The number of playable B&W Televisions ...

[Penthode]

This is indeed an interesting question. Another factor which should be considered is the technology progression in consumer electronics. Up until the late '70's, consumer electronics equipment construction facilitated repair. Service manual organizations flourished, local TV repair shops were numerous and replacement parts were made readily available for fixing TV sets.

Since consumer electronics is now considerably more sophisticated and the manufacture has now migrated overseas, the chances of extending the natural life of a post year 2000 TV will be more difficult. Early sets will still need a signal and as interlaced 525 NTSC video remains available, it is a relatively simple matter to get it into an old set.

I forsee in the not too distant future that there may emerge a "chronological gap" of working TV sets between older simpler TV technology and the newer sets. On the other hand, maybe the newer sets are just that much more reliable and will continue to run?

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by Penthode

Since consumer electronics is now considerably more sophisticated and the manufacture has now migrated overseas, the chances of extending the natural life of a post year 2000 TV will be more difficult. Early sets will still need a signal and as interlaced 525 NTSC video remains available, it is a relatively simple matter to get it into an old set.

I forsee in the not too distant future that there may emerge a "chronological gap" of working TV sets between older simpler TV technology and the newer sets. On the other hand, maybe the newer sets are just that much more reliable and will continue to run?

I can't resist comparing consumer electronics and cars here:
It is more likely that the 1950's era TV's will remain serviceable with basic parts if for no other reason but simplicity and ubiquitous tube types,etc we can always get. Just like a ford, chevy or mopar from the same era. Coversely, the sets from the 80's onward used custom solid state parts, sweep circuits,CRT's etc just like the over-featured and complicated cars we have in the last 30 years. Those will be nearly impossible to swap parts on. I sure won't shed a tear over junking late 70's and newer cars My apologies to anybody born after 1979, this is just my car opinion, im sure the gov't will again interfere with auto design and repeat the mistakes of the 70's on grander scale.