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-   -   1961 hand held color tv? (http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=253953)

oldtvman 04-09-2012 04:42 PM

1961 hand held color tv?
 
Here is a photo on Ebay supposedly of a hand held battery operated color set from 1961? I knew they were working on such a unit in the mid to late sixties but I don't know about anything that early. Can anyone verify this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-Press-P...item35bb2a4c78

Phil Nelson 04-09-2012 05:17 PM

Non-working mockup? Can't read all of the text on the back, but it tells people not to rush to their RCA dealers, since this is an "advanced idea, possibly for the decade of the 1970s."

Phil Nelson

Sandy G 04-09-2012 05:26 PM

Love how its in B/W...

Theremin 04-09-2012 05:51 PM

That is likely one of several mock-ups of an idea (among others) being worked on by RCA engineers at the time and made to be presented by David Sarnoff to the stock holders at the annual shindig. There is mention of this practice in the Sarnoff biography (if I recall correctly; haven't read that book in over 20 years).

Sandy G 04-09-2012 06:07 PM

Too bad RCA DIDN'T follow thru on this & bring out a hand-held color TV C. 1966...Take THAT, Sony, Panasonic, et al...

old_tv_nut 04-09-2012 08:53 PM

I think I can read the following:

Just another transistor radio? Please! This is a COLOR
television [?], [personalized?] and battery operated, which
[can?] also [offer?] [stereo?] radio programming for [outdoor?] use.
But don't rush to your favorite RCA dealer for [one?]. It's [an?]
"advanced idea" possibly for the decade of the 1970s, to
be shown by RCA at the summer home furnishings market
at the Merchandise Mart next week. Admiring the set is
Chicagoan Frances [?]

etype2 04-09-2012 09:02 PM

Made the cover of May, 1963 Mechanic Illustrated.

See photo: http://www.visions4.net/journal/wp-c...dpress-525.jpg

reeferman 04-09-2012 09:31 PM

I have a bridge for sale...:D
Phil

Jeffhs 04-09-2012 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etype2 (Post 3031924)
Made the cover of May, 1963 Mechanic Illustrated.

See photo: http://www.visions4.net/journal/wp-c...dpress-525.jpg

Look closely at the AM radio dial. "XM" AM radio? I didn't know XM radio technology was that old.

AUdubon5425 04-09-2012 11:15 PM

Just another transistor radio? Please! This is a COLOR television receiver, pocket sized and battery operated, which will also offer stereo radio programming for outdoor use. But don't rush to your favorite RCA dealer for one. It's an "advanced idea" possibly for the decade of the 1970's....

leadlike 04-09-2012 11:51 PM

I believe RCA had a marketing campaign during this time featuring several items the public could expect for sale in the next decade. I recall a portable color set was included in the list of items under development, but can't remember if it was like the one in the ebay ad or not.

etype2 04-10-2012 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffhs (Post 3031934)
Look closely at the AM radio dial. "XM" AM radio? I didn't know XM radio technology was that old.


LOL! :music:

stromberg6 04-10-2012 03:34 PM

Say what you will about Sarnoff, he did pour millions into R&D at RCA. I agree that he probably needed things to "dazzle" the stockholders at the meetings, and this little TV was as good a prop as any, I guess. :scratch2:

Sandy G 04-10-2012 06:12 PM

Yep, NO CEO could have gotten away w/such a trick today as Sarnoff did w/color TV back in the Fifties...He woulda been PROMPTLY been handed his walkin' papers...Nowadays they want their money back ASAP, & color TV took til what, 1970 or so B4 it really became profitable...15 years...NO board would stand for that today...

oldtvman 04-11-2012 10:45 AM

here is advertisement I remember back in the day: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home...?click=main_sr


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