[drh4683]

Yes, even the popular TV repair books by Art Margolis back in the 60's would say that the chromix control was more or less a gimick and hassle that didn't do anything but confuse set owners. IIRC, I can quote him out of his 1969 The Practical Handbook of TV repairs that "you should just set the control to neutral and forget it".

The added control makes the control panel look more sophisticated. Thats about it.

As for the control panel, it does not tilt out like the admiral, but rather slides out on a track. There is an upper door that automatically flips open when you pull the bottom section out. So this method was most likely "slivertones" as opposed to Admrials that tilted out. The neat thing about the silvertone is that the channel indicator lights up on both the top of the control panel and also on front, so with the panel closed, channel numbers are always visible. Its a unique and different design, which I like.