Even back in the early and mid 60's when these sets were new and we were shopping, the word got around that Zenith was so much better built and reliable than the others. Turned out to be true.
Baked PC board where the missing tube goes. 50C5 tubes were like a little heater in these plastic cabinets . Later dual section e-cap replacement was inventive in holding it in place. Loved the rant and Shango impression Jordan!
Nice work Jordan. Those are some of my favourite ones to do, where there's no silver Mica disease and only a few capacitors to be an issue and some minor cleanup. The circuit boards are definitely less fun than simple point-to-point wiring. I enjoyed your rant to tell you the truth. Because you were telling the truth. Nothing burns my ass more then jerks bidding up stuff so high that the people who are actually interested in them can't buy them.
What's even worse are folks advertising a complete set that looks decent for a price I couldn't sell it for restored. Then when they can't get their ridiculous asking price, they butcher or trash the set. You'd think some money would be better than nothing.
@@JordanPier , even up here in the east coast of Canada, that happens as well. Thanks a million for taking a moment to reply to my comment. Really enjoy your Channel and that you get to do what you love!
I actually like the rambling, and I hope you do more of it. 99% of the time I don't like pink either, however I do like it in radios from that time---it just adds that retro vibe. I'm glad you saved this one
That is beautiful pink or not. Some of those 5 tube wonders really performed well. You're right, destroying historical electronics that can be easily refurbished is a waste. That one has quite poor ventilation which did not help that circuit board.
Well done, as always! I also dig the ranting, and I agree on all counts, but that's what makes the videos unique and interesting. All other things being equal, I would rather watch a video with it than without, and that plays a part in whose restofixit I watch first when there are a few I haven't seen.
Finally caught up on videos from when I was on vacation. Agree with you 100% in regards to your "rant." If it's not salvageable and you can repurpose it instead of dumpstering it go for it but when it can be restored it should. I keep watching you and several other vintage radio channels and it reminds me I need to get off my duff and try my hand ot restoring one of the four old radios I have.
I can't hardly even give away sets to "collectors" down here. My favorite one was a Philco Town & Country with a dead crt and missing trim - probably tried for 2 years at least to give it away. A week after it left in the garbage truck Bob Anderson does a video on one. I get a dozen e-mails telling me Bob needs parts off my tv. Most became indignant when they learned it got trashed. How dare I, all that stuff...
First Zenith TV with a PCB was about 1969. One small module, color demod. Module increased through the CC2 sets but still had a steel hand wired chassis. System 3 was 100% PCB & EVERY thing plugged in. 100% in home serviceable. LFOD !
Thank you for saving it from the Stupid Brigade! I can't stand the idiotic trend of "re-purposing" cool stuff like this. Early circuit boards are a pain in the butt, to be sure. Tube heat kills 'em. Great video and commentary.
The industry should have learned from Seeburg's problems with the disaster prone 1957 KD200 amplifier and control center. The heat baked the boards so badly some even caught fire. Almost immediately after introduction the service calls started coming in. A real black eye for Seeburg's otherwise stellar engineering and build quality. The next model went back to hand wiring. They used that method of construction until the late 1960s.
Admiral was popular in my Hometown, The only Furniture Store that was there sold them, My folks bought both a console TV and Stereo from there around 1964, Admiral was bosting about it's all new Solid State Stereo!, I still have the Demo Record that came with it!, Admiral was no Magnavox or Zenith but they werent too bad.
Their televisions never seemed to last. Theyre never around here, but zenith, Magnavox and RCA usually are. On occasion you see a sears or Montgomery wards set. Even rarer is a Coronado (gambles dept stores)
Zenith came out withe system 3 in the early eighties at first they had a power transformer, a hold over from the vertical chassis. Then they went to the sets with the 9-160 boards. After that they went downhill with the Y chassis sets.
Ramble you do well Repair that radio to resell Trolls bid the price too high Shove an output tube in their eye Leave the dust Shango would do The radio’s used and not new The cheater chord in your hand Soon we’ll hear that tube sound band You can hear the cackle with some buzz We enjoy your vids…..just because.
And sadly, the wet bar - dog bed - chalk paint upcyclers typically paypal your asking price on the spot and get it in a day or two. The only collector I didn't know personally who didn't drag ass or ho-hum is a young guy who has a big Philco collection in Ohio.
I tuned in specifically for the Rant-O-Matic (TM) and Ramblotron (TM)! You can't really blame the people who do stupid things to radios and TVs like turning them into lamps, if there are people buying them. The buyers are the ones with no taste. I do hate it when I see a radio I specifically want, or one with a better cabinet than mine, and someone's drilled a hole through it and stuck a lamp in it. What a stupid waste! People, just quit buying that crap and people won't make it!
Find a fitting LCD TV for those old cabs and boom... Snot Spit on the lapels of some doggy bed or fishtank "upcycling" boob. Get a really crappy set too, like an Onn.
7 or 8 years ago when I was working in San Diego, I was amazed to find a small radio repair shop off of Claremont Mesa and maybe Industrial Park? It was a neat find... is that you? Or is it still there?
That was The Antique Radio Store. Previously they were in downtown la mesa for years. A partnership of three. Two passed and one was left to run everything. He moved it to clairemont mesa to a bigger place, but could never keep up with the workload. He retired and closed up in 2021
Hey if the odd rant makes you feel better than do it!. That's a nice radio :-D maybe that crack could be improved. There are a lot of "Assholes" that ruin anything for money. I never did understand greedy/selfish people. Oops i'm ranting now lol.
these upcycling people need to go away had one of those types keep trying to buy my jukebox i have yet to restore, the lady got mad when i wouldnt sell so she could make it into a shelf or something
