1951 Philco TV help please.

[KNH1]

Hi everyone. I'm hoping I can find out more about this TV here. It is a Philco. The model # is 51-T1601 so I figured it's probably a 1951. Is that correct? Any value to it? It doesn't have a plug. Thanks for any info you can give me.

[David Roper]

1951 model year is correct. What it doesn't have is a cord--or a back. It is not uncommon for as-found TV sets to be missing both. You would be advised against plugging it in anyway for fear of damaging certain components.

It looks very similar to the set featured on later episodes of Happy Days. Unfortunately it wasn't prominent enough to be recognized as a 'Happy Days Philco' TV in the way you'd recognize a 'Waltons Zenith' radio.

I wouldn't mind having one, but I wouldn't pay a fortune for it. The curvy styling is unusual for its time, when most TV sets had become very boxy.

[Sandy G]

Looks like a GOOD candidate for restoration !

[jr_tech]

Correct on the date! I have a similar 16 inch Philco console. The good news is that the split chassis Philcos are easy to work on and easy to restore. The bad news is that they are fairly common. Here is mine:



Mine works, but I suspect that I would have a hard time getting $100 for it.

jr

[KNH1]

Thanks for the responses. Jr Tech, so it probably isn't worth more than $20 since it doesn't work?

[David Roper]

Let's just say I'd be more than willing to bid that and very likely outbid that.

[jr_tech]

I suspect that the "cute" table models would be more desirable than my console. A known good CRT would add value. Difficult to estimate, shipping is a huge problem for sets in this category as the costs of proper shipping could easily be more than the value of the set.

jr

[cwmoser]

What 16" picture tube does those Philco's use?

Carl

[jr_tech]

16WP4A.

jr

[miniman82]

Ahh, split chassis Philcos. I had a set very similar to the one JR posted, but mine was the 52T-1634 model. Had to replace a bazillion caps to make it work, but it made an outstanding picture once completed.

[stromberg6]

Cut my TV repair teeth on Philcos like that. Love to have a nice 21 inch console with the "good" chassis (power transformer).

[bgadow]

I have that model and it is a good performer once restored, and a neat looking TV. I might have given $30 for mine, or less. Funny, if someone needed that picture tube and it was known to be good, you could probably get more than that just for the tube.

[bandersen]

Looks like it's been put up on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1950...-/150781209555

[KNH1]

Thanks for all the responses. I just sold mine locally for $40. Not the one on ebay.

[KNH1]

Oh. That is the same one. He told me he wants it to set in his vintage room. lol.