Miniature tubes were developed by RCA and the very first few, a complement of 1-volt filament tubes for battery portables, were introduced in 1939. Advertising for the first RCA radio to use them referred to the tubes as "tynitrons".

The 621TS could not have been designed before the war. As David mentioned the first miniature tubes were the 1 volt variety for use in the "pocket" radios like the BP10. Many of the tubes used in the 621TS were not even available until after the war.

6J6 - 9/42
6AG5 - 9/42
6AL5 - 8/44
6BA6 - 10/45
6BE6 - 10/45
6AT6 - 10/46

I see your point and agree, but what is your theory on the fact that RCA, with their well designed and modern (for the time) flagship 630 set, would make a small number of small screen sets with a fairly complex old pre-war design? Next to 630 it's a total departure in the design "theme" of the pre-war line. There's isn't another year before or after that RCA diverted so obviously in their styling theme on their a line of radios or TV's.

The serial nunber on my set is C015379. The earliest original tube code date is 7-13. The CRT was replaced in 1953, according to the code date.
It's an RCA replacement. :thmbsp:

The only post-war set the resembled the pre-war design was the GE sets.
The only miniture tube in the set was a 6AU6 in the tuner. It had all those 6AC7's in it
It must have been part of that rivalry between RCA and the other manufacturers. :scratch2:
The model 801 had a very dated cabinet styling to it too. :sigh:

The electronics design is very post war and is basically a stripped down 630. Anything is speculation at this time as far as the cabinet design goes. It could very well be that something along the lines of this cabinet was designed pre/during the war by Vassos. It may originally have been larger in order to house pre-war electronics and was shrunk along with the chassis post-war. In this respect it might be considered pre-war inspired, but of course this is just speculation.

I think you nailed it. All that's needed now is someone to find some kind of documentation from RCA. I'm surprised that by this time that has not happened.

Well, um, I bought the nice walnut 621TS, Serial Number C007180. It has the 'block script lettering.

It also came with a nice GE 805 with an excellent bakelite cabinet, and a decent 721TS, in walnut.

Price for all three? $450.00 out the door.:smoke:

You did very well! A nice walnut 621 alone is normally at least 1K.
Enjoy them!

It seemed a little strange that RCA came out with the 621 and then the 630. Then for the next model year, they came out with the 721, which is simular the 621. Even the flyback is the same. :yes:

In my opinion it would have made sense to have the 721TS come out along with the 630, but with the 7" CRT. The squarer post-war design matched the styling theme of the other sets. RCA somehow felt committed to having to sell the small stock of the 621TS after the war. Assuming the cabinets, or parts of the cabinets, were made before the war seems like the only sensible possibility.
Who knows what was going on at the RCA labs and factories during the war. Take the 630. It was quickly put on the market right after the war in '46 with hardly a single flaw - with a totally new chassis design! Does anyone believe that was all done within a year? Most other companies, like Philco, needed another couple of years! RCA was a monster company with the resources to do as they pleased.

Both sets were introduced at the same time, and I suspect manufactured at the same time. The 621 was cheaper than the 630.

My speculation: RCA didn't know what the demand would be for either set when they were introduced. It quickly became obvious (by low sales numbers for the 621) that the public preferred the 630, and the 621 was discontinued. The basic lines of the 621 could have been designed by Vassos before or during the war, but, as Tubesrule pointed out, there is no way the cabinets could have actually been built before the war, due to the size of prewar electronic components.

My speculation, having been a Consumer Electronics Rep for 27 years, is that early adapters of new technology are not as sensitive to price. They have in the past, and will in the future, pay more for the 'new bigger one' especially if the pricing is close enough.

Factor in installation costs, and the price difference betwixt a 621TS and a 630 shrinks further. :smoke:

The 721 was almost identical and came out for the next model year.
Did you notice that RCA never built an electrostatic set. A few others never did either. :scratch2:

Not post-war but pre-war they did.