Sears was probably trying to keep costs down by not including a phonograph. I think the layout could have been improved upon, but if a phonogrpah was included, where would it go? It looks like the the AM radio was a simple adaptation of the Silvertone Wire Recorder Model 8088 or 7103. Both use the same loctal tube type chassis. I have several Silvertone 8088 and 7103 in my collectioin. I think Sears tried to cut corners with the cabinetry. The wood joints on the cabinets did not use dowel and pin or dove tail construction. Quality control was very poor and the cabinets tend to dry out the fall apart. I wonder how solid the TV cabinet would be?
This TV doesn't strike me a the most eye appealing but I wonder if Sears had a higher end unit? Sears did have a high end wire recorder with a time clock (I have the recorder and time clock as a separate piece in my collection) I think they missed an oppportunity to be the first to do time shift recordings - audio only - of TV programs. Sears could have built a masterpiece with a TV set...take a look at the attached pics...the wire recorder/phonograph combo designs were great!
Tom