What is the most valuable set?

[rld-tv01]

I heard a rumor that an RCA 359 field test set went for over $40K about 10 years ago. RCA shipped some RCA 359 sets to Russia. There is one at the ETF museum which I believe was used for testing broadcast transmissions around NYC. http://www.earlytelevision.org/rca_rr-359.html
As in other antiques and collectibles the history of a specific set makes it more valuable. Probably a specific set which Elvis or JFK actually watched in their home would appeal to collectors of their merchandise. I bought a camera tripod from the Farnsworth museum which closed in Indiana which they said one of Farnsworth's original camera's sat on. I only paid $125 for it so not all old and rare items are worth alot. I got a photocopy of the Tripod on a Guitar magazine cover from the 1930s with it. I searched the internet and bought a copy of the actual magazine which also had a story of the Farnsworth corporation televising a guitar school.

[Steve McVoy]

As for the highest priced sets that have been sold, RCA RR-359s have sold for about $50k. I heard a rumor that a GE Octagon went for $100k years ago. A RCA 120 line prototype sold a few years ago. I don't know the price but I suspect that it was well over $50k.

If a Farnsworth prewar prototype ever surfaced I think it would sell in that range.

[hposter]

Well, we sold the 1946 GE projection color wheel Model 950 for $14,000 around 10 or 15 years ago, and the buyer re-sold it for 150,000 pounds sterling to an overseas Museum, not too much after that....so that might have been the most expensive TV sale going...although I'm not sure what the plexiglass TRK-12 sold for.

http://www.earlytelevision.org/ge_1946_prototype.html

...where are those TV museum's with unlimited cash???

[Sandy G]

I have a 7-volume set of the OFFICIAL development of Television from the RCA Laboratories, going back to 1933. The last book goes up to about 1950, & has some early color work in it. Dr. Zworykin figures quite prominently in it.

[vts1134]

The highest sale price I've seen recently was $44,055 after buyers fees for an original Baird T-5. It sold in May of 2012 at a Bonhams auction in London.
http://www.bonhams.com/auctions/19798/lot/1/

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by hposter

Well, we sold the 1946 GE projection color wheel Model 950 for $14,000 around 10 or 15 years ago, and the buyer re-sold it for 150,000 pounds sterling to an overseas Museum, not too much after that....so that might have been the most expensive TV sale going...although I'm not sure what the plexiglass TRK-12 sold for.

http://www.earlytelevision.org/ge_1946_prototype.html

...where are those TV museum's with unlimited cash???

I chased one of those Farnsworth prototypes for YEARS, and never got it. It was still in the Farnsworth family (Philo C. Farnsworth of Pacific Palisades, CA). His family attended the same Mormon ward as a mutual friend, who showed me a picture of the TV in a garage. It was a 9 inch (or so) console; direct view, in a wood factory-looking cabinet. I tried politely and patiently from about 1980 to the mid 90s; no luck. Possibly still there, if anyone wants to try, but I think that branch of the Farnsworths have moved away (or passed away) by now. No idea where to look at this point, unless someone else got it unknown to me.

Charles

[decojoe67]

I'm basically repeating what has been said before, but any pre-war all electronic TV is very rare, historically significant, and highly sought after, especially if it is in good condition and complete. It's just a matter of which are the rarest to pin-point which is the most valuable. The mechanical "scanning disk" sets are very valuable too, but, because they are basically just a static display, they appeal to a very select group.
My own personal opinion for the most valuable TV would be the RCA experimental "RR" series of "mirror-in-the-lid" televisions. Any collector, including myself, would very much like to have one in their collection!!

[tubesrule]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

The mechanical "scanning disk" sets are very valuable too, but, because they are basically just a static display, they appeal to a very select group.

Joe,
That's really changed in recent years. From Steve's effort on recreating a mechanical camera to my converters, there is no television, mechanical or electronic, that can not be made to work these days.

Below are some pictures of an RCA 60 line and a Western Visionette operating with their original neon plate lamps.

And for even more fun, add an RGB LED lamp and watch in full 60 line color

Darryl

[Sandy G]

Wow...Dr Smith on scanning-disc cOLOR...(grin)

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by tubesrule

Joe,
That's really changed in recent years. From Steve's effort on recreating a mechanical camera to my converters, there is no television, mechanical or electronic, that can not be made to work these days.

Below are some pictures of an RCA 60 line and a Western Visionette operating with their original neon plate lamps.

And for even more fun, add an RGB LED lamp and watch in full 60 line color

Darryl

Thanks for the info. I've known about this, but I've never realized that you can actually watch recorded or broadcast TV on them! That's pretty cool! I would still say that the all-electronic pre-wars are the most desirable - if just for the deco cabinetry alone.
Joe

[tubesrule]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

I would still say that the all-electronic pre-wars are the most desirable - if just for the deco cabinetry alone.
Joe

I would agree. Collectors of mechanical sets are a small subset of television collectors.

Darryl

[Geist]

Hi All;
I was just re-reading the life of Zworykin, and He did not become employed at RCA till the mid part of 1930.. Which would suggest that the Picture of Him and the Lady and the Television Receiver, was at Westinghouse and not at RCA..
THANK YOU Marty

[bgadow]

I need to set as a goal for myself someday building a mechanical set. That color image is just too much...wow!

[Geist]

Hi All;
There is a number of ways to build a mechanical system.. And If you look arround at Troys site, He has multi plans for different Mechanical systems, among other things..
http://troysvintagevideo.0catch.com/index.html
THANK YOU Marty

[vts1134]

Originally Posted by Geist

Hi All;
I was just re-reading the life of Zworykin, and He did not become employed at RCA till the mid part of 1930.. Which would suggest that the Picture of Him and the Lady and the Television Receiver, was at Westinghouse and not at RCA..
THANK YOU Marty

Which would put that set in Pittsburgh, which is why it haunts my dreams.