Estate Sale Finds in 2010!

[andy]

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[drh4683]

I went to one sale yesterday in Northbrook and found a set that I've wanted to add to my collection for a while. Its a 13" Zenith CCII with space command. This one was manufactured in March, 1978 at the Springfield, MO plant. Model SK3510W with a 13KC10 chassis. This little TV is a tank, it'll pull your arm off! This particular set uses the space command 100 remote control! The remote seemed to have been long gone which is dissapointing, but the good news is, its the TV that survived and not the remote for a change. It'll make a good back patio TV at the new house here as shown. Using the built in rabbit ears on UHF still pulls in a some of the low powered analog stations that are still going over here.

[zenithfan1]

That's a nice one Doug! I was hoping someone would grab it. Did you see the predicta at one of the other sales? I almost went for that one just to re-sell it. I'm not a predicta fan

[Chad Hauris]

That's a nice set Doug...I have this same set but it's a system 3 version. Mine uses the battery powered 6-function ultrasonic remote control. There is a note about setting a channel to turn the set off but I couldn't understand that as my remote has a dedicated power button. Was the chromacolor II version of this set sold with just the single function mechanical control to rotate the channel selector?

[radiotvnut]

Nice little TV! Strangly enough, over the past 20 years, I've owned every screen size in the Zenith CCII line except a 13" CCII. I have had a few 13" system 3's from the late '70's-early '80's. I assume these 13" sets have the fold down power transformer driven chassis with essentially the same circuitry as the larger models.

[Jeffhs]

That's a great looking set, Doug; very good picture, also, on the station you had it tuned to when you snapped the picture. It will make a very nice addition to your new home.

If you're looking for a replacement for the remote, I'd look on eBay -- the one-button SC-100 remotes show up there every now and then. Do a search for "Zenith SC-100" and I'll bet a few will turn up. These sets are not rare, so you are bound to find a remote for yours if you keep your eyes open. I'll look there myself, just out of sheer curiosity (I don't have an SC100), after I post this.

Good luck. Your SC-100 should serve you well for many years to come. Zenith was still an American TV manufacturer when these sets were new, so you won't have to worry about quality or being able to find parts for it.

[jstout66]

NICE! God.. I remember unpacking those when they were new. They ARE heavy.
Beautiful pix. That one uses the 13" tri-focus tube doesn't it?

[drh4683]

This weekends estate sale finds came from 1911 S. Prospect Ave in Park Ridge. The sale was quite busy as can be seen from the people standing around in the front yard waiting for their number to be called. I found a 1959 RCA Victor sportabout portable TV and its a remote control set! I think it used the two button clicker, but it was no where to be found. The guy at the sale said he personally went through every room and does not recal ever seeing any type of remote. So I'm looking for a remote for one of these now. Not sure if it works, but its nice and clean, found it in the bedroom on the stand.

I also went to an estate sale in St. Charles, while there were no TV's, I did find a vintage retractable light fixture that I want for in my kitchen. I always liked those and this one is pretty nice as it has a green and blue glass on the top that gives off a cool glow when its on. Now that I have my new (vintage) house, I want to tune it up to get it 100% period correct as its mostly all original with a few "new" things here and there. So estate sales for me mean more than just TV's now. Im looking for good furniture too.

The light fixture shown here is from around 1964-65 and was made by the same manufacturer who made the other original celing lights in my own house, so its a perfect match really. Interestingly enough, this light fixture was for sale but the house was not a demo sale. So I assume whoever bought the house gave permission to sell the light fixtures as they are probably going to gut the house and turn it into a useless pile of crap and paint everything white. I already paid for the light, I was given the new home owners contact info so I can make arrangements with them as to when I can come take it down which will be next week sometime I'd imagine. I've never seen a retractable light like this used in this type of application other than over a kitchen table....Well, I know that once I get it, it will be used over a kitchen table like they're supposed to!


The last sale was today. It was at 5613 S. Natoma Ave in Chicago. Two clean zenith sets turned up in the attic of all places. It was a "finished" attic though with the wood paneling and 9x9 tiles. A 1965 Zenith roundie and a 1964 space command 400 console were just sitting up there at five bucks each. Both are clean as a pin. They were destined to that big dumpster outside if I wasnt there to save them. Do they work? Unknown at this stage. I just brought them in the basement. In fact, that roundie is the first old TV that came into the basement of the new house as shown in the last photo...

Last but not least were two appliances from the same home on Natoma Ave. I've been keeping my eyes open for clean vintage appliances too. Here I found a matched set, washer and dryer for in my laundry room. I have an upstairs laundry in this house even though it has a full basement. That being said, it made it more important to have period correct appliances as they seen by anyone who comes in the house too. Even though my house was built in '64, I still would go for appliances from 1970 such as these. These are Frigidaire's 1-18 washer and dryer in AVOCADO GREEN! The good Frigidaire, when GM owned them! I wanted avocado appliances so when I found these and saw how clean they were, it was a must have. I need to fix the timer switch for the washer, otherwise everything works. Just a good wipe down with warm soapy water is all these really need when its all said and done.

I had alot of fun this weekends at the estates, lots of great stuff turned up. Now I just need to find some avocado kitchen appliances that are nice and clean and I'll be all set.

[old_tv_nut]

Paneled rec room with a roundie and a potted ficus, plus avocado appliances = mid sixties - seventies for sure.

If you want some mid-sixties decor ideas, try the Formica House at the New York World's Fair:
http://www.nywf64.com/formica01.shtml

[bgadow]

That last photo looks straight out of the sales brochure! A very nice trio of sets this weekend-amazing that you are still finding them so often. What I like is the quality-stuff still turns up from time to time around home but much of it has been abused.

[radiotvnut]

You found some excellent goodies this weekend. And, that washer and dryer will probably last another 40 years. Some folks from the church recently had a washer and dryer set from around '76 (don't remember the brand) and the dryer finally gave out, although I'm sure it could have been repaired. Of course, the lady of the house had to have a matching set; so, a perfectly good washer ended up going to the dump when the new guaranteed not to last more than 5 years appliances were delivered. BTW, the same couple still has a mid '70's Zenith CCII console that's already been promised to me either when it dies or they decide to upgrade.

And, that light is very cool, as well. My house was built in '63 and originally had a pull down light over the kitchen table, even though it was not near as nice as yours. I think it was replaced, for some reason, in the early '90's.

And, I''d almost bet that the TV's work. I've been hoping to once again find one of those B&W space command Zenith's. Once again, it would be nice if I could rewind back to the early to mid '90's and save what I was finding back then.

[andy]

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[AndyMack]

If my GF didn't insist on doing the decorating, my living room most likely would resemble what Doug has going on there. Including that model Zenith console, one of my faves. Thanks for sharing!

[Charlie]

Wow... and they had a green Dodge Coronet to match that washer/dryer! You found some great items, Doug!

[Charlie]

Doug: Trying to send you a message... says your box is full....