good luck with that new one, it really sounds like quite the unique item....

.

[Reece]

On that changer mat: notice the concentric raised circles: they are spaced to support 12, 10, and 7" records only by their centers and edges rather than have the playing surface touch the mat.

[sampson159]

that s a find of a lifetime.to me,this is the ultimate roundie.a zenith combo with remote control!congrats to carmine!

[hi_volt]

Very nice! I have a similar set that I acquired a couple of years ago. These were the Zenith top of the line sets.

http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=254653

[Carmine]

Originally Posted by hi_volt

Very nice! I have a similar set that I acquired a couple of years ago. These were the Zenith top of the line sets.

http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=254653

Thanks for posting that. Any updates?

I'm glad there is someone collecting the stuff in AZ... I'll need to trade with someone local when I move out there to escape this damn winter.

[Username1]

Yah... Carmine, you got an early winter delivery didn't ya-

Sorry..... I think I get an early taste this weekend.... I don't think we're getting snow-

.

[Electronic M]

It snowed on Holloween here. I woke up that morning, looked out the window, saw the snow on the cars, and said 'trick or treat?'...I wasn't dreaming of (or even considering the possiblity of) a white Holloween...