Early rectangular Zenith

[bandersen]

Looks kinda like a porthole cabinet and chassis with a rectangular CRT

http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENITH-1950s-VIN...-/110580207287

(no affiliation)

[Eric H]

" I ONLY LEFT ON FOR ABOUT 20 MIN"

"I HEARD THEY MAKE GREAT FISHTANKS"

"THOUGHT SOMEONE MIGHT WANT TO RESTORE IT" :thmbsp

[Bill Cahill]

That's an original rectangular. But, OH, is it ugly!
Bill Cahill

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by Bill Cahill

But, OH, is it ugly!

I've seen worse... They should have used a bigger CRT for a cabinet that size.

[Einar72]

The last roundie was still in the building when that puppy was made...

[jr_tech]

According to the "75 years of TV/ TV history site", 1951 appears to be the transition year for Zenith... they made roundies in 12", 16" and 19" and early rectangulars in 17" (perhaps it was a 16"?) and 20". To my eye, this set looks earlier.
By 1952 they appear to have switched over to the "standard" 17" and 21" sizes that dominated the mid 50s, and their sets looked pretty much like everybody else's.

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1950-59-ZENITH.htm

I have not seen a '51 or earlier Zenith rectangular before.

OT: Einar72... Is that an Abyssinian cat?

jr

[bandersen]

It looks sorta like the right side of this set, but the set in the ad is better proportioned. The screen fills the cabinet better.

I flipped through a Wallace Telaide that lists the first rectangular chassis as from 1951 using a 16TP4 CRT.

[Bill Cahill]

I have a 16" rect. table model Zenith with a pop up speaker on top.
Rounded corners.
Haven't bothered to restore it yet. What year is that?
Bill Cahill

[kvflyer]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

I've seen worse... They should have used a bigger CRT for a cabinet that size.

But I KNOW you would not throw away an RCA CT-100

[zenithfan1]

I like it, it's kinda unique looking. I would definitely save it if it were in range.

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

I like it, it's kinda unique looking. I would definitely save it if it were in range.

Ditto. 8 hours round trip for me

[Einar72]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

OT: Einar72... Is that an Abyssinian cat?

jr

Mama-cat is a Bengal. She behaves very differently from all the shelter-rescues and other "purebred" cats I've had since I was a kid. Very good dealing with vermin. I s'pose I should post my current pair, but her ear seems just right for AK. She stayed with my ex's half of things when we split.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by bandersen

I flipped through a Wallace Telaide that lists the first rectangular chassis as from 1951 using a 16TP4 CRT.

Very nice! a first generation rectangular CRT... I still believe that these are far less common then, say 12" roundies, but are for the most part, overlooked by collectors.

Originally Posted by Einar72

Mama-cat is a Bengal. She behaves very differently from all the shelter-rescues and other "purebred" cats I've had since I was a kid. Very good dealing with vermin.

Wow! I have not seen this breed before! Very exotic!
jr

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Very nice! a first generation rectangular CRT... I still believe that these are far less common then, say 12" roundies, but are for the most part, overlooked by collectors.
jr

I agree Specifically, it's a 23H22 chassis. They went with a 17BP4 for subsequent chassis.

[Einar72]

So is anyone gonna rescue this Zenith? It's growing on me, but I live near Tacoma! Maybe the AK Pony Express could be copied over here! BTW, this is the second Zenith of that age back in Indiana I can't have! ShopGoodwill.com had a 12H console listed and I almost bid until I saw where it was!!!

Nerts! Maybe I should dig up Frank Burns, he was from Fort Wayne...