Well preserved Ratheon-Belmont 7DX21
 

I couldn't pass on the chance to add this extraordinarily clean circa 1948 Raytheon Belmont 7" TV from a local collector. The chassis is just as clean, the original power cord still pliable, and the original metal back still present. It had been elec restored years ago and plays, but needs a tweaking now. I've always liked this set because of it's very appealing clean radio-like cabinet design. One of my fav 7" models. It also came under the names Airline, Coronado, and Trutone, as well as in kit form.

vary nice , wonder where that has been hiding for all those years .

I wonder. It's set that's changed collector hands a few times from what I know. It likely was originally an estate sale find long ago in which is was carefully stored away for years. Even the bottom of the set looks like new. There's virtually no wear on the set after 70 years. These are usually found with a flaking original finish.

Noice!

I saw that set on eBay! It was way out of my price range, but definitely one of the best looking 7” sets made!

That's the one. I wanted one of these many years ago and being I could pick it up locally I went for it. It's a really cool early looking set in person. Small and light too like the Motorola VT-71.

Wow, beautiful set Joe.

Thank you. You wonder back then who would've bought a Raytheon Belmont when there was so much advertising for 7" Motorola's, Philco's, Admiral's, Emerson's, etc. I guess back then saving an extra $10, $20 meant something!

Purty!

Thank you. I just came across an original ad for the set and it sold for $179.95. It actually was priced the same as the other 7" electrostatic models. In fact some of those were even $10 less. It makes me wonder what the selling feature/s of the set were. I guess it was the styling alone. With the brass-tone mask and neat appearance it does look a little bit more upscale than the others.

Gorgeous! What a beautiful example. Does the tuner work freely? My Truetone will not change between lo and high band (I think this is a common problem with that odd tuner) a project for next winter.

"it sold for $179.95. It actually was priced the same as the other 7" electrostatic models"
Were you thinking that it was a bargain basement model? I'm thinking that Raytheon had a pretty good reputation after WW2.

jr

Thanks for your comments. When I saw that this one was local and the seller was okay with personal pick-up, I HAD to get it!
I've only switched the tuner back and forth one channel and it seems fine. I plan to just leave it on 3 and input a DVD signal. I know how odd the tuner is on one these and I don't want to throw something out of alignment.
Yes, I had figured that this set might have been maybe $10 less than a Motorola, Emerson, or Admiral, etc.. but it was the same. It just makes you wonder what drew the original buyer to a Raytheon Belmont being that the case. Likely, as you say, the buyer had a high regard for Raytheon. I guess 7" sets like Automatic, Meck, National, Temple, and Tele-tone are even tougher ones to explain the sales draw for the buyer!