Sony PVM Movie Prop

[lnx64]

I have this seriously oddball Sony PVM monitor, that was used as a movie prop. It was used in a few movies, including the TV series X-Files (a few X-Files episodes actually, not just one). It's a PVM-1390.

Sadly it has been beaten up a little bit by the time I got it, looks like Holywood never cared for it and got it very scuffed up, and the buttons on it have yellowed..

Pics of it when used in X-Files episode Conduit:
http://ladymanson.com/galleries/tv/T..._display_media
http://ladymanson.com/galleries/tv/T..._display_media

And here's that monitor today:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...agon/pvm-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...ragon/moni.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...on/showmon.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...on/moniuse.jpg
It even makes a good RGB monitor via the computer input on the 25 pin connector: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...gon/genpvm.jpg

But, if you look closely in the shot from the X-Files, it had a slight pin cushion/trapezoid problem back then.. Very small but is noticeable. Well, even to this day, that problem is still on it: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...agon/dtv-1.jpg

Is this fixable? Considering it has the same problem as it did all the way back on Season 1 of the X-Files, I'm guessing just an alignment problem.

This picture, when on an SNES, shows just how bad the pincushion problem really is.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...agon/snes2.jpg

Notice the top edges and all along the sides of the picture.

[Eric H]

That's very cool but how can you be sure it's the exact same one used in the show? Did you get it from a Prop House?
As for the wear and tear, that's called "Patina" and it makes it more desireable, at least that's what they say on eBay.

The buttons are yellowed from the fire retardant in the plastic, common problem with old electronics, especially Computer parts.
There is a process for making them look new again but you'll have to Google it, something to do with Hydrogen Peroxide I think.

I love the X-Files and have been rewatching the series from the beginning these last few months.
It so bizarre to remember back when their giant Cel Phones seems so high tech at the time, and their Computers running DOS or Windows 3.1.
Damn, has it been 20 years since that show first aired!


I'm sure a Professional Monitor would have Pincushion adjustments, even my old XBR had them but they were in the Service menu, that was accessed by holding in a hidden button on the back while you powered the set up.

You may be dealing with some aged Capacitors at this point in time, Phil Nelson just had to recap his Sony of a similar vintage.
An ESR Meter really comes in handy on this modern stuff, I need to get one myself.

[lnx64]

I got it directly from the studio. I have a list of what movies it was used in, somewhere. Sadly this PVM has no service menus, only knobs and pots inside. A sams for this monitor may help me cause non of the external controls have this adjustment.

[Eric H]

Now that I looked more closely at that model I think it's the same one Phil has.

I had a chance to get one for $10 with the remote and I let it go, kind of wish I had gotten it.

[Sandy G]

Anybody know why Trinitrons were almost exclusively always used when an OPERATING TV was shown in a TV show ? W/their distinctive screen shape, they were easy to pick out, even if they'd "Black-Taped" the Sony label under the screen.

[Eric H]

I would think two things, Product Placement and image quality.

Also Sony made a lot of Professional gear used by Studios so it would make sense to use what they have.

[lnx64]

This monitor has no remote and does not appear to have any infrared sensor.

This particular monitor found its way being used as a prop. Basically from what I was told it was being used behind the scenes as a video monitor originally until better PVMs were used.

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by lnx64

This monitor has no remote and does not appear to have any infrared sensor.

I see, the one I saw had an area a few inches below the buttons for the sensor.

One reason I didn't buy it was the cover for it was damaged.

[Phil Nelson]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Now that I looked more closely at that model I think it's the same one Phil has.

Yes, you have a good memory. I have a KV-1311CR TV/monitor, which I have used almost daily since buying it new in the 1980s. A few months ago, it developed a video problem which I cured with some advice and a few new electrolytics. Replacing the caps was much easier than remembering where to plug in all the inter-board connector cables:

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...p?f=3&t=174186

I originally bought it to use as a computer monitor. I was doing a lot of writing about computers at the time and bought the latest Commodore model before factory monitors were available. This served me well during the meantime. It was our family TV for years after that. Now, it sits on my desk in the office and plays lame movies from cable & Netflix while I putter on the computer.

It looks just like the PVM monitor, only with a little panel below the controls for the infrared remote receiver. I never watched the X Files, but now I will have to look up a couple of episodes.

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[Eric H]

Phil, that one is what I saw at the thrift, the cover over the IR sensor was missing and I figured I'd never find one so I passed.

Also I dropped the remote (in the store ) and it flew into about four pieces, I put it back together but there was a chip out of it after that, whoops.

[mpatoray]

Phil,

I have the same model, was using it as a video monitor with a STB,The F connector is loose and no longer reliable, I might just run a cable in through there and connect to the RGB input, to have this as a monitor for my Apple IIgs. It will look darn side better then the crappy Mitsbushi made monitor with the 0.37 dot pitch!

[Gerardn3]

That's very cool. I'm an X-Files fan.

I've seen three very similar (possibly identical) 13" Sony Trinitron monitors in thrift stores for cheap, but they all seemed to have weak CRTs (with the contrast at maximum, they were barely as bright as my KV-9200 at minimum) so I passed them up. I'd love to find one with a strong CRT as I'm sure they are great performers.

[lnx64]

I used mine as a video editing monitor..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfQe2nGMKeM

I show it in this video being used while making this video. It still finds use.

Contrast wise, it's still fine. Just has the geometry issue, but it isn't always pronounced.

EDIT: Closeup of the screen being used to play a Japanese SEGA game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9Z_ttKmf4Y
(The video camera that filmed the game footage was CRAPPY. Very CRAPPY. The picture is definitely not that distorted.).

I'll make a new video for you guys.

[ChrisW6ATV]

The KV-1311CR is a combination TV/monitor, the PVM1390 is only an RGB monitor (but maybe with composite-video input as well). Both models only accept ~15 kHz RGB input, digital and analog if I remember right. ("CGA", and Amiga-type video, as opposed to "EGA"/"VGA".)

[lnx64]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

The KV-1311CR is a combination TV/monitor, the PVM1390 is only an RGB monitor (but maybe with composite-video input as well). Both models only accept ~15 kHz RGB input, digital and analog if I remember right. ("CGA", and Amiga-type video, as opposed to "EGA"/"VGA".)

PVM 1390 has Composite, RGB, S-Video and VTR inputs. And yes, 15KHz RGB, both analog and digital. Game consoles of the late 80's and mid to early 90's can use the analog RGB mode without trouble.