Hi everyone,
This is not a classified ad. It's more of a point to ponder.

Is anyone working on televisions from the 1980s? Is there even any interest in these TVs? We have acquired a bunch of photofacts and hundreds of used TV knobs. Steve Johnson says he throws schematics for 80s TVs away. It seems like a waste if someone can use them.

What's your opinion?

Thanks for weighing in!
Diane

Last summer the store I worked at had dozens of filing cabinets full of service manuals from the heyday of the 70's-90's that nobody wanted. Was able to find a audio service guy that took the audio manuals and all the tv manuals went to the paper recycling center. Thousands of dollars worth. Sign of the times I guess.

Well obviously they've become less and less serviceable as time marches on. Cost of new vs technician time makes it impractical for anyone other than a hobbyist. Even a hobbyist isn't going to waist much time fixing sets that no one gets excited about. About from the early 70's forward they also became less and less decorative, no longer furniture, just a black or silver blob to look at.

Yes some do fix newer sets. The era from the late 60's til mid 70's when sets went
solid state is where most interest is. They were all out built sets that could last almost forever
with very little work. They are my favorite since they were new back in 1970 when I started TV.
Ultra modern sets & a few milestone sets are the most popular.
By the mid 80's sets got cheapened & plain & interest dwindles.
The trouble with the Sams is the weight & space. If you
want to get rid of them its best to ad them here & on VK and hope someone is
nearby that wants them. Value is all but zero, just finding a home is your reward.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

80s TVs. Some of them yes. Folks like to use the smaller portable sets to go with their vintage video games and computers. I have a small trinitron and a small Panasonic (that i'm looking for a knob for BTW) so such purposes.

Seems the Sony are the most sought after.


Steve

Does anyone know what was (and who made) the first portable color tv? I seem to remember a large table top tv made by RCA or possibly ge advertised around 1966 - 1968. It had an 8” picture tube. It was all tubes.

Dennis

Probably the GE Porta Color, a 10 minch set. At least it was first to sell well. Others came out with 14, 16, 18, & 19 inch but they were pretty heavy. The GE was light, cheaply made and soon under $200.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

No. Why should the eighties be any different than the forties? And l am into these early televisions. Sure are fun to play with, though. I do have a bunch of Selectavision records (1980's) to play into these the vintage sets here, again nobody is into those except a very few. Craig

I have no interest in the plane knob tuned sets, or common consoles from the 80's, but some of the higher end sets and some of the small screen portables are interesting. Early LCD portables, and unique technologies like the Sony Indextron are worth saving.

I have a top of the line Sony 20" with an RGB input and a computer grade CRT that I don't plan to part with. I also have a Sony 36" rear projection TV which has to be the smallest projection TV ever made (not counting the B&W projection sets from the 40's and 50's).

Sadly, i just junked my Sony KV-20XBR from '86. The flyback split open while I was watching it. Lost horizontal sweep, and arced. No chance of finding a flyback, as the KV-25XBN used a different one, and no other model was listed under the part number at either Encompass or Union Electronics. Awesome set, a curb find. I paired it with a couple of IBM/Jensen TOTL computer speakers from 1991, and the set gave me 9 years of service. Not bad for a freebie.....

The set I'm speaking of is the KV-2011CR, which is identical to the 20XBR, except that it has a finer pitch CRT and a white cabinet. I use mine in the kitchen driven from a Tivo with a HDMI to RGB converter.

Actually, both have the same 0.55mm dot pitch CRT, according to my Sony DAS/WINDAS CD. The only difference is the color of the cabinet (and control door) and the remote commander. The 2011CR was marketed as a computer monitor, whereas the 20XBR was marketed as part of a component media system, with the same systems as the 25XBR. All 3 had the same 34-pin RGB connector on the rear. I saw a KV-25XBR (not on) in a conference room back in 1993, the only other cousin to these awesome sets.
<- an eBay auction photo or some marketing materials for your set.....

Here we go. Worthy or not worthy?

Worthy to me but not some purists. But collect what you like whatever it is. Every era of TV's
has its interesting sets & a story to tell..........
Pop up B&W combo. Better yet its a Panasonic. Surprisingly easy to work on & no corners cut in
them. I miss working on sets like this more than any.

73 Zeno
LFOD !

Oh so close, but that model came out in the 1970's. See page 20 of the April 16, 1979 Sports Illustrated. https://www.si.com/vault/issue/70826/19

For the most part, 1980's TVs, especially the consoles, don't interest me. They are just too common around here yet (free at most estate and rummage sales), and you have to pay to get rid of them.

.

79, 80's ,whatever. All I know is I was really into my Korean made Scott Hi Fi.

I belong to the Vintage Television Collectors group on FB. Mostly sets from the 40's thru the 80's. There are people who collect any TV with a CRT.

Bob

I've been collecting those tiny coat pocket size TVs that
were around in the '80's. Not much competition locally. Kind of
a cross between collecting transistor radios and TV's.
Steve

There's a good amount of interest in 80's retro things, especially if they look very 80's ish.
Also, as I understand it, many gamers like the response time on CRTs for the slight advantage they provide.

I have a 31 inch Zenith Digital System 3 from 1989 I've been wanting to find a home for.
Fine working condition, but I don't need it.

I tried putting it in the ARF classifieds but it was removed because it was not considered an antique i guess.

Somedy someone will want it. I hope.

-Steve