When did the switch from "wide" to "tall" CRTs occur?
 

So we all know that CRTs, even non-console sets, used to be in a "wide" form factor with the knobs/buttons to one side of the tube and speakers on either side of the tube. And that by the mid 90s all non-console sets had changed to a "tall" form factor, with the speakers and buttons under the tube. My question is...when did this change start happening? My old 1990 Sanyo set was a "tall" set but in 1989 there were definitely still "wide" sets.

Mid 80s as far as I remember.

Really it was more of a shifting design trends thing. If you go back to the dawn of consumer TV in the late 40's both styles and some others we have not seen made since were played with, and both pretty much coexisted all along with the relative popularity varying all the time...It started becoming more of a monoculture in the 90's because most of the sets were Asian made, and cheap commodities by then...Once a product hits that point stylistic creativity/diversity tends to die.

Mid 80's as mechanical tuners went away. By 1990 almost all had the control panel under the screen.

Its a style that came & went over the years. Some 50's
bug eyed Zeniths are narrow. Many early 60's were made
in the suitcase or attache style. "Top Tuning" sets were
also narrow. For color the mid 70's Sony 17" comes to mind
first. All controls on bottom & it looked real odd to us.
In the 80's it became the "cube" style. That spred like wild fire
since you can get a 25" into an area a little bigger than a typical
19-20" Enuf

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

I think the switch from mono to stereo, is what did it.

That second speaker made the TV a bit too wide, so made sense to put them under instead. Also, the switch away from knobs to a row of buttons meant the control panel could also be much more narrow, and the universal adaptation of remote controls made it less important.

Notice how it's usually mono TVs with the horizontal layout, and stereo with the speakers under the screen. Later mono TVs did use the vertical layout, but they were usually economy versions of stereo sets, with some parts removed.

That's true, aside from console sets I've never seen a horizontal layout stereo set.

There were a few, especially in the mid 80's. I really like the style of them.

I have two Sony sets that are exactly this way. I suspect there are many other Sony models like this as well.

I definitely wish I could find the Sony and Mitsubishi high end stuff but sadly all I ever seem to find are 80s mono sets and low end stuff from the BPC era!

Hang in there, and keep an eye out!

The sets are out there you just gotta dig for them. Go to yard sales
ESPECIALLY old folks, old neighborhoods & farms. ASK ! They are
often stuck in cellars, attics & garages. Only pay little or nothing for
them unless you know its a money set.
The hard thing is finding Sonys with a good CRT. You will find lots of
Zeniths & they were top of line sets. Almost always need little work &
are the easiest to fix. Just remember almost all old sets are worth
NOTHING. In fact I wish someone took my old 36" Sony XBR for free !

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

Interested in one of these (with matching stand)?

Sony KV-3000R

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/11156...-1/s-l1000.jpg

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No way, I don't have anywhere near enough space for that! Right now I only buy/pick up sets that are 21 inches or less...

That's one heck of a TV!

IIRC that beast was the one that retailed at 10 kilobucks.
We wernt a Sony dealer at the time but I remember it in
the trade papers ( Dealerscope etc). Twas made with real top-o-line
teak, rosewood etc. You were buying furniture with a nice TV
thrown in. Very rare but nobody wants one. And you do not
want to move one !. Pissah set but I would pass on one even if
it had a mint CRT & free delivery !

73 Zeno:smoke:
LFOD !

Tamo Ash.

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I'm a wimp, I couldn't even lift an 88 pound Magnavox...

You need to hit the gym...Join the Tube TV console collectors fitness program, and you too can lift a 208lb 34" Sony Superfinepitch HD CRT set yourself (Something I've done). :D

And quite rare with only 1000 built, and extremely heavy at over 500 pounds. It also has motorized doors.

I'd take one but I'd be keeping it on a wheeled platform.

I saw one in an antique furniture store, about 15 years ago. I think they wanted 400 bucks for it or something which seemed way too high for an old TV, no matter the cabinet. In that genre of giant show off TV I think the RCA 2000 is the only one I couldn't turn down.

I worked for RCA Smirnoff Labs back in the day, mid 1980's. The explanation I heard was that the 25 inch CRT "tall" configuration had nearly the same footprint as the 19 inch CRT wide configuration. That a consumer could have a bigger screen atop the same piece of furniture. IIRC, the CTC121 was RCA's first "tall" set. And it had a 2 line comb filter.

I don't remember if anyone there said RCA "invented" the "tall" set or not. It wouldn't be a real patentable invention anyway.