Quote:
Originally Posted by nasadowsk
I wouldn't be surprised if the cost difference between a smaller size and a larger one would be minor - the color section's the same, the CRTs required a lot of hand work to make...
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In fact the mfg cost might have been
higher for a smaller set! Imagine trying to cram all the circuitry necessary to produce a decent color picture into a portable set in the late 50s!
IMHO, Most of the development effort at that time went into rectangular crts, simplified circuitry, special multifunction tubes, cost cutting, in an attempt to get a decent rectangular set at a (more or less) reasonable price into living rooms. Portables would have to wait!
IIRC, some of the first small sets that were available for something in the vicinity of $300 or less were the the GE portacolor 10" and the RCA ctc 22 14" (15"?), which sold quite well! Sets like these
started to appear in the mid 60s.
jr