Consumer Reports

[bgadow]

I was thinking the other day that it had been awhile since I had dug into my stash of old Consumer Reports magazines. Pretty interesting reading, I think. I thought some might find it interesting how some old tv sets rated way back when. I don't have a way to post the whole articles, but can give a run-down of the results. The ones I have range from the early 50s to modern times, but they are real hit or miss. I'll start out with some of the older ones, later I can post some for late 60s/early 70s color sets as well, if interested.

June 1951 report on 17" sets:
The RCA 7-T-112 ($359.50)was top rated, though it posed a shock hazard if the chassis wasn't grounded.
Admiral 17K12N ($260.85)was next, dealt good with interference. (I have one of these, a tough old set)
The DuMont RA117-A7($429.95)-they didn't like, poor contrast and the continous style tuner was disliked.
Bottom rated set was the Philco 51-T-1800($318.89);biggest complaint was the picture getting a "bas-relief character" on some channels.

The next month they tested some more, listed in order of quality(includes those in the earlier test):
Hoffman 637,$319.95 (high rated but with reliabilty problems-said 2 of the 3 they bought needed to be repaired right out of the box)
Stromberg-Carlson 317-TM,$306.45, best at being unaffected by spark interference
GE 17C105, $358.95,lots of compliments for a good picture, good contrast/brightness
Airline 15BR-3053B,$305.95
Capehart 320A,$347.70
RCA 7-T-112, $359.50
GE 17T2,$298.95
Zenith H2252,$378.95
Admiral 17K12N,$260.85
Hallicrafters 17-804-CN,$287.95
Magnavox MV31J-2,$298.50
DuMont RA117-A7,$429.95
Hallicrafters 17-815-H,$327.95 "with printed-circuit tuner", poor picture quality
Philco 51-T-1800, $318.89
Westinghouse H-641K17, $369.95, poor picture, very snowy


The next report I have is from '53, if anyone is interested.