Vintage Bulgarian TV Sets

[Deltichko]

Hi from Bulgaria! I don`t know if you are interested in Bulgarian TV sets and radios.  I will show you some B&W sets from my own collection.
The first TV is named “Opera 3”. The Operas were the first TV sets produced in Bulgaria (from the end of 1959 to the mid-60`s). This set is one of the last Operas. “Opera 3” is the most popular model of this series (there were also Opera 1, Opera 2 and Opera 4). All the Operas use the AW43-80 picture tube (90º deflection, electrostatic focus). It has 19 tubes. Unfortunately, this TV is not yet in working condition. We are still repairing it.
The second TV is “Sofia 53” (the number shows the screen diagonal in cm). This very rare model is produced in the end of the 60`s. It has 16 tubes excluding the CRT. The picture tube is an East German B53G1. After the restoration, the TV works perfectly! 
The third TV is the portable model “Sofia 31” (the number again shows the screen diagonal in cm). This set is designed to use both 220 V AC and 12 V DC. It is produced in the end of the 70`s. The TV has 4 chips and 8 transistors. The picture tube is the Soviet 31LK3B. The TV also is in good condition.

Opera 3 in front - http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?i...m008438yq9.jpg
Opera 3 inside - http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?i...3736737lf2.jpg
Opera 3 in the bottom side - http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?i...1096028kk0.jpg
Sofia 53 in action І - http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53ob5.jpg
Sofia 53 in action ІІ - http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53bm5.jpg
Sofia 53 inside І- http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53qb6.jpg
Sofia 53 inside ІІ - http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53qi6.jpg
Sofia 53 inside ІІІ - http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53ey8.jpg
Sofia 53 with the cover - http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53av0.jpg
Sofia 53 with the factory logo and significations - http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53vq8.jpg
Sofia 53 logo - http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=53po8.jpg
Sofia 31 in front - http://img503.imageshack.us/my.php?image=31as9.jpg
Sofia 31 inside І - http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?i...m008473wi8.jpg
Sofia 31 inside ІІ - http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?i...m008472ko7.jpg
Sofia 31 inside ІІІ - http://img146.imageshack.us/my.php?i...m008471mz7.jpg

[Sandy G]

Wow... When did you guys get color ? Welcome to AK, & Yes, we're ALWAYS interested in TVs from another land...

[alpha_advers]

The first colour transmission in Bulgaria was in 1972, in the SECAM system. The SECAM was used until 2001 when Bulgaria migrated to PAL.

[old_tv_nut]

Thanks very much!
Is the Opera set missing a logo ("Opera" name) on the lower front?

I think there was one shown on Audiokarma before that had a logo, and we were trying to read it until someone identified it.

[electroking]

Thanks for the interesting pictures and good luck with your restoration projects!

Can you let us know more about the current situation regarding TV receivers
in your country? Are new receivers local production or imports, and from where?
Are most receiver operated over the air, or connected to cable? What about
the transition to digital broadcasting? Thanks in advance.

[wa2ise]

The Channel Master CM 7000 digital TV converter box is made in Bulgaria. Wonder if it was made by the same people who made these vintage sets?

[alpha_advers]

@old_tv_nut
Yes, the logo of the "Opera" is actually missing but I am sure that Deltichko will find such a logo.

@electroking
As far as I know, by this moment there is no production of TV sets here in Bulgaria. The most part of the new receivers are imported from China, South Korea etc.
Now the broadcasting in Bulgaria still remains mainly analogue but according to the international treaties within the European Union the analogue broadcasting must be ended in 2012. As you may know, the TV standard used in Bulgaria still is the East European standard (OIRT or D/K, distance between the carriers 6.5 MHz, 625 lines per frame, 50 frames per second).
Generally speaking, the over-the-air TV is more popular here but the number of the households connected with cable TV rose to a large degree in the last few years.

@wa2ise
Absolutely possible. Who knows?...

[Old1625]

Impressive!

Judging by the size of the speakers shown in those table model sets it would seem that Bulgarians took their TV audio much more seriously than we in the US did at the time. In our sets one usually never saw a low frequency speaker of such size except in floor models.

[Deltichko]

Oops! I forgot to give you the schematic diagrams.
The schematic of Opera 3 - http://www.kn34pc.com/sch/sch_tv/sch_tv_opera_3.pdf
This is a circuit diagram of another model (Pirin) but the Pirin's chassis is very close to that of "Sofia 53". Click here - http://www.kn34pc.com/sch/sch_tv/sch_tv_pirin.pdf
The schematic diagram of Sofia 31 - http://www.kn34pc.com/sch/sch_tv/sch_tv_sofiq_31.pdf

[Telecolor 3007]

I live in Romania, but never knew that my Southern neibeghours made tvs!

[Kiwick]

The Sofia 53 looks a lot like a typical early-mid 60s Italian TV set in both cabinet style and chassis layout...