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While I've been busy enjoying this set I went to my used DVD store and sold the old individual 24 volumes. I lucked out and got $70 for them, which practically paid for this new Complete Collection.

The thing is, the young kid at the store counter who bought my old DVDs I guess figured they were still kind of valuable because he checks Amazon to see what the market value is like. What he doesn't know is, even though the old editions might SAY people are asking high prices for them, he isn't going to GET those kinds of prices because this NEW COLLECTION is out instead!

I'm stunned but thrilled that you've ordered the set. As much as I enjoyed the Lost Episodes before, I am enjoying them even more now with improved picture quality for the most part, and also having these in strict chronological order instead of having them strewn about at random.

I think the restoration definitely shows in the picture quality. Being kinescopes, these will never look exactly like the "39", but I still feel that's part of their charm - although they do look much closer in quality now. I think the picture is much sharper and cleaner in most cases, and run circles around the individual old volumes I've just unloaded (good riddance to those!). The audio has been worked on too, but I regret to say that in some cases this doesn't work. But it's a small quibble, as for the most part the sound is just fine.

There are 19 "post-39" episodes on the set, and a good bunch of never-before-seen lost installments overall. I have to tell you, I'm still amazed at your earlier thread comment where you said "and no laughs either!" ... my girlfriend, my nephew -- they're both laughing with me when we watch these.

I'm really wondering what happened to a lot of folks in this thread who said they'd be getting this new set? I think once you start watching every episode in chronological order and see the growth and development of The Honeymooners, it really is very entertaining. I know this is sacrelige, but I now feel like once we get to the 1955 "Classic 39 Era", we find that a lot of those familiar half hour shows are actually a lot of re-hash of lines and gimmicks that were already performed on The Jackie Gleason Show skits! They don't seem as "ground-breaking" anymore, and I dare say that the "39" will start to appear almost too sanitized and "clean and slick"!

Anyway, it's all part of 'The Honeymooners' ! These episodes all need to be watched, as there are so many more ideas, settings, characters, etc, that just didn't make it into the "39". There was a time where all of us figured the "39' were the whole deal, and all there were. Now we know that the "39" were just an experiment shoe-horned somewhere in there, in between 100 + other established stories. 

Here's a clip from TWO MEN ON A HORSE, with better audio

I'm up to 1954, and there's no question for me -- 1954 was THE best year for The Honeymooners!

I'm not 100% sure, but I think they were en route there as well.

So either , there never was an original version of this , which is unlikely , or it just isn't on the new set.

After watching the link you provided, I recognize the skit as being a re-working of a 1954 episode called BOX TOP KID (hereafter referred to as episode #59). In that one, Ralph tries to win contests by buying all sorts of products. He ends up winning a trip by making a slogan about a weight-loss bread that "adds to the taste but takes away from the waist" , and he says he lost weight by using the product. But then in order to claim his trip he has to prove that he actually lost over 100 pounds, so he uses Norton in that scheme. (In that particular episode Ralph does not go on to Europe).  

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It wasn't until the '70's that I would discover the C39.

  

To me it's now as though there is no longer a "Classic 39" distinction. What I mean is, with this chronological mastering of the new "Lost" set, now it's as if what was once the "C39" are simply episodes  # 89 through #118 out of the grand total of 146 Honeymooners programs! (Though I'm sure I'll still refer to that period as the "C39" just for convenience).

I now just view the whole shebang as one big TV series with individual ""Seasons" (1951 to 1957).  I just hope the world's "Honeymooners" fans at large do start waking up and smelling the coffee, because IMO they really are deprived and missing tons of laughs if they're still only watching 39 out of 146 episodes. And what we used to enjoy from the 39 we learn were largely re-worked gags already established from earlier years. This is evident when watching everything in broadcast order.

Another thing I enjoy about these other episodes is that Trixie gets much more to do as part of the group. There are also a greater variety of settings utilized. 

Regardless , the original World Tour series is far superior to the color remakes ( IMO ).

I bought all the available MPI "color" shows (including the '70s specials) just because I'm a completist. I have not seen the original World Tour series yet, but the color shows -- though they have their moments occasionally -- are easily the "lowest point" of THE HONEYMOONERS. I do get a kick out of seeing the 'Mooners in color, though. Even in the link you provided there are some chuckles and added lines not seen in the '50s shows.