My TV has died.

[Mace Canute]

We had a power outage here tonight and now my TV (a Curtis Mathes) won't power up any more. It's over 25 years old now so I guess it hasn't done too bad. Quite some time ago it made a strange noise, kind of a loud short bloop, and then the remote failed to work after that so I was forced to use the VCR as a tuner. Naturally a lot of the features on it were accessed on screen with the remote. It wasn't in the healthiest of states either, a picture of a globe on it was very triangularly shaped and what had been the top half of the screen had dropped down so that it took up about 2/3 of the screen. That happened so gradually I became used to it! :laughing:

Now I have a real reason to get a bigger one! :thumbsup:

 

[Fawken]

Are you joking? The "last television set made in America" and you still had one? OK, here's the deal: Curtis Mathes went out of business years ago so your choices are Japanese (even they outsource a bunch of components to China), Korean (LG same company as LS tractors), or Chinese. Believe it or not, my 72" LED, Chinese TV uses less power and puts out far less heat than your 25" CM. Win-win. I have all my expensive gear on UPS, but a few weeks ago the 32" LCD Visio in the guest house was zapped by lightning. Got a 40", LED, Sceptre from Walmart.com for $229 and as an electronics guy, I'm very impressed with it. You'll love HDTV BTW/

 

[TomSeller]

Dang, I hope my 25 year old JVC tube TV isn't next. Before that it was a Sony the wife had to get up and change the channels on.

I don't know that I would notice if the JVC died, unless the wife said something. I know a couple of things about TV. The first is that Monday night football is on Monday night. The second is that Andy Rooney is on 60 Minutes is on Sunday night. That is as much as I know about TV.

 

[Fawken]

Dang, I hope my 25 year old JVC tube TV isn't next. Before that it was a Sony the wife had to get up and change the channels on.

I don't know that I would notice if the JVC died, unless the wife said something. I know a couple of things about TV. The first is that Monday night football is on Monday night. The second is that Andy Rooney is on 60 Minutes is on Sunday night. That is as much as I know about TV.

Believe it or not, assuming your TV is on the same amount of time as most Americans, you'll save enough in electric consumption to pay for your new LED TV in 3 years or less. I emphasized LED vs "LCD" because there is a marked difference in power consumption. An LCD TV actually uses fluorescent tubes for illumination.

 

[ultrarunner]

My folks have only had 3 TV sets going back to the 1950's...

First was a Hand Me Down Philco with the revolving picture tube.

Next was a Zenith Color when only cartoons were in color... quite a big deal as word got out my folks had a color set... very unlike them to be an early adopter... folks from all around were dropping in to see the picture.

Current set is a 1980 made in USA Zenith color console that has not missed a beat... 35 years and going strong!

I have a very nice Toshiba my neighbor was getting rid of... had one of those new flat screens... my new to my Toshiba has been flawless with picture in picture... and many input and output jacks...

Here is the kicker... the neighbor that gave me the Toshiba is on her third flat screen... guess they have not got the bugs worked out... first time was under warranty.

I also bought a flat screen for the cabin and it lasted 2 years... very disappointed.

Guess this is why I still have Win 98 and a rotary phone!!!

 

[Fawken]

I cannot believe you guys? Do you understand what I am saying? My family owned a TV shop in the 60's and 70's. Televisions are one of the FEW consumer appliances that have actually decreased in price EVEN after adjusting for inflation. Example: In 1970 the average price for a 25" color set was $499! Do you realize how much HIGH DEFINITION, wide screen TV you can get for $500 today? $500 in 1970 was equivalent to $1500 now. Sorry, but I just can't see anyone still viewing 420 TVL interlaced NTSC sets when you can get a bigger 1080P flat screen for less than $300 and be saving electricity in the process.

 

[ultrarunner]

Mom is 81 and likes what she likes...

She gets easily confused with too many buttons to push... when the grandkids come over... they have to work the VCR because Mom forgot how to do it... it's a Zenith too so the same simple remote works both.

Besides... with a flat screen... there would be no place for the VCR.

But really... having had bad luck with my only flat and none of my neighbors still have their first flats... cheaper to buy new than fix...

Count me as one that never signed on to the throw away society...

Your are right... the Zenith Console and VCR with tax was more than a $1000... at least she is getting her moneys worth...

PS... friends in Germany had made some Youtube videos Mom wanted to see... so I hooked her 1980 TV to the Acer Laptop so all could watch... and they said it could not be done... also used the neighbor's WiFi to access... isn't technology amazing?

As to electricity... she is consistant at 360 kWh each month... summer/winter makes no difference.

 

[Fawken]

Here's the thing: Yes the first, so-called, flat-screen sets were LCD and if you know about fluorescent tubes and how long they last, coupled with the fact that fluorescent lighting is susceptible to power surges, then perhaps that could account for the failure rates you describe. Now think in terms of LED's and how little power they consume AND how incredibly long they can last. BTW, how's that ACER (LED screen) holding up?

 

[ultrarunner]

Needed a laptop for a business trip in 2010.... the only time I have every shopped at Walmart was to pick this one up for $199 in a back to school special...

It did have to go back once... it was only 3 weeks old... since then... zero issues!

I manage rentals and have been stuck disposing of TVs, Projection TV's and Flat Screens that people leave behind... what a pain although much easier now!

Same for those entertainment centers that were the rage about 20+ years ago...

Probably jaded at seeing the new must have in electronics being kicked to the curb after a few years...

Anybody need a VCR??? had a rash of them a while back again left behind when people move.

Three computers since 1980 for me... and you are right... cheaper all the time!!!

 

[Turbys_1700]

My wife and I purchased a really nice RCA 25" console color TV with stereo in 1983 for $850. As newely weds we were so proud of that TV. Fast forward 30 later we purchased a 50" flat screen high def for $298 on black Friday. Technology and competition has transformed the electronics industry.

 

[Jstpssng]

I finally got bought my first new TV in 2005; an "assembled in USA" Sanyo. Not long after that the country went digital; and since I'm in a no-digital zone, I now have a big paperweight collecting dust.

 

[DFB]

And disposing of them even costs money nowadays in many places

 

[TCJatko]

I finally got bought my first new TV in 2005; an "assembled in USA" Sanyo. Not long after that the country went digital; and since I'm in a no-digital zone, I now have a big paperweight collecting dust.

I too fell on the wrong side of the "digital divide". Used to get 3 or 4 channels, now get zero. I don't miss it a bit.

 

[dave1949]

TV died? Count your blessings and enjoy the peace and quiet.

The only use our TV gets is to watch streamed stuff. Like many others we cancelled our cable TV subscription last year. With streaming and the internet we don't miss it.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Just don't bother replacing your TV. That's what we did about 15 years ago when ours broke down. Our boys were watching programs that I didn't approve of so I said I'm not buying another one. Now I don't even know how people find time to watch. I stay in a hotel and flick through the channels and it isn't long and I've gone through them all once. I'm appalled at the crap that constitutes entertainment. Are we all such brainless fools that have nothing better to do with our time than watch liberal garbage?

If I really want to watch something I watch it on my computer. I can watch a half hour show in about 20 minutes because the are no adds enticing me to buy things I can't afford.

The best part was our kids thanking us for no TV once they grew up. "We learned to do things differently than other kids Dad!" There were lots of times that all five of us were sitting in the living room reading.

Raising young kids (three boys) we soon learned that if we shut the TV off for the six or so month's of summer, there was a noticeable reduction in fighting. Probably around 30%. Nothing else changed. Just no TV. Think about it! In fact don't just think about it. I challenge you to do it. Just make it so that nobody can watch for about 6 month's and watch the positive change in your family life.

 

[Bird]

I believe the first COLOR TV I ever saw was a Curtis Mathes. The first one I ever OWNED was a Penncrest in 1968 (I can't remember right now who made those for J. C. Penney). Of course I was 14 years old when my family got our first B&W TV and I thought for years that Zenith was the only one to own. And my first computer monitor was a 13" RCA color TV.

Our first flat screen TV was a Samsung from Best Buy in 2008. I bought their extended warranty. Best Buy replaced parts twice and the third time (in 2013) they gave me a new LED Samsung and we've been happy with it so far.

 

[TheGoose]

Those Curtis Mathes TV's were fine units. We had a console from the early 80's that was our first remote controlled one. It lasted about 15-18 years.

I know what you're saying about the TV's using less electricity but I have already bought 2-3 flatscreens that have went out. One was a ~42" sony, dead after ~5 years. The rest were various cheepies that just gave out after 2-3 years. The two I own now are Samsung but I'm not real impressed. I expect that as long as TV's are $400-800 they are mostly disposable and nobody will complain if they last 5-7 years. Shoot, if you think about it in 5-7 years 4K will be the standard and we'll have to throw out all the 1080p TV's to upgrade again and then 7 years after that it will be 8K etc.

I believe the first COLOR TV I ever saw was a Curtis Mathes. The first one I ever OWNED was a Penncrest in 1968 (I can't remember right now who made those for J. C. Penney). Of course I was 14 years old when my family got our first B&W TV and I thought for years that Zenith was the only one to own. And my first computer monitor was a 13" RCA color TV.

Our first flat screen TV was a Samsung from Best Buy in 2008. I bought their extended warranty. Best Buy replaced parts twice and the third time (in 2013) they gave me a new LED Samsung and we've been happy with it so far.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

When my old Philco goes out, I'm getting me one of these new color TV's.

 

[Fawken]

Don't watch a lot of TV, but the girlfriend and I have different tastes, so it is on - a lot. I like sports, am hooked on TWD, OITNB, HCF, and Wentworth. I really got into DD, but WE went and cancelled it. Embrace the beautiful, new digital world.

 

[Fawken]

I finally got bought my first new TV in 2005; an "assembled in USA" Sanyo. Not long after that the country went digital; and since I'm in a no-digital zone, I now have a big paperweight collecting dust.

You obviously have internet. Is it DSL or FIOS? Try Netflix. Or, why not Dish or DirecTV?