Before you proceed, may I steer you to some scanned articles from Radio & TV News circa 1947? Read articles about assembling your set from a kit, or even building one from war surplus equipment!!

As far back as I can remember, I've always had an interest in electronics and especially television. My collection of vintage sets started innocently with the 1951 round-screen Admiral!

Click any set below for picts and a description
Or, click here for the basement and QTVRs of the sets!!

1976 RCA FA520	Zenith B2246E	Setchell Carlson158RP	Admiral 24C1
Admiral 321K65-N 21N1	My Homebrew Set	RCA 8-PT-7031T in gray!	RCA 8-PT-7031 in white!
Sylvania color console & stereo	RCA CTC31	RCA KCS104K	Philco 'Seventeener III'G3052L
Westinghouse H843K21	Setchell Carlson 27-EP4 (27"!!)	Capehart 19C214MD	Truetone 2D-1195A
Zenith 8H832	Setchell Carlson 2100   U21	Silvertone 100.385	Philco 38-7
Zenith Space Command 300	Crosley 10-421MU	Admiral 21Q1	Setchell Carlson 301

The most important criteria for a television to be in my collection is that it must be a tube set and should be pre-late 60's. The other important factor is whether it works or not. Practically all of my sets were non -working when I got them. I quickly learned the basics of tube operations and how to diagnose sets. I also read a couple of books published in the late fifties, such as Profitable Television Repair. Actually, the books were very handy as they taught all the essentials. Also taught was the proper way to greet customers at their door, and how to make in-home repairs!

Other notables: VBT200, Sony 5-303W

Here's the shop where it all gets done. Some may be shocked to see it organized.
Just out of view is my new shelf with all my categorized tubes.

Actually, my current project is building a television set from scratch using plans from Radio News 1947. The set is complete with a 5BP4 crt and is all octal. Only trouble is getting +2000v. I've got -2000v. Once that's running the IF strip will be a nightmare to tune since I had to hand wind the coils myself. That's not a guarantee it will tune : )

I've always been prone to bringing home junk. I acquired my other sets from auctions, garage sales, and a friend or two. Here's a picture of the setup in my basement.

From left to right: Truetone (see below), RCA Colortrak, Zenith, Silvertone, and RCA NewVista

And the new display area!
Click for the basement page and QTVR

Here's the sidewall, with a Setchell Carlson on the right.





Click for the restoration of a '54 RCA CT-100

One day a couple of years ago, I walked into a local thrift shop and sitting there was a Zenith, round tube COLOR, console television with an ornate cabinet. The price was $50! I inquired about it only to learn that some lady had already purchased it, full price, for the cabinet! The cabinet was pretty cool. All black, with gold accents, two hinging doors on the front, and an oriental motif. The set itself sported hi-fi sound with treble and bass controls, UHF, and the space command remote system. The lady at the shop told me that if I wanted the electronics and picture tube that I could have them. "The guys are going to remove everything later in the parking lot with a couple of hammers anyway." I couldn't let that happen. I went home and grabbed a bunch of tools. This was now a challenge in that the store was going to close in 20 minutes. So it took me a little longer than I expected, but I did it! I've had the chassis and everything on my bench and everything appears to work. I had always wanted to make myself a cabinet for everything, and just recently I gutted an old run of the mill zenith that had a bad picture tube, so with a little wood working I should be in business!

I get swamped with lots of emails, so please don't write to ask the value of your TV set, or where to sell it. Values vary tremendously. If you want to share an interesting experience or just talk shop, Drop me a line <---
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