Televisions 1946-1999
The Great Electronic Culture Change of the 20th Century
Televisions 1946-1999
Table of Content Links
COLLECTIONS
Page 1: Early and Vacuum Tube Picture Tube TV's EARLY AND VACUUM TUBE PICTURE TUBE TELEVISION
Page 2: Solid State Picture Tube TV's SOLID STATE PICTURE TUBE TELEVISION
Page 3: SONY Portable Watchman SONY WATCHMAN
Page 4: LCD TV Evolution HAND HELD LCD TELEVISION
LINKS TO RESTORING VINTAGE TELEVISIONS
Restoring a 1946 RCA 630TS (Chassis KCS-20A) 10 inch Table TV RCA 630TS TV RESTORE
Restoring a 1948 Motorola VT-71 (Chassis TS-4D) "Golden View " TV MOTOROLA VT-71 TV
Restoring a 1949 General Electric 806 (Chassis T) 10 Inch Table TV GE 806 TV RESTORE
Restoring a 1950 RCA TC-125 (Chassis KCS-34B) 12 Inch Console TV RCA TC-125 TV
Restoring a 1960 Hoffman K1919 (Chassis 355) 19 Inch Portable TV HOFFMAN K1919
LINKS TO VIDEO ON TV RESTORATION FROM ME and OTHERS:
1. 1959-1960 Hoffman K1919 Portable TV HOFFMAN TV RESTORE VIDEO
2. The First RCA Color Television "Roundie Picture Tube" RCA FIRST COLOR TV
Page 1
Page 1
Early and Vacuum Tube Picture Tube TV's
Early and Vacuum Tube Picture Tube TV's
Although the invention and rise of television occurred decades earlier, it wasn't until the post war did the TV boomed. RCA produced the model 630TS, 10 inch diagonal TV in 1946 that help set the stage to mass production. RCA freely gave out the design to others, as David Sarnoff president of RCA wanted to set the future. Although television has many great inventors with Philo Farnsworth finally getting proper credit for the invention of television and the television process. It was the influence of RCA and it's president David Sarnoff that set the trend in motion. RCA would establish the television transmission and reception standard called NTSC* and later on set the color tv standard about 10 years later.
*NTSC, named for the National Television System Committee, is the analog television system that is used in most of North America,
ABOVE: Sarnoff (Right) posing with a 1956 RCA Color TV. The FCC accepted RCA's compatible NTSC color standard over the CBS proposal that was initially approved.
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Electrostatic Deflection Televisions
Sometimes these are called oscilloscope TV's because they basically use the same design principles. These were lower cost sets attempting to make television affordable (still expensive to most). The use of high voltage on the picture tube deflection plates was used to control the horizonatal and vertical movement of the electron beam. By 1950 became obsolete and replaced by electromagnet focus system.
HISTORICAL NOTE
HISTORICAL NOTE
Televisions manufactured before 1948 have Channel 1. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dropped Channel 1 after 1948
Motorola VT-71 Chassis TS-4D (1948) Galvin (Motorola) Mfg Corp, Chicago IL7 inch DIAG BW TVLowest Price 1940s 7 inch diagonal TV sold ($159.95)Has 15 Tubes + 7JP4 picture tube
ABOVE: Top of chassis. The HV rectifier is in the large shield can.
ABOVE: Underneath the chassis. Replaced all paper capacitors with PTFE film types. Electrolytic cand were restuffed with new electrolytics. All high voltage capacitors replaced with polyester capacitors. Several bad micas were replaced out during testing and alignment. BELOW: The original selenium rectifiers were replaced with silicon rectifiers. Notice the size difference.
Picture Tube Display of VT-71
Hallicrafters 505 TV (1948).Hallicrafters Inc, Chicago IL. Push button tuning. Has 7 inch (7JP4) electrostatic focus picture tube. Uses 25 tubes.
Picture Tube Display
3" vs 10" About $250 worth
Buy a Pilot TV-37 3 inch diagonal electrostatic TV for around $ 99 or spend $350 for a electromagnetic TV like the RCA 630TS and get a 10 inch diagonal. Is it worth the $250 (1948 dollars) or more?3" vs 10" About $250 worth
1949 Wards Airline 84GSE3011ATV made by Sentinel Radio and TV of Evanston, IL. This TV has a 7 inch picture tube (7JP4) that is the electrostatic focus type. Has Channel 2-13. FCC ended Ch1 after 1948.
Unusual Layout- Separate Chassis for Sweep/HV Section and Audio/IF/Tuner Section
What does $99 buy in 1948? How about a 3 inch picture TV!
What does $99 buy in 1948? How about a 3 inch picture TV!
Pilot TV-37 (1948) Pilot Radio, Long Island NY. 1948 Price $99. Smallest mass produced TV at that time with 3 inch screen using 3KP4 CRT. Uses 21 tubes (inc CRT). Operates on VHF channels 2-13.
As purchased on August 2022. FULL RESTORATION IN PROGRESS.
ABOVE: Top side of chassis as found. Uses 3KP4 CRT which was derived from the 3KP1 oscilloscope CRT.
ABOVE: Underside of chassis as found.BELOW: Total restoration- All resistors checked and replace those over 20% of value, remove electrolytic and old paper capacitor guts and restuff modern caps, install sepasrate filament transformer for CRT to prevent premature filament burnout of CRT. Parts that can't be restuffed, modern replacement installed.
ABOVE: : HV coupler ring at a specific location on the 1B3GT rectifier for horizontal sweep in electroststic TV's. Early 1B3GT tubes had a green ring painted on them to identify the location.BELOW: Watch TV-37 first picture after restoration.
1948 Pilot TV-37 1st Pic after Restore.mp4
ABOVE: Warm glow of vacuum tube heaters
Post War
Electromagnetic Deflection Televisions
The introduction of the RCA 630TS and 621TS would make this type the standard all the way into the early 21st century when digital processed video would take over. Electromagnet system had a device called a yoke was placed around the picture tube neck. Basically a set of horizontal and vertical electromagnets. Here the movement of the electron beam was steered horizontally and vertically.
RCA 630TS First Post War Production Television (1946)
The FIRST Mass Produced Television
1946 RCA 630TS (Chassis KCS20A) 10 Inch Round Tube TV. RCA Victor Corp Camden NJ . Price $359 (1946-47). Uses 30 tubes (including 10BP4 CRT).
This is the model that RCA launched successfully and allowed the competitors to use their design royalty free. This model widely sold as a table model but a console version was available. About 42,000 units were sold in 1946-48. This was also available in kit form into the early 1950's for the DIY folks. 30 tubes were used this model and RCA spared no expense with this design RCA also had the 7 inch 621TS but very few were sold. These models all have Channel 1 before it was removed in 1948 by the FCC.
Displayed on a TV Cart. Originally one could buy the TV table that goes with this model.
Restored February 2017
The Lone Ranger (1950)
What a family may have watched when the TV was in service
Nice feature: If one needs to change tubes or adjust the focus and yoke, just unscrew the top lid
30 Tube Chassis. Probably the most tubes RCA used on a conventional monochrome set.
As one can see, the chassis can only support the picture tube neck at the yoke and focus coil. The bell portion is supported by the cabinet.
Unrestored View as purchased October 27, 2016
Full screen picture
1948-1959 ELECTROMAGNETIC Deflection TELEVISIONS
1949 GE 806 Chassis T (early) 10 Inch Round Tube Table TV. GE Television Div, Schenectady NY (Price $259) GE decided to drop the price to sell more TVs by cutting features found in more expensive sets like removing power transformer, cheapen horizontal circuits and simplify the picture IF circuits. This cause GE to make many circuit updates during the model year so restoring a TV like this is a challenge. This is the rare rectangular molded plastic bezel version which tends to lose it shape after many years, soon after GE uses a elongated metal bezel stretching the horizontal direction increasing picture size.
Adjusting the TV focus coil and yoke to center the picture.
This set used about 10 fewer tubes than the RCA sets of that time period.
Wiring is dense and complicated as GE used tag boards.......
........which gives a 3 D wiring situation- hard to ID parts
Picture Tube Display
Wiring is dense and complicated as GE used tag boards.......
........which gives a 3 D wiring situation- hard to ID parts
Picture Tube Display
1950 RCA TC-125 (Chassis KCS34B) 12 Inch Round Tube Console. RCA Victor Corp Camden NJ
The last year for round black and white (monochrome) tube TV as larger rectangular picture tubes were mass produced toward the end of 1950. If you were able to look at the chassis of this TV and compare it with the model 630TS from 1946, there is a similarity. RCA basically continued with their original design but made improvements in vacuum tube and circuit designs. The TC-125 uses 24 tubes versus 30 for the 630TS. Sold for $279.99 that year.
The last year for round black and white (monochrome) tube TV as larger rectangular picture tubes were mass produced toward the end of 1950. If you were able to look at the chassis of this TV and compare it with the model 630TS from 1946, there is a similarity. RCA basically continued with their original design but made improvements in vacuum tube and circuit designs. The TC-125 uses 24 tubes versus 30 for the 630TS. Sold for $279.99 that year.
Notice that the speaker at the bottom is as big as the picture tube.
This TV has a pilot light at the bottom or the cabinet showing the TV is ON.
Picture Tube Display
Top andUnderneath looks complicated but the size of the chassis made it easy to restore
ELECTROMAGNETIC Deflection TELEVISIONS
1960 on
1960 Hoffman K1919 (9TEEN) Chassis 355, 19 inch Portable Television. Made by Hoffman Electronics, Los Angeles, CA. Well laid out and engineered television
RESTORED 2011 further upgrades July 2015
RESTORED 2011 further upgrades July 2015
The TV originally belonged to George Fowler's Dad, George comments:
This set was actually in a vacation home my dad had in Las Vegas, NV for 40 years, before we sold the property in 2005. I was always kind of sentimental about that TV since it was my dad's, and the memories I have of it going back so many years. It really gives me a feeling of satisfaction to know the little TV has a new life with a new found appreciation of it. Since we're planning to downsize to a smaller house, we'd have a real space problem unless we unload some things ahead of time, and I realized I just couldn't keep everything that meant something to me.
This set was actually in a vacation home my dad had in Las Vegas, NV for 40 years, before we sold the property in 2005. I was always kind of sentimental about that TV since it was my dad's, and the memories I have of it going back so many years. It really gives me a feeling of satisfaction to know the little TV has a new life with a new found appreciation of it. Since we're planning to downsize to a smaller house, we'd have a real space problem unless we unload some things ahead of time, and I realized I just couldn't keep everything that meant something to me.
GE M110YBG (1963-64) 11" Portable TVGE Television Div, Schenectady NY (Price around $99)
This had an unusual screen size using an 11AP4 picture tube providing a 10.5" diagonal picture. In the early 1960's GE patented Compactron Tube. This was an old idea in a new package, featuring 2-5 tubes in one envelope. This model's 9 tube transformerless TV had 6 Compactrons. The only thing solid state are the rectifiers for the B+ power.
This had an unusual screen size using an 11AP4 picture tube providing a 10.5" diagonal picture. In the early 1960's GE patented Compactron Tube. This was an old idea in a new package, featuring 2-5 tubes in one envelope. This model's 9 tube transformerless TV had 6 Compactrons. The only thing solid state are the rectifiers for the B+ power.
Compare the size of this almost all tube set with the 30 tube RCA 630TS manufactured some 17 years earlier. Screen size almost the same.
Stuffed in every direction. Compactron tubes right and left mounted on printed circuit boards. The TV measures 14"W X 9.5" H X 9" D. The speaker covers up the volume, contrast and brightness controls on the front panel.
Cutting corners- the 1X2B HV rectifier has no tube socket or circuit board mounting. The filament and high voltage connections are made with individual push in sockets. No HV cage as well.
The 19" portable was a popular size as one can see by the viewable picture shown above.
Very nice hand wired point to point wiring. Well laid out and easy to trace signal paths.
With back cover removed. Notice the organization. You can follow the TV electronic functions by the way it is laid`out in this one. Uses a power transformer, a rarity in portable televisions by this time period.Notice how much shorter the Picture Tube Neck is compared with the round tube tv's. Improvements is larger deflection angles help shorten the neck and improve the safety handling.
Motorola BP318HWCircuit Layout on ONE board >>>
Motorola BP318HW: Compare the size of the transistor with the tubes >>>>
The M110YBG has a very simple looking and easy to remove back cover. The cover came in several colors such as brown and red.
Front View- very simple and plain looking. The picture tube glass has a yellowish tint. The VHF/UHF models have the two tuners on the top half and the volume, contrast and brightness controls across.
RCA AT091A: Has a cool UHF tuner. The 83 position UHF selector uses gear operated rotating numbers. As you tune the rotating numbers count up or down. >>>>>>
RCA AT091A :Compare the chassis to the Motorola Hybrid above >>>>>
Top View (the lone transistor is in the metal shield at the top center) >>>>>
HYBRID TV: LAST OF THE VACUUM TUBE TELEVISIONS
Motorola BP318HW (1970-1972)Galvin (Motorola) Mfg Corp, Chicago IL12" Diagonal Portable Television CHASSIS E12TS-465TF-00
(NOTICE how compact the electronics are compared with the Hoffman K1919)
This is a HYBRID design using 8 Tubes, 2 Transistors, 1 HV Silicon Stack Rectifier, 1 Ratio Detector Module and 2 Silicon LV Rectifiers. Features Compactron Tubes and has INSTANT ON feature, The vacuum tubes stay preheated (71% max line voltage) when TV is off.Made in Taiwan by Motorola Taiwan Electronics Corporation
Picture Tube Display
RCA AT 091A (1974-75) 9" Diagonal Hybrid Portable TV; RCA Victor Corp Camden NJ. Price $74.95 to $89
RCA's Last Vacuum Tube TV. That year they already started selling the Solid State AT 096 and AT 097 but they must of had a lot of leftover parts and had to get rid of these since people were already preferring solid state TV. Has 8 tubes (3 Compactrons and 5- 9 pin miniature), 1 transistor, 1 HV Rectifier and 1 LV Rectifier diodes). Along with their 12" hybrid TV RCA was actually giving away these when you bought a solid state XL-100 Console Color TV. Made by RCA Taiwan LTD.
RCA's Last Vacuum Tube TV. That year they already started selling the Solid State AT 096 and AT 097 but they must of had a lot of leftover parts and had to get rid of these since people were already preferring solid state TV. Has 8 tubes (3 Compactrons and 5- 9 pin miniature), 1 transistor, 1 HV Rectifier and 1 LV Rectifier diodes). Along with their 12" hybrid TV RCA was actually giving away these when you bought a solid state XL-100 Console Color TV. Made by RCA Taiwan LTD.
BELOW: RCA AT 097B SOLID STATE replacement to the hybrid AT 091 for sale on Ebay NOV 2023. Front panel looks the same except has the words SOLID STATE on it.
1950's TELEVISION ACCESSORIES
Philco Model TB3 TV Signal Booster.
Early lower price TV's and those living in fringe reception areas needed extra amplification to receive TV signals. Boosters were sold to help bring TV into more homes.
Early lower price TV's and those living in fringe reception areas needed extra amplification to receive TV signals. Boosters were sold to help bring TV into more homes.
REAR CONNECTIONS
Mallory Model 88 UHF Converter
UHF broadcast began in the early to mid 1950's . UHF converter boxes were available for to allow older sets to view UHF programs. You connect your TV antenna connection tothe converter and install a UHF type antenna. Most TV sets did not offer UHF tuners until the mid 1960s. Until the 1960's UHF on Ch 14-83 were low power educational and public service stations.
UHF broadcast began in the early to mid 1950's . UHF converter boxes were available for to allow older sets to view UHF programs. You connect your TV antenna connection tothe converter and install a UHF type antenna. Most TV sets did not offer UHF tuners until the mid 1960s. Until the 1960's UHF on Ch 14-83 were low power educational and public service stations.
REAR CONNECTIONS
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SHOWCASE
Over 25 years Advances in BW Tube TV: Comparison of Two Similar TV's
Both use transformerless main power supply design and minimal parts count to keep cost down.
1975 RCA AT091 a 9" rectangular TV (left) and 1949 GE 806 a 10" round TV (right)Notice the picture tube neck lengths. The RCA uses a 110 deg deflection while the GE is 50 deg.The improvements in deflection circuits made wider angle possible and reduced the depth of the picture tube.Also the shorter neck made handling these tubes easier.
10 Years: Big changes in technology but styling changes not so!
1982 Panasonic CT1110B Color TV, on the left is 100% solid state (including small microchip modules). Compare to 1972 Motorola BP318W BW TV, on the right is almost 90% tube technology versus However the styling is quite similar!
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