The 19 inch Motorolas (chassis TS-902 from 1954) and the earliest 21 inchers they built (chassis TS-905 from late 1956) use a weird double-diode color demodulation scheme that I can't recall seeing in any other schematic. Basically two double diodes are used to demodulate along the -(R-Y) and -(B-Y) axes, and then three triodes are used, one to amplify and invert the -(R-Y) signal, another to amplify and invert the -(B-Y) signal, and a third to amplify G-Y, which is derived from R-Y and B-Y. The difference signals (R-Y, B-Y, and G-Y) are then applied to the appropriate grids of the 19VP22 or 21AXP22, and mixing with the luma (Y) occurs within the CRT itself.

Was this a design that was unique to Motorola? I know difference demodulation became the dominant form of color demod for a while, but did anybody else use the oddball diode circuit?

IIRC the GE portacolor used a similar demod circuit.

IIRC the GE portacolor used a similar demod circuit.

You're right Tom, the GE Portacolor does use the same basic circuit, only with solid state diodes instead of the vacuum diodes in a 6BV8 or a 6AL5. Thanks.