Rca B&w Tv
 

I acquired an RCA B&W tv from an estate sale-I want to sell it and donate the proceeds to a local non-profit I support; however, I cannot find any info on this model. On the back it says under Model that it's a 240K485M-I'm thinking it's from the 50's-it works and the cabinet is in good shape. Any ideas of what I'm looking at-thanks
Kim

I have paid between $10 and $50 for these types of sets for my collection...however you will need an old TV enthusiast in the area to be able to sell it as there is not a lot of general "antique" interest in TV's. It's not quite old or rare enough to be a very expensive collector's item.

That is a good & noble thing that you're trying to do. Where are you located? Another part of the problem w/ancient TVs is the difficulty of shipping them intact. Unless you wanna build a crate for it-or the new owner is willing to come get it-the shipping alone can easily be a deal-killer. That set looks to be approx 1954-58 era. Yeah, its OLD, but to a TV guy it would be a LOT more valuable if it were 1) Color, or 2) about 5-8 years older.

Do you have any idea what year it might be?

I'm near Phila, PA.

I believe that RCA is from the 1955 to 57 era.

It's listed in Sam's as Folder 461-1 which makes it late '59
Terry
Also near Phila.

Correct. I think this is actually a 1960 model due to the model number, and also the fact that it's covered in the 1960 "Supreme" manual.

Incidently, 1960 is probably getting near the end of the line for 24" B&W TV's, as that size was pretty much being phased out when the new more squared-off looking 23" B&W rectangular tubes started replacing the old (more rounded-cornered) 21" B&W CRTs. As far as I know, no manufacturer bothered to replace the 24" B&W CRT size with something new having a more modern, more square-cornered shape.(*) By that time, the "high-end" TV buyer would have been more pushed towards purchacing a color set anyway, rather than a "big screen" B&W TV.

(*) Similarly, shortly afterwards, the old 17" size for B&W CRTs was phased out in favor of the more squared-off 19" CRT, which later became re-designated 18V, and replaced with an even more squared-off 19V size.

Yeah, that's why I thought it was an earlier set-it has that early-mid '50s "roundness" look to it. By the late '50s, they were going for a more "squared-off" look.

I was thinking the same thing Sandy. I didnt realize they made that style of tv set as late as 1960.
-Tony

Now that I think about it, I think the line between the more round looking rectangular crts and the more rectangular looking ones is between 60 and 61. At least this follows all the sets I've had.

Beginning in 54 and going to 63:

rounder looking 17" sets = 56 Bendix, 58 Hoffman, 58 Sylvania, 60 Zenith

rounder looking 21" sets = 54 Westinghouse, 56 Zenith, 57 Philco, 57 Emerson, 58 RCA, 59 Setchell Carlson, 59 Olympic

rounder looking 24" sets = 59 Magnavox x2

---------

more rectangular looking 19" sets = 61 Zenith

more rectangular looking 23" sets = 61 Zenith, 63 Airline

I have a Motorola from 1960 with the old style tube and I thought it was late. The 110 degree tubes were getting ready to take the market by storm but I guess production wasn't ramped up yet in '60.

What's strange is that the change between 70 - 90 - 110 degree tubes doesn't correspond to the change to more squared off corners, and seems to be much more gradual.

Looking at the sets I mentioned before:

rounder looking 17" sets = 56 Bendix - 90, 58 Hoffman - 110, 58 Sylvania - 110, 60 Zenith - 110

rounder looking 21" sets = 54 Westinghouse - 70, 56 Zenith - 70, 57 Philco - 70, 57 Emerson - 70, 58 RCA - 110, 59 Setchell Carlson - 90, 59 Olympic - 90

rounder looking 24" sets = 59 Magnavox x2 - 110

---------

more rectangular looking 19" sets = 61 Zenith - 110

more rectangular looking 23" sets = 61 Zenith -110, 63 Airline - 90

Lessee.... my 'library' of old Consumer Reports shows that the first 23" B&W sets were introduced for the 1960 model year, and appears to have pretty much completely replaced the more rounded-off 21" size within another year or two.

TV Guide modified their logo accordingly, I think in 1962.

I too thought that the "50's" rounded corner look stayed around till around 1961. There is a transition period in production that allows the company to use up as much of the parts and warehoused/unsold stock. I am glad this came up because I have always been puzzled by the Harry Poster website.

For those who dont know Harry Poster does prop work for the movie industry and sells vintage sets that have been converted to color, or you can buy "as found". They list them in decade catagories, 40's through 80's. For a long time they have had a set in their 1970's listing (item#SC-SC01). It is a Setchell-Carlson that looks every bit a 1950's set with very rounded corners od the CRT.

Nefore I posted I went back to http://www.harryposter.com/vintagetelevision.htm to make sure the ad was still there. It is. Check it out. Also now they have a rectangular set in their 1950's block (item#MAG-7Co1)

Everyone look and tell me what you think. The guy should know his stuff. Maybe he's letting the wife do the descriptions.