The last B&W TV made for the USA? - Videokarma.org TV - Video

ChrisW6ATV · #1 06-04-2011, 06:36 PM

Hello-

I recently bought this unusual TV for a few bucks. It is a 12" B&W TV in a clear case, made for use in prison. This one has two numbers engraved on the top, probably the cell number and/or the prisoner/owner's number. It is also unusual for these reasons:

-It has on-screen menus, including auto channel programming.
-It is cable-ready (up to channel 125).
-It was manufactured in October 2006, less than six months before all TVs had to include digital tuners in the USA.

In the picture below, I tuned in one of the two low-power NTSC stations in the Bay Area. Have any of you seen or owned a B&W TV made later than this one?

AUdubon5425 · #2 06-04-2011, 07:45 PM

I'd say that's probably it for anything larger than those 5" $10 Chinese drug-store specials.

The last 12" B&W I've seen personally were knob-tuned from the early 90's. (I think KTV was one brand that ran off a wall wart transformer.)

I think 19" B&W sets were done by about 1982. I know RCA and Zenith marketed them at least through 1981. I've seen references to 23" sets being made as late as 1981, but haven't been able to confirm that.

radiotvnut · #3 08-23-2011, 11:18 AM

That's a neat set and it's certainly one I'd pick up, if the price was right. I did see one on epay; but, the seller wanted WAY too much money for it.

The last 12" B&W's I remember seeing were branded "Action" and were from around '93-'94. I think they sold for $39.99, ran off a wall wart, and had rotary tuners. They were cheaply made and didn't hold up well. When I was getting ready to graduate from college in '01, one of my classmates from, who was from Africa and was studying over here, gave me one of those sets. He said it had served his purpose and was no longer needed. By that time, he was probably the only student on campus who was still watching a B&W TV.

I think I remember seeing some 19" B&W sets as recent as the mid '80's and I know Zenith made a 23" B&W console as recent as '81. I have the photofact on that set and the model prefix puts it in the '81 model year. Personally, I own a 22" Sylvania solid state B&W console from '78. It was a NOS set that I obtained from a dealer who had gone out of business and he said that there were plenty of older people who refused to own a color TV and that his store kept B&W sets in stock for as long as they could get them.

kx250rider · #4 08-23-2011, 11:30 AM

Zenith had a 21" or 23" B&W with digital tuner and cable-ready, but they're rare as hens teeth. Only ever seen one or two of them. I think those were 1983-4ish.

Charles

stromberg6 · #5 08-23-2011, 02:34 PM

Nice find. I was informed recently that 9 inch B/W CRT monitors are no longer being manufactured, and after the last one is off the shelf, that's it. We use them in security systems and drive up kiosks in banks, and I'm sure the bankers won't be too happy when they are charged more for replacement flat screens. Oh well...
Kevin

radiotvnut · #6 08-23-2011, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kx250rider

Zenith had a 21" or 23" B&W with digital tuner and cable-ready, but they're rare as hens teeth. Only ever seen one or two of them. I think those were 1983-4ish.

Charles

I've only seen one 12" version and one 19" version of that set. The 12" version was at a yard sale, about 20 years ago. It was in great shape; but, the seller wanted $25 for it. At the time, that's what I was selling used 12" B&W's for; so, I passed. Now, I know I should have gotten it.

The 19" was a gift from the local Zenith dealer, who was about to toss it. That one had been in an accident and suffered a busted CRT. I ended up junking it. Again, I should have kept it because I'm sure with the resources I now have, I could have found a CRT for it.

I've also had a standard 23" Zenith solid state B&W metal cabinet set from the late '70's. I think I sold that one for $40, back around '92.

Oh well, can't cry over spilled milk. However, I don't think I'll be parting with my '78 Sylvania B&W console.

truetone36 · #7 08-23-2011, 06:17 PM

I have one of the 19" Zeniths,it worked as long as I left the off/volume knob on. The volume pot is bad and it won't turn the set on now.

bgadow · #8 08-23-2011, 10:58 PM

It must have been around 84-85 that I rode my bicycle up to the TV shop in town and fell in love with a new 19" bw Zenith! I have a feeling it was getting to be pretty old stock by then, though. I know Mr. Evey was willing to cut that price quite a bit for me (I think it was marked something like $179 and he was going to let me have it for $119) but my parents thought that was too much, so I ended up with a 12" Midland from Western Auto.