I have a dream...
 

Basically, I am anti TV; that is, the 981 channels of BS we get on our DirectTV in the living room.

I envision an old B&W tall narrow set right between my speakers in my den, for watching only over the air signals like a ball game, some breaking news, whatever. Here's a picture. Any suggestions for the perfect set to sit between those speakers?

I'm thinking estate sales, seeing as how we have a lot of old people here in Tucson who kick the bucket at an alarming rate.

Thanks.

In my humble opinion, the best b&w sets ever were about 21inch, rectangular, and 70 degree deflection. RCA's and Zeniths are good , but so are lots of other things. Sets meeting this description tend to come in tall skinny cabinets, and are dirt cheap, too. All else being equal, look for a power transformer and a high tube count. Think 1953 or 1954. A replacement CRT with an aluminized screen is a big plus. By this time they were finally making a bunch of sets without doors, so they actually look like TV sets.

John

A Predicta Barber pole would look neat there!!

SOmething like http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/admtvbb.jpg or http://www.geocities.com/wa2ise/radios/rca21t8395.jpg ? But I'm not selling mine. You will need to recap any TV this old. Assuming that the picture tube, the flyback, the yoke, vertical output transformer and power transformers are good. Those can be hard to find replacements for.

I think John pretty much nailed it, a mid fifties 21 incher, preferably something common like an RCA, Admiral or Philco so you can find parts for it if needed.

A Predicta Barberpole would look nice but you want to be able to actually use it more than you work on it so there is an alternative if you have the bucks :D :

http://www.predicta.com/index.shtml

Hey; I'm not alone! I couldn't agree more. I only watch the same old KTLA morning news while I have my morning coffee, and maybe, if I'm home in time, I watch the KTLA News At Ten with Hal Fishman. Last prime time show I watched faithfully was The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo in about '80 (on the same Zenith I still use daily; one fire and an earthquake later).

Nancy watches all those WB shows with the 20-something actors that give both of us physique-inferiority complexes.... But I don't watch & don't care.

Charles

I have an RCA similiar to what wa2ise posted, and I'd give it to you but we are on opposite coasts. Lots to choose from out there and you shouldn't have to pay much of anything. Black & white tv had mostly been perfected by the mid fifties.