Interesting Pilot tabletop

[Phil Nelson]

A visitor to my website sent this photo of his Pilot. Looks like it would have been made around the same time as a TV-125, but there are obvious differences.



It receives FM radio and the channel selector is divided between low and high VHF channels.

Look familiar to anyone? I instructed the owner where to look for a model number, but people don't always do what I say

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[David Roper]

I've repeatedly kicked myself for passing up the chance to get this model from the ETF auction 9 or 10 years ago. This is the first one I've seen since.

ETA: Going by Rider it's likely model TV-121 (no illustration). Sure is more upmarket than their 3" set. The FM section sure is something else. Unlike Du Mont sets, this TV has intercarrier audio and the FM tuner is totally separate from the TV front end. There are two FM converters, one for 10.7 mc followed by another that converts to 4.5 mc which is fed to the video amplifier.

[Sandy G]

I only thought Pilot made the little 3" sets...Pretty set ! Wonder if it works ?

[Kevin Kuehn]

I like it. It has a very laboratory look to it.

[Username1]

Must be a rare set.......

"people don't always do what I say" yah me too.....

[decojoe67]

So great to see one of the more unusual early post-war TV's. It's in really nice shape too! This is one of the models where there is probably just a few examples left at the most. I have never seen another.
Pilot Radio is always connected with the 3" TV-37, but they did make lots of other rather simple, plain looking TV's in the late '40's early '50's.

[tvdude1]

Had that set I donated it to the ETF years ago.

[decojoe67]

Just wanted to add that although sets like this one may be scarce, it often doesn't mean a high value. It's all about unusual styling/features when it comes to vintage TV's. A scarce set like this one may only be valued in the $200 range, but a set like the Pilot TV-37, where there are loads of them still around (albeit good original CRT's) can be valued at $350+.

[cbenham]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

I like it. It has a very laboratory look to it.

The entire front panel is back painted glass.