1970s? GTE Sylvania 25" color Console TV just picked up at a Garage Sale near me

[freakaftr8]

I did not know abour GE's VIR system. Ove seen it, but just assumed it was like RCAs accucolor. Learn something new every day!

[vortalexfan]

This TV does have a control panel that does seem to have a locking mechanism on it. But have no idea if the owner has the key for it. The owner is my next door neighbor who bought it brand new and had it in their basement.
They are holding it for me until I can get my workshop put back together, because I was planning on moving my workshop into a bigger room in my house but that room had black mold in it so my landlord had to have the mold abated and is now getting the room put back together.

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by freakaftr8

I did not know abour GE's VIR system. Ove seen it, but just assumed it was like RCAs accucolor. Learn something new every day!

There's been discussion of VIR in other threads here. A major problem with it was that proper use was not mandated by the FCC and was seldom adhered to by the broadcasters. It should have been inserted at the studio and then not touched all the way through the final transmitter. However, stations sometimes inserted it down the line, so it was then unrelated to the video. Some stations inserted it just before the transmitter feed so it could be used to correct any distortions on the studio transmitter link and in the transmitter. The result of all this is that VIR had a good chance of making the color worse when you turned it on in the set. TV manufacturers that looked at it often decided that without regulated use, VIR would be on average a detriment to their product line.

It's too bad. It could have gone a long way towards fixing the variable color performance of analog cable TV systems.

[Popester]

I believe VIR stood for "vertical interval reference" and by the way that Sylvania looks pretty nice. You will have to put a picture of it working so good luck with it.

[zeno]

Its a mid 70's GT-Matic 100% solid state. Probably the 3
module chassis. They were the first sets to use a master osc for
the horz & vert. That went on to be industry standard. A basic
set to work on so easy.
Other thing is it uses the "Dark Light" CRT & it looks OEM. If it has
a strong CRT it can give a fantastic pix BUT the CRT's were a weak
point. When anything black was on the screen you saw BLACK. Not
greys but BLACK ! Super high contrast if you like it that way.
BTW the key was a sales gimmick. You can open the door with a screwdriver.

73 Zeno
LFOD !