Belated Xmas Gift - Raytheon Porthole M1101

[Kevin Kuehn]

When was the last time you got something like an nice OLD TV under the Christmas tree? Well if you're like me, probably never.
So Sunday afternoon I decided I might like to get myself a belated Christmas present. And as it so happens, I'd been eyeing this Raytheon set on the Minneapolis Craigslist for a long, long, time. Most recently it was listed at $79 OBO. So I called the guy and we talked. It turned out it was his folks set, and it was pretty cool hearing him reminisce about watching it as a youngster. And after talking to him for a while, he offered it to me for $60, including the swivel stand and rabbit ears, which I thought was an OK deal. So yesterday, at about noon, I blasted out for Hanover Mn, and I needed to beat the apparently incoming snow blizzard. I arrived back home at 5:15 and it had been a 217 mile round trip. Looking over the set, the top of the cabinet is kind of messed up, likely from some distant leaky flower pot, and that part should probably be refinished. But otherwise I think it'll pass with a few touch ups. The owner told me it had been stored in his folks finished basement after being retired from everyday use. He had continued to keep it indoors over the years. I don't see any signs of rust or rodent damage above the chassis. The built in antenna's have been mangled by being repositioned from thier normal inside cabinet location, but I think they'll bend back where they belong. I have not peeked under the chassis yet, maybe later tonight. Anyhow, here's a few pictures I took this morning.

[hi_volt]

Very nice set...and you got the stand too! I've always wanted a Raytheon porthole.

[markdi]

very nice

[Kevin Kuehn]

Thanks. It's kind of odd that I'm unable to edit my thread title. So it says Belated, instead of Blated.

[decojoe67]

A classic vintage porthole TV for sure. I like the continuous tuners on these too. The price was very fair, especially with the stand. It would've been three times that here on the east coast. Good luck with it!

[Kevin Kuehn]

Yeah, it continues to amaze me how these vintage TV sets sit on Minneapolis CL for months on end. You'd think there would be a decently sized pool of collectors around such a largely populated area. Although this fellow had listed it as a T.V. with the periods, so it probably didn't show when doing the classic TV search.

[Electronic M]

Nice set!

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

Thanks. It's kind of odd that I'm unable to edit my thread title. So it says Belated, instead of Blated.

I fixed the title for you.

[Radiotronman]

Very cool set. Raytheons aren't that easy of a set to find, specially with the stand. I think their portholes are every bit as cool as the zeniths!

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Nice set!


I fixed the title for you.

Thanks Tom!

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by Radiotronman

Very cool set. Raytheons aren't that easy of a set to find, specially with the stand. I think their portholes are every bit as cool as the zeniths!

What's interesting is that this Raytheon set shares a very common Belmont built chassis. They must have used it in several brands for close to 5 years. Notice the likeness to the outer knobs on this Coronado console that I posted the CL link to a while back. I noticed they were the same basic Belmont chassis when I researched the Coronado set.

http://videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=265941

[vts1134]

Merry Christmas indeed! That's a cool porthole, and getting the history from the original family of ownership is a really great bonus. Write that story down and save it for some future generation to read many years from now.

Congrats!

[Paul Knaack]

Well worth the drive, very nice set.

[Kevin Kuehn]

Thanks, guys. I cleaned up the knobs and they're in very nice shape.



Behind the channel knob is what appears to be a fine tuning lever, but I can't find any reference to it in either Sams or Riders. What's worse is that I can't figure out how to remove it. It's either very stuck, or I'm missing what's holding it on the shaft. Seems like it and it's bushing should pull straight forward from the inner tuner shaft. I'm going to try a little soak in WD 40. It's the only thing keeping me from removing the chassis. Any idea's?

[tvtimeisfun]

I have that same set your tv is in better shape than mine great find...Timothy

[bandersen]

Very nice Way better condition than my Airline with the same chassis. No fine tuning lever on mine. http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=265133