Dual Chassis. Philco T51-1604

[Tom_Ryan]

Yesterday I received delivery of a Philco B&W dating back to 1951 from a collector in New York. A bit of a risk shipping cross country but I took a chance anyways. The cost of TV and shipping was under $75 from the New York to Southern California. Not bad. At the time I didn't know it was a Model 51-1604. I thought I was getting 12" round tube tv. Was I surprised when I realized it was a 16" set. Apart from a few tubes fallen out from travelling across the country UPS style - I was amazed it survived intact when it landed at my door step!

I was very curious about the 2 chassis design and a single 7F7 loctal tube (hey Charles that's why I bought Hassy's 5 pack!!!) in the power supply - horizontal output chassis. The 16" CRT is all glass - perhaps a 16LP4, the getter is silvery and screen has no ion burn. Uses dual 6BQ5 sweep tubes in parallel.

Does any know why Philips used a single loctal tube in this set? Apart from Philco inventing the loctal, the use of that type of tube in this TV seems to date back to pre-war designs. Ideas?