The 8-inch RCAs are good performers, but I wouldn't recommend one to a beginner. Nothing impossible to deal with, but the chassis is cramped.
http://www.antiqueradio.org/rca16.htm
Larger 1950s tabletops with metal cabinets are also plentiful and cheap. I love my Zenith T1816R, which has a big screen and is very watchable.
I would avoid 1940s 7-inch TVs for the time being. The high-voltage supply can be finicky to restore, and the tiny picture tube is not very satisfying to watch, for most people accustomed to watching larger screens.
Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html