Mini TV set

[purple1]

If this does not belong here, mods feel free to move this post.

I was playing around with some 2 inch displays from Adafruit. I had used one to make an N scale drive in movie theater for my train layout.

I got the idea to make a mini or tiny TV that would resemble the old console TV's I remembered growing up.

Main Parts:
Adafruit 911 2" TFT display
PAM8403 2 channel audio amp
2 23mm 8 ohm speakers
Mini 360 DC to DC step down buck
12 volt power pack (wall wart)

Added some jacks an a Capacitor for the amp. Made a wooden case with some fake knobs and LED lights.

And this is what I came up with... A working 2" TV that will display any composite video and also has stereo sound. Perfect size for a Dollhouse if you wanted to use it for that.

I am thinking of making some more similar to this one and a couple with slightly larger 2.5 inch screens.

[purple1]

Couple more pics.

[init4fun]

First impression, it's AWESOME !!!!!!!

Second thought, , , , Make em in large numbers and I'll bet they'd sell really well on the Bay

[old_tv_nut]

Very cool!

[etype2]

Nice work, now let’s see it in action. :-)

[zeno]

That is absolutely pissah. Wish I had your skills. Drive in a great idea.

[purple1]

Thanks for the complements. I have some video of the set working, but don't know how to post it here. I do have one picture showing the screen working.

I started on 2 more sets. These will be a little different. This was my prototype.

[etype2]

Very nice! init4fun is right. I’d buy a replica of my favorite set.

[YamahaFreak]

What a cool idea, I love it!!

[purple1]

I got some time this weekend and started 2 more sets, as well as doing some work on the first 2 sets.

These are different they will have 2 1/2" screens and different cases.

The 3rd pic shows the 2 different stains I'm using. Left is Early American and the right is Golden Oak.

The 4th pic is some of the materials goin into theses.

[mr_rye89]

These are pretty cool

I wonder if a guy could make a mini Motorola VT-71 with a camcorder viewfinder.....maybe the tube is too long

[init4fun]

I really think your idea has serious marketability, and not only to the antique TV collecting crowd. I'm also thinking of the hobbyists who build crazy expensive doll houses, I'll bet that crowd would pay dearly for actual working mini TVs for their creations.

Maybe consider looking into a Patent on your idea ....

[purple1]

Originally Posted by mr_rye89

I wonder if a guy could make a mini Motorola VT-71 with a camcorder viewfinder.....maybe the tube is too long

I was thinking about using viewfinder CRT's for some future projects. The only way I can think of to know if you could make a mini Motorola VT-71, is to get a couple different viewfinders and lay it out to see if it would work.

[purple1]

Originally Posted by init4fun

I really think your idea has serious marketability, and not only to the antique TV collecting crowd. I'm also thinking of the hobbyists who build crazy expensive doll houses, I'll bet that crowd would pay dearly for actual working mini TVs for their creations.

Maybe consider looking into a Patent on your idea ....

Thanks. I was thinking the dollhouse community would be a great place to market these.

I am just making these mostly for the fun of it though. I don't want to go into business full time, as they take a lot of time and effort.


I do need to ask, what you all think they may be worth? I need to know where to price them.

[Popester]

These are really cool. I admire your skill. Too bad we can’t buy TVs that are furniture items anymore. All flat screen TVs look the same from brand to brand. Of course I wouldn’t have wanted to of been a moving man in the sixties. That was when furniture was brutally heavy. I removing moving big combos out of basements to take back to the shop for repairs. Ugh 😩.