Show us your vintage B&W sets!

[John Folsom]

Originally Posted by Eric H

There's one of these sitting in a local Junque Shop. It's been on display in the window for several years now, I've given up on them ever selling it.

I was looking for more info on the Web about this set and found this interesting item:

http://www.terramedia.co.uk/cinema-t...levision_2.htm

Eric,

Below are the partial text fo som emails form this place in CA who had a TLS 86A, and wanted $1000 for it. I told them what is was. As I already had one, I was not tempted.

But maybe someonw would like to follow up, so here is teh data. Attached is a copy of the photo they sent me of the unit.

-John

PS When I post a message with attachments, how do I get teh attachments to show up in the body of the message, instead of be appended at the bottom as links?

**************************************

John
We would like to get $1,000.00 for it and you arrange for your own shipping.
Jo Walsh
The Blues
Sales Rep.
1-800-use-levi

***************

We are in Redlands, CA. Our shop is located at:

The Blues
114 E. State St.
Redlands, CA 92373

*********

> From: [email protected]
> Date: Tue, 24 Oct 2000 17:56:46 EDT
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: Model 86A

> We don't know! It is tube but it doesn't have the cord to plug it in but it
> looks to be around the 40's so probably black and white.
> This is the information that is on it:
> Property of Enginering Department of National Broad Casting Co. Inc.
> Engineering Inventory 4770
> N
> B
> C
> Model TLS-86A
> Serial #01062
> Consisting of MI-15300A, MI-15501A,MI-15302A
> RCA
>
> Eclipse Pioneer Dio.
> Bendix Aviation Corporation
> RCA Part P970181
> Serial #4496
> OTW
>
> Was hoping you knew what this was and what it does?
> Help!
> Jo Walsh
>

[John Folsom]

The 1940s vintage RCA projection TVs using the 5TP4 CRT operated at just under 30KV. I don't know what the life expectancy of the CRTs was, but they did develop a borwn "burn" in the phosphor with use, whcih got darker as the hours went by. The unit Eric showed in his link was the big brother of my unit, which used a 7NP4 (or was it a 7WP4?) CRT operating in the 50KV-70KV range. Very scarey.

[Chad Hauris]

I recall reading about an RCA projection set that was used to televise closed-circuit events in theaters, in the 1940's....it said it used 80 kv. on the CRT.

[Eric H]

John, that is the exact same set I was talking about.
$1000! Back a couple years ago would have considered 1/4th that much but now I don't really even want it.

So what is one worth anyway?

[John Folsom]

Eric,
Value is a hard thing to establish. But in general, collectors do not seem to be as fond pf projection sets as I am. You probably saw the RCA 648PTK which just sold on ebay for $300. I think that is undervalued....but that is just me. And there are probably only 2 or 3 of those RCA TLS 86A projectors known....so should that meke it more valuable? Hard to say. But as I said, I really like projection sets.

John raises a very interesting point about value which I learned working on vintage cars.....just cuz something is rare doesn't automagically mean it's valuable.

There's a silly olde tyme saying: It's rare nowadays because nobody wanted it when it was new......in other words, if no one wanted it then why would they want it now? Obviously that's not quite true, but that WAS the prevalent attitude before the rage of collecting everything.

Anthony

[ChuckA]

With over 30 years of collecting "things" I also came to the conclusion a long time ago, that being rare and being valuable do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Just look at a Zenith 1000Z Stratosphere radio, production was about 750 units and it cost $750 in 1935, one sold last year for $42,000 and one just recently for $50,000 and there are 40 of them accounted for. I know of TV's that had production numbers in the low 100's (if that) and only a couple accounted for that wouldn't come close to those prices.

The only TV I know of that has been quoted as having a value in the $40K range is the RCA RR-359.

It still ends up that the value of a "collectible" is only what the buyer and seller agree on.

John, I have to agree with you - love those big projection sets!

If I was near California I'd probably have that TLS86 sitting in my living room.


Chuck

[Chad Hauris]

It seems to me that the things that are collectible are those associated with pop culture and have some decorator value, or things that the 30-50 year old crowd remember as fun from their youth. The projection sets, especially the type you use with a seperate screen would have been industrial or institutional items and not seen so much as a "fun" item.
Just like a 1957 Chevy Bel-air might have a lot of collector value, but a 2 ton truck or school bus from the same year really doesn't and would be a lot cheaper...even if they may be rarer.

[John Folsom]

Of course, collecting things, like big old projection TVs, which the rest of the world is not in llove with is not all bad. It does mean that the collection is not going to make a good retirement invstment plan. But it also means I can collect a bunch of 'em and not have to mortgage the farm to do it!

[Chad Hauris]

Lucky thing for me too...that I really enjoy equipment which doesn't have a lot of fantasy or collector value!

[Marlin Mackley]

I guess what we really need, and I hope for, is that our collections are built up of items that are not in high demand, and then after we have them then they DO become high demand items! My tv collecting started when many of then were available for the taking so to some extent that has worked out.
Marlin

[Charlie]

Found this Setchell Carlson 19" set at the old tv shop I hang out at. Chassis number 301 in Sams 742-3. The set's a little dirty, but looks like it should clean up well. No idea yet of what the insides are like.

[peverett]

I have a couple of sets very similar to this. The picture is not quite as square, so I believe that mine are older models.

[Chad Hauris]

Originally Posted by Marlin Mackley

I guess what we really need, and I hope for, is that our collections are built up of items that are not in high demand, and then after we have them then they DO become high demand items! My tv collecting started when many of then were available for the taking so to some extent that has worked out.
Marlin

I probably don't have any TV's which have become high demand items yet, but have got some things when they were considered junk which have evolved into fad items, such as Ampex 350 and 351 tape recorders and "preamps" and 5AR4, and 7591 tubes.

[Charlie]

I brought this home from the tv shop today. It's a 17" RCA portable that has legs bolted to the sides. I don't really find the set itself to be very attractive, but, it is kinda cute with the legs attatched. Couldn't find a model number. I am guessing somewhere between 1958-62.

The front of the set is plastic and the back is metal. The plastic is in pretty good shape... no cracks. The metal back will need to be sanded and repainted. It's missing a knob, but, I think I will be able to find something blend in.

Not sure of the condition of the insides... haven't taken the back off yet, and, it will probably be several days before I get around to it.

Sorry for the fuzzy photo... my camera doesn't always focus.