Sovjet tv set KVN-49
 

Hi folks,

this week, finally I received the Sovjet tv set KVN-49 from Moscow, which I have purchased in last August. It was very difficult to transport it to Germany without damage, and so on... but finally we found a carrier who did it for us.

The KVN-49 was constructed in the years 1946 to 1948 and was introduced in 1949. The design is American, similar to the Vassos-design of the RCA 621TS. For more informations, see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KVN-49

The Russian wikipedia page is more informative:

http://translate.google.de/translate...hl=de&ie=UTF-8

Here are some photos of the set:

http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-01.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-02.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-03.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-04.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-05.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-06.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-07.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-08.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-09.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-10.jpg
http://bs.cyty.com/menschen/e-etzold...g/KVN49-11.jpg

Note the unusual line output transformer. It has no ferrite core! The set is designed for 625 lines / 25i frames OIRT (6.5 MHz sound!). I operate it with Darryl Hock's World Converter on the Russian channel 2, and it displays a fine picture. There are no paper caps or wax caps in this set. The capacitors are hermetically sealed Sikatrop caps with chinaware-housing, and an extreme long lifetime warranty. These sets have to operate well in extreme cold north of Russia as well as in the humid Siberia regions, in regions where no tv serviceman is present.

The KVN-49 was subsidized in Russia, the price was less than one has to pay for a new suit. It was the Sovjet People's TV set (like the Nazi people radio).

Note that the displayed picture is not politically correct. It is due to the actual tv program, received in Braunschweig. I could not receive a Russian tv channel over here.

Kind regards,
Eckhard

Oh, boy! I still remember my grandma had one. It came with an optional round lense filled with water. It actually made picture larger. It was the first TV I ever saw!

I have the optional round lense here, but when I filled it with water, it leaked. I have to fix it. When it is OK, I will post photos with the lense and the set in operation.

- Eckhard

That is a nice set. I really like the wood grain.

That is amazing!

The HV cage looks almost new, like it didn't see the moist environment.

Does the CRT have a phosphor that looks slightly blue or is that just the photograph that makes it appear that way?

I love seeing such high quality capacitors in that set. TV's of that era needed a lot of maintenance. Had other manufacturers followed that path the true cost of ownership would have been less, in my opinion.

Most of the resistors appear to be carbon film or metal film also. No composition resistors to drift as they age.

John

Hi John,

this is one of the best sets of this brand. If you look on Molotok,

http://www.molotok.ru/search.php?str...rec=0&order=td

you find them very often, but in bad or damaged condition, for example this one:

http://www.molotok.ru/item599902782_...9_1957god.html

The phosphor of the CRT has a slightly blue tint, it is similar to the tint of a 10BP4.

You wrote, "Had other manufacturers followed that path the true cost of ownership would have been less, in my opinion."

This is a question of the economic system. One can produce a set as cheap as possible, or as reliable as possible. The Sovjets had very poor materials in that years, and they tried to produce as reliable as it was possible. With the KVN-49, they had luck. The "Starts" and the Other sets were not as reliable as this one.

By the way, this is my favourite Russian song:

http://download.sovmusic.ru/m32/katyusha.mp3

I know that this must sound very strange in American ears. But I grew up near the border of the iron curtain, and we listened daily in our radio and television from the east to such music. (The Eastern transmitters were much more powerful than the Western transmitters.)

Kind regards,
Eckhard

I'm surprised they let it out of Russia-There have been several tales of Western collectors buying rare cars over there, & getting a big "Nyet !" when they tried to get 'em home...

Hi,

another remark. Here is a KVN-49 in best condition on Molotok:

http://www.molotok.ru/show_item.php?item=598700084

And there is a discussion on another page which shows how difficult it is to transfer such a set to a foreign country:

Author: XXX2
Hello! How much does it vesitt with the lens? Check price otprravku in Israel, please. Then discuss the price.

Author: XXX1
Weighs about 30 kg. But abroad, I do not send. Only in Russia.

Author: XXX3
And in the United States to send? For my account of 3500 dollars.
And why can I not make a bet? Do you want to sell, do not have to. I want this TV as a memory. Pay the price of the lot, plus 3500 delivery. B.

Author: XXX1
You first make arrangements with customs - and to pay those 3500 dollars. If you do not know - the export of goods from Russia over 50 years - is no longer allowed.

-

Автор: XXX2
Здравствуйте! Сколько он веситт с линзой? Выясните цену отпрравку в зраиль, пожалуйста.Тогда обсудим цену.

Автор: XXX1
Весит около 30 кг. Но за границу я не высылаю. Только по России.

Автор: XXX
А в соединенные штаты отправите?За мой счет 3500 долларов.
А почему я не могу сделать ставку? Не хотите продавать-не надо. Мне нужен это тв как память. Плачу цену лота плюс 3500 доставка. Василий

Автор: XXX1
Вы сначала договоритесь с таможней - и ей заплатите эти 3500 долларов. Если Вы не в курсе - вывоз из России вещей старше 50 лет - ЗАПРЕЩЁН.

If somebody wants a Leningrad-T2 in good and working condition, please PM me.

Kind regards,
Eckhard

Sandy, it was very difficult. I have got contact to a young Russian in the Moscow region. It is not possible to ship it with mail due to customs laws, the high costs, and the high risk. But we have found a carrier who manages moves from Russia to Germany. He has brought the set to Germany for 130 Euros, which is very cheap, and he has paid 20 Euro customs fee. I have got the original paperworks with customs declaration of this set for clearing of exporting to Germany (of course in Russian language). For me, this was a little sensation. And I am very thankful for the patience of the young Russian in Moscow.

Hello!
It is amazing that this thing still has high voltage after that water demage. The quality of these sets must be incredible good:tresbon:
http://www.molotok.ru/item599902782_...9_1957god.html
Greetings

Josef: the coils of the line output transformer are not encapsulated in wax or plastics. There are fewer windings than I have seen in other sets, and in a dry room, they run dry very fast.

In the British forum, two Italians (Giulio and Angelo) have reported their attempt to get two KVN-49 from Russia. There you find some more informations:

http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/s...ad.php?t=38999

Kind regards,
Eckhard

What a great set. Thanks for sharing, Eckhard.

Hi Eckhard,

Actually I like it very much also. I grew up during the cold war and iron curtain and loved to listen to the Voice of Russia and the Voice of America on shortwave. Even without that we've had enough exposure to Russian music in movies to learn to enjoy it. Music was usually presented as a positive aspect of Russian culture in contrast to its political system.

Guess I'm off topic.

John

I love it...

A Red 621TS.

I can see Stalin now, along with Beria, Malenkov, Yakovlev, Vorloshilov, Kaganovitch, and the rest of the Boys.

LJB:smoke:

Yes, this is exact the time when the KVN-49 was introduced.

Beside the set, I got a whole bunch of spare parts:

http://fernsehmuseum.net/cccp/img/KVN-49spareparts.jpg

There are two line output transformers and one yoke.

Kind regards,
Eckhard

Hello,

in the last days, I have fixed the magnifier with some glue, and filled it with water. Here is a photo which shows the set with and without magnifier lens.

Note that the picture on the on the lens will be much better with dimmed light in the room.

And here is a short video with the set, displaying some historical Sovjet propaganda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BsVElvtqMQ

Kind regards,
Eckhard

Ooooh! I love it...LOVE IT !!!

I'm working on a 1947 DuMont RA-103 "Chatham" a.k.a. "The Doghouse." It's in splendid cosmetic condition, and, it still works...

I'm recapping, checking everything, etc etc, just to be ultra safe.

What do you say we have a face off when I'm done? I'll play some Universal Newsreels, circa 1946 to 50, with Ed Herlihy narrating, and see whose Dogma prevails...

I'm very happy for you...and very glad to see your Set working.

LJB:smoke:

So, tell Me, how did the Soviets "acquire" the Design? Did they sign a License Agreement with RCA, or, did they just copy it?

I know RCA was building stuff for the CCCP pre-war, TRK Series stuff. But, sometimes the Soviets just ripped off various technologies, by espionage, reverse engineering, etc.

What was it that Marx said? "Capitalism will sell the rope that hangs them?"

Perhaps he was correct, what with the Chinese now holding a good share of the US Treasury...

LJB:smoke:

I don't have any historical informations, but I assume that they "copied" and re-designed the RCA design. The chassis is a development of Kensington, Warsawskiy, and Nikolayevskiy.

- Eckhard

Maybe one day I will take a trip to Moscow to get me one of this.
I saw a tv set like this is in Romania! It's ownded by Muzeul Tehnic "Ştefan Procopiu" ("Ştefan (Steven) Procopiu" Technical Museum) from Iaşi. I think is the oldest tv set presrved in Romania. They got there one "Leningrad" T2 (which was used, along with "Tesla" 4002A at experimental television broadcasting in 1955 and 1956).