All I can say is Wow!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1952-Natalie-Kalmus-Television_W0QQitemZ110280374283QQihZ001QQcategory Z3638QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thats amazing!! I wonder how much the reserve is? :O

Pretty cool!

Looks like yr basic garden-variety early 1950s 21" or so console B/W TV in a fancy-pants cabinet...W/a std cabinet, they typically sit unsold in antique/junque shoppes at $125...Unless you're a movie freak, its "Natalie Who ?!?"..It's a neat set, good shape, but I doubt it'll bring the reserve.

No wonder i cant find a classic tv locally... Someone took this tv from a home here in MY TOWN and took it to Sac. hehehe

Cool lookin tv though.. :)

Steve

Those are very rare. This one is only the second I've seen. $500 sounds stiff for a 50s console, but we'll see... The other NK set that I had at one time was $15. I bought it from Gary Hough, and traded it back to him. I have a pic of it someplace. It wasn't as nice as this one, though. Boy, are they UGLY! You can't tell until you're face to face with one.

Charles

I agree, fugly. But such things appeal to some people -- such as my wife, who adores kitschy stuff from the 1950s & 1960s.

Also, plant pots built into wood furniture are often a Bad Idea.

Phil Nelson

Did anyone notice that the images with the doors open are reversed??

I like the cabinet, but im into all that mid-century stuff. Almost every piece of furniture I own is vintage.

That is the name of the set up for auction. The name is borrowed from a movie title...done in Anscocolor in 1954... and released after Natalie was done stealing money from Technicolor via the divorce. She lingered around Technicolor productions from 1933 to 1950 (source IMDB) and sold her name to a line of exotic sets a few years later.

Check the wonderful book on the making of The Wizard of Oz for a few notes on Natalie and her usefullness.

I have the straight-side monster version with AM/FM/phono...and the obligitory flower pot. The finish is checked and needs a new coat. $$$$.

Is the chassis a Hoffman as I have been told? I will dig it out for photos.

The flower pot has no drain holes and is perfect for plastic flowers.

Mine came from Illinois for $200 and transport to PA by my brother.

Dave A

The seller admits the electronics are mediocre even for their time. I can only assume the thin white lines they talk about are retrace lines?

NK's were made in CA and so were Hoffmans so it would make sense if it were made by them however the Hoffmans I've seen didn't seem like cheap sets.

Darn, the CT-100s and color roundies show up on the East Coast and we get... this. :saywhat:

I can only assume the thin white lines they talk about are retrace lines?
That was my thought. Otherwise, people typically say something like, "It just gets a white line in the middle." If it's showing retrace lines, it should be a straightforward restoration.

Anyway, sort of an objet d'art in its own peculiar way. I threatened my wife with murder (or at least banishment to the garden shed) if she bid on it.

:-)

Phil Nelson

I'm going to guess that he's talking about retrace lines, or as he has a dvd player hooked up to it in the picture, he may be getting some macrovision lines across the screen. Since he says the restoration is 'almost done' I'm assuming it's getting a watchable picture.

Anyway, sort of an objet d'art in its own peculiar way. I threatened my wife with murder (or at least banishment to the garden shed) if she bid on it.

c'mon phil! I think it's time to pitch that massive Scott combo to the curb and get something with a bit more style...

I don't think it's a Hoffman chassis... Someone also thought it was a Kaye-Halbert chassis, but definitely not. It's probably a generic "RCA Licensing Lab" chassis, made by a 3rd party.

Charles

It's one of those things that would have looked kewl in 1952, but would get REAL dated REAL fast...I can see a smart-ass kid like myself laughin' his Ass off at it about 1970...Junky old B&W set...Goofy-lookin' cabinet...Let's bust it up ! Where's my BB gun ?!?

Right now I am diggin Natalie to the limit.
Dan

There's a bit of irony with Miz Kalmus, the Supreme High Queen of Technicolor, loaning her name to a line of B&W TV's.

If she'd only waited a couple years it could have been the Natalie instead of the Merrill.

I read up on Ol' Nat, apparently she was a REAL "Wheel Horse", & NOTHING grew where she spit on the ground...An not a lot of Technicolor movies got made 'til the late '40s anyway, w/o her say-so.....

There's a bit of irony with Miz Kalmus, the Supreme High Queen of Technicolor, loaning her name to a line of B&W TV's.

If she'd only waited a couple years it could have been the Natalie instead of the Merrill.

Eric, You're going to give somebody a heart attack with that photo :D

Charles

by stating that it was normal operation to have those white lines. He wrote: "Final restoration is now almost complete. The TV picture has thin white lines that run across it, but that is how in functioned originally."
I'd like to see the home interior that originally went into.

Hi -
My dad's cousin Dick bought a Natalie Kalmus tv new in 1952. I had his wife find some old pictures of it. These pictures are from 1955 - 1958.

I'll take the table, lamp and the curtains!

Ended: Didn't get any bids...

Charles