What do I have? What is it worth? 1960's Zenith & GE Televisions... - Videokarma.org TV - Video

throwbackent · #1 08-10-2012, 10:17 PM

I work for a window company and on a job today a young couple just moved into a house and were throwing all of its contents away. I ended up taking a few TVs off their hands for free. I have no idea what I have or what they are worth. I do know that they are both in great shape. The GE television turns on with no problem, but as far as I can tell, the Zenith one will not turn on. I can't get it to power on.

The first one is what I believe from my research is a 1960 General Electric Television. It's model number is M604VBN

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/ge1rn.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/703/ge2t.jpg/

The second one is a Zenith Service Saver Chassis. I decoded the model number and I believe it is a 1967. It's model number is X23174 and the other number, which I believe is the Chassis number is 14N22.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/213/zenith1q.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/zenith2z.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/109/zenith3.jpg/

Is there any value to what I have here? Please advise..

Any help would be much appreciated.

*zenithfan1* · #2 08-10-2012, 10:31 PM

The GE is really cool looking and may be worth about 50 bucks in the real world, ebay, who knows. The Zenith, albeit a nice set, isn't worth a lot. I'd give about 20 bucks for it. They are a pretty common black and white set and collectors don't pay a lot for those. However, once fixed it will be a great performer and could last for many more years. I used one like it but a table model for years before I got into mostly early color stuff. It was my daily set sitting right in front of my recliner

Where are you located? Welcome to VK too

throwbackent · #3 08-10-2012, 10:35 PM

Thanks for the insight! I'm in Youngstown, OH.

ctc17 · #4 08-10-2012, 11:32 PM

I agree with the prices.

They may not be worth a whole lot of money but you have two real conversation starters there.
They come from a time when the US was number 1 at just about everything, if you examine the construction of that Zenith you will see that.

So long as a few key components are good they can be made to work very well.

marty59 · #5 08-10-2012, 11:35 PM

Don't turn 'em on anymore. You need to check the condition of both and find out what's wrong with the Zenith. Powering up sets that have been sitting for who knows how long is asking for trouble and the last thing you want to do is possibly damage a part/component the may be unobtainum.

*zenithfan1* · #6 08-11-2012, 01:12 AM

Since this is about B/W sets, I'll move it to the black and white forum.

mpatoray · #7 08-11-2012, 11:01 PM

If you are looking for someone to help you work on the TV's let me know I am not that far form you.

Matt

Tubejunke · #8 08-12-2012, 01:21 AM

Zenith sets in particular must simply be ultra common and thus worthless, unless you have the all mighty color "roundie" that is the current rage. I am going to be forced to junk out a nice 1958 Zenith with remote control and a big 24" tube because I can't find anyone to take it off my hands; even for free! I have no idea what late 60s-70s sets might be worth, if anything. I would think that as time moves on that later stuff will become interesting to a whole new crowd of younger TV "pickers." Who knows, somewhere I have seen more than one strange post about somebody finding nostalgia in obtaining an early 80s set. Nostalgia is directly proportional to the age of the individual, so we may see a vintage solid state trend in the near future......

*zenithfan1* · #9 08-12-2012, 08:01 PM

Hey! Bring that '58 to the next ETF convention if you can, I'd love to take it home.

DavGoodlin · #10 08-13-2012, 11:19 AM

That Zenith will be harder to find a home for, but it is a 1966 model, just a year before color matched BW in sales volume. All the US manufacturers seemed to stop making "built" BW sets after that, especially consoles. I had two 23" Zeniths using that chassis in the early 80's and sold them both for $35 just to get them into good homes with poor old folks who wanted a reliable set, had cable but could care less about color. A customer you will not find anywhere today.

Console BW sets are of particular interest to guys like myself, half of whose favorite TV shows were plain 'ol BW. I just read elsewhere how I can connect a DVD player's "green Y jack" and audio to a cheap modulator and broadcast BW w/o color subcarriers, etc a short distance on channel 13. I can even introduce a bit of snow or ghost (complete with a horiz blanking bar) for a total retro look.

Tubejunke · #11 08-20-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

Hey! Bring that '58 to the next ETF convention if you can, I'd love to take it home.

Hey, I would love to come to a TV convention, but I don't travel a whole lot, especially with one of my TVs in tow. I'm glad somebody likes sets like that! Being 50s with a larger than 21" (the most common) crt, and remote control, I see the set as a bit uncommon. At least more uncommon than any other set that old. Wish I had another way to get it to you in one piece.

throwbackent · #12 08-23-2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mpatoray

If you are looking for someone to help you work on the TV's let me know I am not that far form you.

Matt

I don't think I'm gonna do any work on them to be honest. My new job is quite demanding. I was going to ask since you are so close if you had any interest in them? I'll literally sell them to you for next to nothing.