Space Command! :)

[nasadowsk]

I just got a neat 19 "Portable" Zenith with Space Command. Pics to follow, but this set's pretty interesting - it has no tuning knob, just a fine tune knob and a button to punch through the channels. It's pre 1964, and looks to be pure tube - even has a 5U4 in it. The remote chassis is upside down on the ceiling of the cabinet. It's a slim cabinet bottom chassis, looks like a 110 tube (though it's octal base - maybe it's a 90?). Bright/contrast/V hold on the side.

It look budget, but I can't imagine a low end zenith would have gotten space command on it.

It (almost) works. The tuner's acting up and the set's weak reception. It's surely NOT up to what Zeniths can do - very snowy and no omph. Looks like it'll need some work, but I've got the Sams coming in a few months.

The remote doesn't work, but the donating party said that and knew what was up with it.

Well, anyway, I'll get pics of it, even though it's not much to look at. Sure is dusty in there, too

[Tube TV]

Neat find ! , I'll be looking forward to the pics .

[nasadowsk]

I haven't gotten pics yet, but it's a 16F25Q chassis. IIRC, the Q means space command, but I forget what year F was...

I cleaned the tuner up (again), and with a real antenna, it's got a much better pic, but the vertical's got issues (crap lin, no enough size - origional caps), and the IF strip (or tuner?) looks a bit out of kilter - it's either a bit soft, a bit fuzzy, or a bit sharp with 'echos' to the right of dark lines...

I know the set's able to do better, I've seen same vintage Zeniths that were..

Interestingly, in the box of parts I was handed, I found a schematic for a 9 inch Panasonic tube set, which I'll have to inquire about. Looked like a hungry guy, too - it ate a lot of horizontal outputs (there were 5 (!) in the parts box), among other tubes.

[peverett]

This sounds just like the Zenith that I had during college during the 1970s. I lived on the fourth floor of a dorm built in the 1930s that had no elevator. This "Portable" set was hell to haul up the stairs. However it did work well for all the time that I had it even though it had the yoke with the plastic that falls apart over time. It had the upside down remote chassis, but I did not have the remote control, so just pushed the button. The tuner was turned by an electric motor.

[Adam]

Those early 60s zeniths are nice sets. I think the 'F' chassis is from '61. I have the 16D25Q (1960 space command 17"), the 16F28 (1961 23" console), and the 16G27 (1961 19") - all are great sets I watch all the time.

[Tube TV]

I've got the schematics and the alignment info
16G27 16K23 16E21
16G22 16K26 16D25
16G23 17G27 17D20
16K20 16G21 D1810B
16K22 16E20 16E20

If anyone wants scans of this info , send me a PM with your email address and model # and I will scan it for you .
These schematics cover all the Q QT T QS chassis , I also have the schematics for the model 300 and 400 space command remotes .

[nasadowsk]

Ok, I'm starting to tackle the Space Command reciever. I think this is a 300, it's just the click through volume and power, plus go up a channel, version. Anyway, I'm stuck because I'm not sure I've got the right tubes, plus I need the frequencies of the remote (it's a 2 frequency unit) to tune it. Or at least get it close.

It's 'deaf'

I could use some info on this thing....

The chassis itself i'll be tackling later, but I figure getting the remote going now would be nice, since the set 'almost' works anyway just bad vert lin /size + minor IF strip issues)

[Tubejunke]

Good luck on this. At least your set is in near working order. I'm the guy who has been stumped on a Space Command for a looooong time. I still have not found anyone who REALLY knows a lot about these sets in particular. Some of us kind of have a specialty with the old sets. Thats the type knowledge base I was hoping to find. Perhaps this thread will have some interesting discoveries.

Let us know how this progresses...

[Adam]

Here's some pics of the sams for that remote receiver. I can't get a better image of the schematic with just the camera here, but I might be able to get to scanning it in the next week or so. But at least you can make out what tubes it uses from this.

[nasadowsk]

Thanks!

PS - can you give me the frequencies listed for the coils? I've been told a good chunk of the issue is this thing's just out of tune....

[Adam]

1st coil: 39.5KC
2nd coil: 122.25KC

[nasadowsk]

Sweet!

Thanks - this should get me started on tuning it up.

As an aside, my remote's a replacement from the 70's. The guy lost the origional one - I'll have to hunt one down some day.

This set's mechanics are good - there's no mechanical tuning knob, just a button to punch through the channels, so it has to be. Kinda weird, but I guess they made TVs that way if they had remote. I know the signal's getting at least as far as the secondary of the 1st transformer, but beyond there, I've not traced it out yet. Still some origional black timebomb caps in there I'll have to r&r. Maybe I'll ebay them

[nasadowsk]

Ok, instead of clogging up ak's site with pics, i figured i'll just give you guys my Flickr photstream instead

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasadow...7603104795827/

I'm gonna 'borrow' the camera and keep adding. BTW, feel free to look at the other chaos in my life

[peverett]

Looks like the one that I had in College. I assume the remote chassis was mounted upside down-the one in mine was.

Due to the two transformers and electric motor, mine was hell to carry up four flights of dorm stairs-the 1930s vintage dorm had no elevator. As I did not have the remote control, I should have removed the remote chassis to lighten it, but did not think to do that.

In any case, it did work fine trough all my years in college.

[nasadowsk]

Ok, I've got this set running as the 'aprtment TV', and it's good, BUT, the vert lin and size blows - I tried to adjust it but can't get it up.

Anyone got a schjematic of this thing they can scan? Looks like it needs a few caps changed out and a scope probing....