Motorola TS-4 production data
 

As I've acquired several Motorola sets using one of the TS-4 chassis variations, I noticed they have a serial # stamped on them and usually a date. Assuming that date is the production or assembly date, I starting accumulating data from wherever I could find it. Some kindly provided by Videokarma members, some from eBay photos, some from restoration diary websites.

Here's what I have so far including some TS-18 (TS-4 successor) data. The TS-18 serial numbers seem to start with 300,000 and the dates were reduced to 1M50, 2M50, 3M50 etc towards the end of it's life.
It's a shame the earliest TS-4 examples don't seem to have a date anywhere on them.

TS-4 serial # 2425 ( ??? ) My set :)
TS-4 serial # 4703 ( ??? )
TS-4 serial # 5680 ( ??? )
TS-4D serial # 14025 (Mar 10, 1948)
TS-4D serial # 16368 (Mar 17, 1948)
TS-4D serial # 23149 (???, 1948)
TS-4D serial # 23723 ( ? 24, 1948)
TS-4D serial # 24969 ( ??? )
TS-4F serial # 29295 ( ??? )
TS-4F serial # 32608 ( ??? )
TS-4G serial # 42021 (Jun 24, 1948)
*** TS-4G serial # 20430 (Jun 25, 1948)
TS-4H serial # 38641 (Jun 20, 1948)
TS-4H serial # 43109 (Aug 4, 1948)
TS-4H serial # 45354 (Jul 26, 1948)
TS-4H serial # 48691 (Aug 13, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 52186 (Oct ??, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 52575 (Oct 11 1948)
TS-4J serial # 53152 (Oct 19, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 53608 ( ??? )
TS-4J serial # 54402 (Oct 6, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 57234 (Dec 17, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 57280 (Nov 10, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 57466 (Nov 22, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 58966 (Dec 6, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 61454 (Jan 5, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 63638 (Dec 2, 1948)
TS-4J serial # 65152 (Jan 7, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 66171 (Feb 4, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 67607 (Jan 10, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 68262 (Jan 26, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 70500 (Feb 11, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 72008 (Feb 14, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 72421 (Feb 25, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 76785 (Mar 15, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 79677 (Mar 22, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 84425 (Apr 12, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 86923 (Apr 23, 1949)
TS-4J serial # 87897 ( ??? )
TS-4J serial # 98728 (??? 9, 1949)

TS-18 serial # 301795 (Jun 2, 1949)
TS-18 serial # 311370 ( ??? )
TS-18 serial # 313552 ( ??? )
TS-18 serial # 319580 ( ??? )
TS-18 serial # 328490 ( ??? )
TS-18 serial # 330103 ( ??? )
TS-18 serial # 333570 (Nov 11 1949)
TS-18A serial # 338581 (Nov 29, 1949)
TS-18A serial # ??? (1M50)
TS-18A serial # 341372 ( ??? )
TS-18A serial # 342687 (2M50)
TS-18A serial # 344106 (2M50)
TS-18A serial # 348629 (2M50)
TS-18A serial # 351406 (2M50)

I weeded out the data with incomplete info and created this graph. I was quite surprised at how linear it is. I really expected it to be non-linear with production picking up steam over time, but that's just not the case.

I'd be happy to add more data to my list if anyone has some to offer.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8240/8...36242ffd_b.jpg

Bob, I have 5 VT-71 sets but all are still in the boxes from moving and since they are heavy, they are bottom boxes. In the future, I will get the numbers for you. One is a channel 1 model and one is blonde.

Thanks. I forgot to mention that this data seems to peg the total TS-4 run at about 100,000 sets between late 1947 / early 1948 to mid 1949.

I will try to "unearth" the sets this coming Monday, 22 April.

My two 4Js are:

SN# 84133 04/11/1949
SN# 88677 Feb ?? ??

Thanks. I show 84425 on April, 12 so perhaps they were making around 300-400 a day ?
Are you sure about that Feb date ? I would expect May or June.

I have a TS-4F
serial #34022 Jun 8,1948

Here's a couple new sets for your database.

7VT5RA, TS-18, #317699, 9/21/1949 Copper plated Chassis.

9L1, TS-18A #352685, 1/10/1950, Plain Steel chassis.
34,986 sets in 112 days, Or 312.3 sets per day, not counting days off, if any.

Just did a new calculation, they must have been slowing down at the end, the number of days between azbigsams set and my 1950 set is 582 days and 318,663 sets, or 547.5 sets per day, except that they seem to have skipped everything between 200 and 300k.

I also noted the 1M50 number on the later set, that's out of sequence with the sets in your database which are stamped with 2M50 as early as the 342,000's, unless it has nothing to do with when they were made, perhaps a difference between a 7" set and an 8"? (mine is an 8" model).

Also curious about the 200,000 numbers between the 4J and the 18 chassis, it skips from close to 100,000 to 300,000 in two months and since there are no 4J's above 100k and no 18's below 300k what happened? Did they stop to make some other models in between and use those serial numbers?

Edit: Oh, I get it, 1M50, first month of 1950, 2M50, second month 1950.

Yeah, that struck me as a bit odd too. That particular chassis came from a
VT73, maybe that has something to do with it.

Bob,

I got the five VT71 sets out and here is what I found. Sometimes the year was the most difficult to see. But they seem to jive with your information.

1.
VT71M-A
TS-4J
Feb 16, 1949
SN: 72529

2.
VT71-B (Blonde)
VT-4J
Feb 16, 1949
SN: 72008
(Note: you have this SN already but with a date of Feb 14, 1949. Did you have this set or did I possibly give you the number already? I double checked the information.)

3.
VT71M-A (Channel 1)
TS-4D (Someone wrote the "D" in pencil next to the number on the cabinet)
April 27, 1948
SN: 22312

4.
VT71M-A
TS-4J
Sept 17, 1948
56062

5.
VT71-MBA
TS-4H
July 7, 1948
SN: 40880

Thanks, I've added them to the list.

Where do you find the date?
 

I now own #85887. It is marked TS-4J. I have not had a chance to take it out of the case yet, but I don't see a date anywhere with just the back off.

Stamped with black ink on the back - usually near the serial number. Yours might be worn off.

I had a TS-4D with serial 14464. Still had CH1

Heh, this effort had escaped my attention til now. I'll check mine when I get home. I think it's a 4B; it has the 7F8 converter.

The serial # is 2932. I do not see a chassis designation nor a date. It was frankenstuffed into a later cabinet so those labels are wrong.

Yep, you're already in the database :) You have the second oldest one on record. They didn't date them and it likely does not match any published service info.

Ok bandersen my set shows March 14 1948 and the number on the chassis is 16303 so I guess you can add this one to the list, and it's working. I have another that I broke up for parts and that number is 29216 dated March 1 something the other number and year has rubbed off.

I have 2 VT-71s.
S/N 16400, date stamp 3-48 (i think...rusty). Has channel 1 and NO fine tuning.
The set works, but gets some sort of noise gets into the video after about 10 minutes. CRT is weak. Good winter project finishing the restoration on this one.

S/N 91178, no idea of the date; rusted off. I think it says ch.1 around the knob (decals badly damaged by water), and it has fine tuning. this might not the right cabinet for this one, so not sure on the ch.1 part.
Lots of rust everywhere. CRT really weak. Lots of burned stuff around the fly, it'll be a long time before this one gets powered on, if it ever does. I stole tubes from this one to fix the other set.

These sets spent 30-40 years in a barn. I guess I'm lucky there's anything left to restore

Is it a safe assumption that Motorola in this era was one of the three largest selling TV makes? I think Motorola was only behind RCA in the late 1940's on TV sales.

With their 7" sets priced under $200, Motorola really gave the public with they wanted at the time. Considering how many of these sets exist today, it's easy to see that they sold well! Very soon the public wanted larger screens though, and with the improvements in programming, were willing to pay more for a set.
First chance I get I'll get the serial number of my blonde VT-71. It's as early a model as they come with the non-copper chassis, non-side-mounted lower front panel, channel 1, and no fine tuning. It also has the early sharp-edged HV box. The date stamped on the rear of the chassis even baffled the seller I got it from as it clearly says "1946"! Obviously this must be just a stamping error, but upon close inspection there is no indication that the "6" is a partial "8". It looks clearly like a "6"! It actually was purchased from the original owner, an old radio/TV repairman here on LI, a couple of years ago!:
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0779dfd4.jpg

I've seen far more VT-71 sets than I've seen 10" RCAs. IMO Moto probably well outsold RCA until the 12" and 16" sets caught on.

Could you post a photo of that date stamp. 1946 does seem a bit early for a VT-71. It could be a very late '46 prototype or pre-intro set sent to distributors or high volume dealers.

-Steve D.

From the Motorola site:

"1947: Motorola Golden View Televisions
Motorola introduced a line of Golden View televisions in 1947, beginning with the VK101 Consolette model. The Golden View VT71 table model television was designed to be affordable and more than 100,000 units sold in one year."

First chance I get I'll do that Steve. I have placed right now where it's a bit of a hassle to move. I should've took photo's earlier. My repairman, who I got it from, who got it from the original owner, has seen many of these sets and noticed that this one was quite unique.
Joe
UPDATE:
I got to the back of my set and I think, according to Bob's production data, I've deciphered the info. My set has "TS-4-O" stamped on the back of the chassis. I'll assume the "O" is a "D". The serial number is 13604 which would be a very early 1948 set. The stamped date reads March 6, 1946, which I assume the "6" is a mis-stamped "8".
Thanks Bob for all your info!

Another one on ebay to add to your list. November 19, 1948 serial 58736.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281811654668

VT-71 Date
 

TS-4G 34819 Jun 12 1948

Pulled my TS-4J down and looked up to see if it was in the database. Looks like no, so, here it is.
Serial#54321
October2, 1948

Still use it for night news!

There are two on eBay right now that you can read the dates & serials on, one is
52797-Oct/4/1949
and the other looks like
54849-Oct/12/1949

So basically 2000 sets in eight days.

My VT-71, chassis TS-4C, serial # 5923, if it's not in the data base already.

Thanks guys. I'll add them once I get my computer back up and running in the new workshop.

Here's another ts18 oct 4 1948 , 321193

I finally un-earthed one at the bottom of a pile:
VT-71 (no fine tuning)
TS-4D
Serial # 17244, dated March 28, 1948
set up for ch 1,2,4,5,7,9,13

Better late than never, I guess
jr

Here's mine:

VT73
TS-4J
s/n 95727
May 26, 1949