If this is a G.E. 14T009, then what's this?

[Ohighway]

Two GE portable TV sets. The orange(ish) and cream one is a model 14T009.

Any hint as to what the other model # is? (model # is worn off)

I think it's a 14T017

[Eric H]

The blue one looks like a Hotpoint, they had the handle going across instead of front to back.
Maybe someone changed the mask with a GE at some point?

Edit: never mind, what John said is right.

The orange one is from '56, the blue from '57. They changed the handles and the mask slightly in the second year.

[Ohighway]

Thanks guys !

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by egrand

The orange one is from '56, the blue from '57. They changed the handles and the mask slightly in the second year.

I think they made three years of those low-performance gems.

[Ohighway]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I think they made three years of those low-performance gems.

Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

I noticed an advertisement for one of these with the original price of $99. How much did a 'real' TV cost back then?

You know, I do get a bit tired of hearing people complain about these sets. If you don't like them, don't get one. Leave the people who do like them alone.

To me complaining about these being "low-performance gems" is akin to going to McDonalds and complaining you didn't get a T-bone steak on your bun. Do you really think in 1956 people bought these thinking they were high performing sets? They knew what they were getting at the time.

Besides, I'm not so sure they were all that bad anyway. Here's an article from Popular Science in 1956 comparing portables from GE, Admiral, and RCA.http://books.google.com/books?id=iSU...rtable&f=false They said the GE actually was a bit better at reception of low channels than the others. But, all three picked up stations very well from over 40 miles away with just rabbit ears. Please, please tell me what other portable TV could you get in 1956 that could do better?

The people that buy these today know full well what kind of sets they are. From what I've seen they're certainly not any worse than some other more popular types of sets from other makers that I've seen here and elsewhere.

So once again I say, if you don't like them don't get one. Stick to your precious Zeniths, who made their share of crap too, and leave the snide remarks to threads that you start.

[Kamakiri]

I trash picked one while riding my bike in a rainstorm back in 1982, I was in 7th grade at the time. Used it a lot back then, and every once in a while up till the picture tube finally gave up the ghost about 2 years ago. My friend Preston has it now, he has a picture tube for it and it'll be back in operation again soon .

I have no complaints about its long service. The picture was always pretty washed out, but then again I never did a thing to it except replace a couple tubes, so it's not fair for me to judge......

[Ohighway]

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

I trash picked one while riding my bike in a rainstorm back in 1982, I was in 7th grade at the time. Used it a lot back then, and every once in a while up till the picture tube finally gave up the ghost about 2 years ago. My friend Preston has it now, he has a picture tube for it and it'll be back in operation again soon .
.

Funny you mention that, as I found the orange and cream one sitting out at the curb on trash day near a friend's house. The other was $5. at a garage sale. I'm not really a vintage TV guy but thought the styling was interesting. (To answer the obvious question, I'm here more for the vintage radio content)

These guys have been display only, and have never had power in any form applied to them during my ownership. I -am- curious as to why one of the CRTs looks darker than the other.

BTW, I take no offense at dieseljeep's comment. Even though I'm not a TV expert, I'm pretty confident these -weren't- at the top of the heap performance wise. I was just yanking his chain....

[Electronic M]

I've got two identical sets awaiting restoration (my green one was the first tube set I ever bought), and a gray one that works on the original parts. They work decently for what they are. A better performer of the time in my mind is my Setchell-Carlson 17" portable(also going on original parts). The contrast and sharpness of the picture seem a good deal better than the GE, and I'd bet the RF circuits are probably a tad better too, though I am comparing sets that are not necessarily preforming to speck, and the SC's were probably harder to find a dealer for in most localities back then.

[N8NM]

Don't know about "real" TV's, but I have a 14" RCA portable that sold for $129.95 in '57.

Originally Posted by Ohighway

Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

I noticed an advertisement for one of these with the original price of $99. How much did a 'real' TV cost back then?

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Ohighway

Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

?

A few of the people I worked with, used to tell me the same thing! I was always rather opinionated.
Regarding the GE 14T series, I worked on a lot of them and most seemed to have horizontal AFC problems. The circuit was changed in the later models.
They worked great on the lower band channels, but when you switched to the high band channels or UHF, you had to reset the contrast, as the picture was washed out, compared to the lower channels.
If I had one right now, I would repair it and ad it to my collection.

[OvenMaster]

I got one of those 14" GE's when I was in 4th grade around 1968 as payment for helping my dad clean out my grandma's six-room apartment. After replacing a diode to get UHF working again, it lasted throughout my high school days 'til it quit in 1977 or so. Definitely worked better with a roof antenna.

[wkand]

I had one that was a donation to my HS from one of the teachers. It came to us with a brighter. Got the CRT regunned after HS . It was VHF only. It had video washout issue I could never get straight. There was no Videokarma then. In spite of all that it was my favorite set due to sturdiness and the lack of a power transformer which made it feel light. I wish I still had it but my parents forced me to give it up as I became something of a TV hoarder. Had TVs stashed all over. The GE set was under the dining room table. Had two other in my bedroom, and one in my dad's room, two in the living room (or was it three?), three more in the basement.

You can definitely still call me squirrel boy as well, if I may borrow another's tag line!!! If not, my sincere apologies!