Some other vintage audio and TV goodness

[paulg]

Can't kill a Portacolor

PortaColors still have my admiration as they were so incredibly durable. The older Compactron units just worked and worked and worked. Absolutely a gem of engineering. Sure they were tough to fix (especially the later AA/AB chassis) but boy were those well engineered.
I had a 1966 Portacolor which I used for decades until I sold it at a radio meet. My (approx) 1981 AA/AB chassis set still works on my bench. Tuner pooped about 20 years ago - $25 for a NEW tuner and the unit hasn't quit since.

 

[jasonl]

Ebay listing

That's the guy I bought my Maganavox stereo from. Good guy and my stereo worked right out the box. Only made minor adjustments to get it working Magnificently.

 

[63getelevision]

Jason, that has to be the same set that was on "Hey,Remember?" on HGTV, when he was featured in the stereo set segment. I almost went nuts when I saw it. He sells top flight things. I don't have my beige set yet that I bought on August 15. It's coming from San Antonio, TX. Murphy the Magnavox collector unfortunately, is too busy and a little too upscale to keep a correspondence with me. I love Magnavox as much as he does.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MAGNAVO...ryZ48649QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[mr_jms]

63gettelevision: I have a Magnavox stereo entertainment console similar to the one you have pictured here, though my console is from 1968.

 

[63getelevision]

Mr_jms, the '68 console isn't a great deal different, yours would have that neat champagne color Micromatic with the angular tone/balance arms, they're my favorite Micromatics. Would you be able to post a picture? I'd have more space for the armoire model, but would'nt turn down the console.

 

[63getelevision]

In Living PortaColor

Found this by chance, if you haven't seen it yet.

http://www.rwhirled.com/portacolor/

 

[paulg]

SOMEWHAT INNOVATIVE?

I had the TV on the far left.
What do they mean SOMEWHAT INNOVATIVE?
By 1966 they had an IN-LINE gun at 10" diagonal!!! When most of the colorcasts were viewed on round-tube CRTs!!!
A low-tube complement, when most color sets had 30 tubes?
I don't remember the Porta-Color cabinet ever melting (unlike the Admiral 9" black and white where the rears seemed to always develop holes).
AT THAT TIME the Porta-Color was groundbreaking let alone innovative.

 

[63getelevision]

I'm going for this today, Goodwill in Fort Pierce I hope still has it. I would rather have the original Porta-Color, but one has to make do. I agree with you. By the by, did you know Westinghouse offered a "rectangular" color television screen in 1956? Yes, 1956!

http://www.rwhirled.com/portacolor/GE-AA.htm

 

[petek]

Yes I knew Westinghouse did that in 56. It was the companies way of heralding my birth, something new, something great, something to look forward to in the future wth great promise LOL

 

[petek]

BTW that was a good website, never knew there were all those porta color permutations. I know I always wanted one from the first time they came out but being 10 that was out of the question. I also remember when the Sony came out in 69, now that was a tv and the picture quality and color just blew the GE out of the water at the time. Added to the fact the Sony "looked" new and modern and the GE, well sort of dowdy old school. Course those Sonys were outrageously expensive for the time which made them even more a pipe dream.

 

[63getelevision]

Not even close

Well, it is a GE. This is a 1983 12 diagonal color set, for the princely sum of $15.97. I always liked the design, they have a 19 incher with the same design faux wood '80s deco style.