This is a General Electric roundie color set, using a GE designed chassis. Very simple design with a lot of compactron tubes, a lot like an overgrown porta color.
Great video! I worked in the TV and appliance business for over 40 years. I cut my teeth working on those old sets. I worked for a Zenith dealership, but we repaired everything in the old days. lol
as long as you have an RF modulator they work fine. The video you see is from a BT 450 modulator. You could adapt the sets to use a composite video and a audio signal but I prefer to just use the modulator.
You said the tube count is low (at least for a 60's TV). I wonder if this set used any of GE's "compactron" 12-pin tubes that often combined as many as three functions. They were common in their portable B&W TV's.
I recently came across a GE set...the front and dials look like the ones on this set, but the body is different. I'm having trouble finding any information on it. I believe it was in a motel lobby at one time due to me finding it behind an old motel. It's on legs, and the back on it looks the same except it doesn't have the plastic cover. It's just flat.
Shawn P. Williams if it has no cover on the back then its prob a B&W set or a much newer color set. the bump out was there to allow for the much longer neck of the CRT used in early Color sets. Old sets used a 21" round faced CRT with a 2" dia neck and a much shallower deflection angle than later rectangular CRTs used in later years.
I bought an old tv (1955 GE) I hooked up a panasonic VCR player via a cord connected to the rabbit ears. It played clear sound but still just a fuzzy screen ( no picture at all) Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
+Sistertubetime a few things, 1st a video of the problem, that makes it much easier to tell what it going on.2nd, 1955 era TV's really should be looked over by someone skilled in technology of that era to make sure it is safe to operate. These TV's were never made to last 50-60 years (more like 5-6) so you need to make sure it safe to run. Have fun with it but be safe, NEVER leave them on unattended. All my sets I go over very closely to make sure there are not frayed wires, damaged parts, isolation parts are intact when needed, fuses are correct, just a whole list of stuff.
there are a few folks that like to collect old color sets, mostly from the early 1960's or older. Has a lot to do with your location as they are so heavy that shipping cost are high (that is if you sell on ebay as an example).
@@ATCRyderX if you can get a model number there is a possibility that you have a rare and sought after set. You can join videokarma.org and post the model number in the classified. If its a rare model like a CT-100, it could be worth $$$$
I have a Sylvania tv 1972... works... but picture is scrolling and colors are off.. Sound is good and color comes right up... I don't guess you live in the Washington DC area or know anyone in this area that knows how to fix these? And BTW - LOVE all the TVs you have - They are Excellent!
pic rolling vertically could be either the vert osc or the sync signal. If you can get the pic to hold still even just for a moment by adj the vert hold, then its prob the sync. If it only slows but will not stop or if you can not reverse the roll then its prob the vert osc that is just too far off for the sync to control. loss of horz sync (diagonal lines) could also be a horz osc issue or a sync issue. If you can flop the diagonal lines or get a momentary pic by adjust the horz hold then its prob the sync. a poor sync signal can effect both vert and horz (rolling and diagonal lines or sideways slipping pic). Poor sync can be caused by tuning, sync separation.
Dave WM Thanks for the diagnosis. Trying to get a repairman out here now to look it over. Told him what you said. Wish i knew more about the set to do it myself! =)
rodmonster61 if you wanted any more help it would require a video of the issue. Its very hard to diagnose an issue without actually seeing the problem AND being able to try the adjustment controls. Other issues that can effect sync is AGC. A good tech should have no problem getting the the bottom of this. Later model vacuum tube sets (mid to late 60's) had pretty reliable parts. A tube substitution of the affected circuit should be 1st. Avoid random tweeks of IF coils.
Thanks! i may upload a vid. Problem i have is i have gotten three quotes... all between 250 to 350 dollars... which is just too much i think... Wish i had paid more attention to my Grandfather when he used to repair these back when i was a kid in the 70s and 80s...
Thanks OH, I like my old sets, I try to fit the programming I watch to the correct era set, so early 50's goes to my old BW roundies (moto and rca), 60's era BW goes to my 60's maggies, 70's to the zenith Avanti etc... Just seems better that way. There is so much garbage programming that is new that I have no need for a modern era set, my oldest is a mid 80's mitsubishi I got to watch Miami Vice (stereo) on. Most of what I watch is on MetV, RTV or THIS tv.
Question. Since these old tube TVs only work with cable boxes and digital converters now, do they adapted to these devices with any audio issue or other stuff?
Metv network broadcast over the air, use a digital to analog converter to pickup and produce a NTSC signal compatible with analog TV, RF modulated to channel 3 or 4
Dave WM Yeah but these aren't being broadcast now. One is the Bob Newhart Show, and there was an advertisement for Emergency, which I'm pretty certainly was in the early 1970s. How did you find a broadcast from that era? This was before VCRs existed.
Great video! I worked in the TV and appliance business for over 40 years. I cut my teeth working on those old sets. I worked for a Zenith dealership, but we repaired everything in the old days. lol
those were the days when TV's (and lots of stuff) were built to be repaired. today its just throw it away and buy another cheaply made thing.
Wow! That's a great picture!
I remember how pure the colors were on these GE roundies.
General Electric later purchased RCA and sold the rights to make GE and RCA-branded televisions to Thomson Consumer Electronics.
Very interesting video, i imagine that back in its day that television must have been a expensive high-end model ( i suppose, i don't know )
Great old set but try a camera tripod next time 😃
Roundies weren't produced here in Brasil since color tranmissions started in 1972, already adopting the Telefunken Pal system with M standard !
as long as you have an RF modulator they work fine. The video you see is from a BT 450 modulator.
You could adapt the sets to use a composite video and a audio signal but I prefer to just use the modulator.
You said the tube count is low (at least for a 60's TV). I wonder if this set used any of GE's "compactron" 12-pin tubes that often combined as many as three functions. They were common in their portable B&W TV's.
I recently came across a GE set...the front and dials look like the ones on this set, but the body is different. I'm having trouble finding any information on it. I believe it was in a motel lobby at one time due to me finding it behind an old motel. It's on legs, and the back on it looks the same except it doesn't have the plastic cover. It's just flat.
Shawn P. Williams if it has no cover on the back then its prob a B&W set or a much newer color set. the bump out was there to allow for the much longer neck of the CRT used in early Color sets. Old sets used a 21" round faced CRT with a 2" dia neck and a much shallower deflection angle than later rectangular CRTs used in later years.
the color is rich and warm
Awesome set!!
I bought an old tv (1955 GE) I hooked up a panasonic VCR player via a cord connected to the rabbit ears. It played clear sound but still just a fuzzy screen ( no picture at all) Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
+Sistertubetime a few things, 1st a video of the problem, that makes it much easier to tell what it going on.2nd, 1955 era TV's really should be looked over by someone skilled in technology of that era to make sure it is safe to operate. These TV's were never made to last 50-60 years (more like 5-6) so you need to make sure it safe to run. Have fun with it but be safe, NEVER leave them on unattended. All my sets I go over very closely to make sure there are not frayed wires, damaged parts, isolation parts are intact when needed, fuses are correct, just a whole list of stuff.
I have one of these my grandpa bought new. The tube is green but there is life everywhere else. Is there ANY market for these?
there are a few folks that like to collect old color sets, mostly from the early 1960's or older. Has a lot to do with your location as they are so heavy that shipping cost are high (that is if you sell on ebay as an example).
@@davewm9589 I'm in the only state that matters (NY). So no real value I assume? lol I'm gonna convert it to a LCD. Or a fireplace.
@@ATCRyderX if you can get a model number there is a possibility that you have a rare and sought after set. You can join videokarma.org and post the model number in the classified. If its a rare model like a CT-100, it could be worth $$$$
@@davewm9589 I will soldier through the dust and *find* that model # before I do anything crazy. Thank you so much!
@@ATCRyderX just post up a video, I will let you know if you have something valuable.
amazing how it could sync properly without an oscillator clock, everything in digital we do today requires proper timing
GE engineers were great at making things simple and inexpensive.
Ive got news for you its an RCA CTC 16
GE roundies had the best red color.
i just got a 1949 tv set i will send you the link to my video
I have a Sylvania tv 1972... works... but picture is scrolling and colors are off.. Sound is good and color comes right up...
I don't guess you live in the Washington DC area or know anyone in this area that knows how to fix these?
And BTW - LOVE all the TVs you have - They are Excellent!
pic rolling vertically could be either the vert osc or the sync signal. If you can get the pic to hold still even just for a moment by adj the vert hold, then its prob the sync. If it only slows but will not stop or if you can not reverse the roll then its prob the vert osc that is just too far off for the sync to control.
loss of horz sync (diagonal lines) could also be a horz osc issue or a sync issue. If you can flop the diagonal lines or get a momentary pic by adjust the horz hold then its prob the sync.
a poor sync signal can effect both vert and horz (rolling and diagonal lines or sideways slipping pic). Poor sync can be caused by tuning, sync separation.
Dave WM Thanks for the diagnosis. Trying to get a repairman out here now to look it over. Told him what you said. Wish i knew more about the set to do it myself! =)
rodmonster61
if you wanted any more help it would require a video of the issue. Its very hard to diagnose an issue without actually seeing the problem AND being able to try the adjustment controls.
Other issues that can effect sync is AGC. A good tech should have no problem getting the the bottom of this. Later model vacuum tube sets (mid to late 60's) had pretty reliable parts. A tube substitution of the affected circuit should be 1st. Avoid random tweeks of IF coils.
Thanks! i may upload a vid. Problem i have is i have gotten three quotes... all between 250 to 350 dollars... which is just too much i think... Wish i had paid more attention to my Grandfather when he used to repair these back when i was a kid in the 70s and 80s...
Hold the fuckin camera still!
my parents had rca new vista like that thermister whent on thers worked 1964 threw 1984
David Berquist my parents always got RCA TVs. I have good childhood memories of them. My parents are dead but it brings back good memories.
Thanks OH, I like my old sets, I try to fit the programming I watch to the correct era set, so early 50's goes to my old BW roundies (moto and rca), 60's era BW goes to my 60's maggies, 70's to the zenith Avanti etc... Just seems better that way. There is so much garbage programming that is new that I have no need for a modern era set, my oldest is a mid 80's mitsubishi I got to watch Miami Vice (stereo) on. Most of what I watch is on MetV, RTV or THIS tv.
1949 Tele-tone TV restoration TL-208
You Could've Used A Brighter Light Like A Work Light.
📺
the volume is 2 loud on the TV having a hard time understanding what your saying
Question. Since these old tube TVs only work with cable boxes and digital converters now, do they adapted to these devices with any audio issue or other stuff?
I know that Zenith sets often had audio buzz when viewing video with lots of computer graphic content (character generators).
How did you put these old programmes on?
Metv network broadcast over the air, use a digital to analog converter to pickup and produce a NTSC signal compatible with analog TV, RF modulated to channel 3 or 4
Dave WM Yeah but these aren't being broadcast now. One is the Bob Newhart Show, and there was an advertisement for Emergency, which I'm pretty certainly was in the early 1970s. How did you find a broadcast from that era? This was before VCRs existed.
retro theme tv stations are over the air.
Hi do you service vintage tv's for people as well? Are you on the east coast, f so send me a private message, have a question about mine
Was there an earthquake during the filming of this video?? LOL :-)
they had a ge on it
High grade CRT.
I'm gonna guess that you are a Scorpio.
pm sent
i like it give me one it show old show
GE made such crappy sets that they had to buy a real TV manufacturing company, RCA. Lol