Minty RCA combo unit Lookie Lookie

[John Marinello]

http://detroit.craigslist.org/fuo/912392190.html

[Sandy G]

Whine...whine...Whimper...whimper...

[kx250rider]

Those are nice, and a mystery has surrounded that TV for all of the 35 years I've been a TV collector. The model number shows 1946 (it's a 641-TV), and it has a 630-TS chassis, but the Sams shows 1949. Since it has a 78-rpm-only turntable, that also lends to the 1946 theory.

Charles

[radotvguy]

very nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

must be nice and heavy too !!!!

[zenithfan1]

As always, if it were closer..............

[John Marinello]

Originally Posted by zenithfan1

As always, if it were closer..............

Aw, c'mon Mark, it's just across the pond from you. Can't you just row over there & nab it?

[zenithfan1]

Very funny John.............

[Tony V]

I have one of these and believe it or not, its not as heavy as you might expect. The weirdest part of this model is watching it with the little 10 inch screen in such a massive cabinet. The radio is a good one and performs well but the scissor action auto changer will destroy your records so use it only in the manual setting. We all know how well the 630 chassis' performed. The audio from the tv was fed to the radio amp so you had better fidelity compared to the stand alones.

Charles, they made that model for 2 1/2 years with the last one made in early 49 from leftovers of the previous years with only minor changes cosmetically. The one shown is the earliest with the tambor sliding doors over the tv and first version turntable with the slide out chrome tipped cartridge. The last model had the pull out and tuck away doors over the tv, the same turntable but with a gold tonearm and the radio was changed to a three band instead of four (dropped the early fm band). The early version had am-police/fm1/fm2/sw. Both radios had tuning meters for the am/fm bands. Otherwise they are identical with the same electronics. My theory was the sams just covered all three models together instead of covering each separately since the only difference was the cabinet doors, tonearm and one less fm band. Later that year they went to the duo speed VM changer and separate 45 changer with the next version 630 based narrower tv chassis in various cabinet styles.
-Tony

[radotvguy]

i am assuming it must have been a expensive model in its day

[kbmuri]

I have one of these too. Eric H has seen it. I haven't had a chance to dig into it or photograph it yet. 95% of my life is sucked into my job. But it's a very cool TV.

ETF says it's a 1947 model, but they seem to base the conclusion on a 1947 ad with the splash "NEW" beside the 641 but not beside the 630 or 621. Which suggests it was built somewhat later. Probably a fair conclusion, but I would still go by RCA's intent if not their outcome. They labeled it a 1946 appliance. I would imagine the delay was due to the unexpected demand for TV's in 1946 that also prompted RCA to let Crosley, Fada, Air-King, etc, make 630s alongside them. They couldn't meet demand so the high-end set had to wait a while.

I'm near the seller, maybe I'll have a look at it. Don't have room for two though...

Tony V, your knowledge seems impressive. I was unaware of different versions. Mine is identical to the craigslist ad.

Hope one of us saves it...

[Tony V]

The only reason i know about these is i've had all three models over the years.
-Tony

[bgadow]

Tony might end up with mine, too! Unfortunately it wasn't stored well and the cabinet needs lots of work. One odd thing is that the chassis in mine is labled on the back "Crosley" so obviously was swapped in at some point.