Any help appreciated in finding a 50's TV set.

[Netdewt]

I'm looking for a 50's TV set to use for a party. We'd probably want to rent, but buying something is not out of the question.

What sort of prices am I looking at? Can you give me some model numbers of sets that would be cheap and fixable, but still cool? I am not looking for a "collector's item", just something that looks era appropriate and is attainable within a week or two.

Thanks!

[Phil Nelson]

I see that you're in Minneapolis. You can start by contacting the local collector club. Someone there may have what you need, or have local connections to someone else who does:

http://www.northlandantiqueradioclub.com/

You could also try the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting in St. Louis Park:

http://www.museumofbroadcasting.org/

Again, what you're looking for is someone with connections, who can help you find what you want.

Unless you're already experienced with restoring old TVs, your chance of finding something at Goodwill and getting it working by yourself in a week or two is zero. Fixing old TVs takes more than just popping in a couple of new tubes. If you flip through some of the TV restoration articles at http://antiqueradio.org/restoration.htm , you'll get an idea of what's involved.

If you want the TV to play at the party, be sure to specify that you're looking for a TV that is already fully restored and reliable enough to play in public for a few hours. An unrestored TV will not be reliable (if it works at all), and might go up in smoke at any time.

Since time is short, I'd pick up that old fashioned device known as the "tele-phone" and call these places, rather than send email.

Phil Nelson

[AUdubon5425]

On the Minneapolis Craigslist right now, there's a portable Crosley from the 50's and a floor model Setchell Carlson, though that ad is a few weeks old. If you just want something for display, check it out.

[Netdewt]

There's a cool small Setchell Carlson, but it doesn't work. I kind of want to buy it for myself, but I have way to many hobbies already.

I thought they said 50's, but I guess 60's is closer to what we want. We're showing old baseball games on it.

There is an RC Colortrak that might be close enough. Might fit in the 60's era?:

[Eric H]

That Colortrak is probably closer to 1980, there are plenty of those in Thrift Stores these day, most won't need much if anything done to make them watchable and they have a great picture.

You might need an RF Modulator to hook it up to a DVD player though if it doesn't have Audio/Video connectors on the back.
Modulators are about $10 at Big Lots.

[Netdewt]

I used to have an RF modulator, gave it to a friend. I'm sure I could borrow it back.

Looks a bit like this one (1960 RCA Ad):