One of my recent finds at a local thrift. Quasar set from 1980. It was only $1. When i got it, the picture had a bright red tint, but i was able to adjust the red, blue and green to get a equal color now has a great picture. But doing some adjustments like that, I don't know how long that will last..


http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcollectors.com/images/quasartelevisionsetmodelwt5965sh_1.jpg

That must be a Panasonic made set from the late '70's or early '80's. I wonder about that Quasar emblem that usually has 3 colors going into 1. Doesn't look like the color was rubbed off. Did the maker chanage it to silver like it is a change to indicate to consumer something new? I guess it was because they were getting so cheap in making those sets that they saved a fraction of a penny on each set by making it silver. Soooo... that is what comes to my mind when I look at that set.

Just noticed the black plastic channel number window is missing.

I also have another set like this one from 1981, I noticed the panel missing too, still can see the glue from where it was attached. This one is missing the panel too.. I was wondering who made these sets back then. I wonder if Panasonic made Sylvania sets around that era too, I had a console Sylvania set from 79, had the same tuner setup..

heres the other set..

http://vintageelectronics.betamaxcollectors.com/images/quasartelevisionsetmodelwt4255sw_1.jpg

It probably needed re-adjusting due to age of componants - it happens.

NICE SET BTW!:thmbsp:

I wonder what causes the tint to become redish on alot of sets? i wonder if it's leaky caps or the CRT guns? I've also seen blue and green tint screens.. Sometimes i can't adjust them 100%

Quasar sets were a product of Motorola until Motorola sold it's consumer electronics line to Matsushita (Panasonic) in 1974. Quasar sets made after '74 were made under Panasonic ownership and were often identical to a Panasonic, except for the name.

To my knowledge, Panasonic never made any sets for Sylvania. Sylvania was owned by GTE until sometime in '81 and they made their own sets. In '74, GTE purchased the Philco consumer products division from Ford and there were many Sylvania and Philco branded sets that were identical except for the name. In '81, NAP (North American Philips) purchased the Sylvania and Philco consumer electronics product line from GTE. NAP had acquired the Magnavox name several years earlier and once they bought the Sylvania and Philco names, the only difference between a Magnavox, Sylvania, and Philco set was the name. The Sylvania name eventually wound up as part of the Funai line (garbage), along with Philco and many Magnavox branded products. It's a shame how these once great American brand names have now wound up on cheap imported Chinese garbage. For the most part, Magnavox/Sylvania/Philco sets were still decent as long as they were still made by NAP.

Concerning the single knob varactor tuner, these started coming out in the mid '70's and were used by Zenith, RCA, Sylvania, Philco, Quasar, GE, etc. Zenith and RCA continued to build sets with this style of tuner until the mid '80's.

To any collector, do you consider these junk or collectible. I mean the late 70s early to mid 80s set?

To any collector, do you consider these junk or collectible. I mean the late 70s early to mid 80s set?

I think that would depend on the collector. Just on this forum, there are collectors who only collect early B&W sets, others who only collect tube color sets, some only collect the small B&W portables, some only collect '70's and '80's TV's, and some (like myself) collect anything that comes along. The main thing to remember is that if you like the set; then, that's all that matters.

If I found a set like this for cheap or free, I'd drag it home and try to fix it if for no other reason than to have a spare TV as I know these sets will produce a nice picture and are made better than anything on the market today. My main TV collecting interest covers sets from the '40's through the mid '70's. If I find a later set that I like, I'll grab it.

Amen to that..

I was saw a very cool looking Quasar 19" from like '74. It was in I think a pecan plastic wood cabinet in that over the top spanish mediterranian desigen with a matching stand that I think was a pedestal that matched the wood as if it were made into the set. I was told it was the last Motorola made model. It had the light sensor and a great picture with panels inside. I wonder if anybody here has one of those?

Around here, the two big Motorola dealers dropped out of Quasar after the sale to Matsushita. One took on Zenith hot and heavy, and the other got into cheap Taiwan sets like Teknika and Portland. I've often wondered if Matsushita changed things or if it was a dealer decision to drop them. The only place I can recall seeing new Quasars for sale was at Service Merchandise, who also sold Emerson junk.

Cheers,

I had two Quasar consoles. The 11/75 was a works-in-the-drawer Motorola design with the pushbutton presets for 5 or 6 UHF stations. The 4/81 was a piece of crap with a varactor tuner and plenty of particle board.

I had a 1981 19" tabletop Quasar/Matsushita set that I found on the curb... It, too played well after the usual adjustments (focus, drives, etc) and I gave it to a friend who needed a tv. They left that set on literally 24-7....even when they left for vacation.

After about 2 years, he told me the crt had gotten too dim to watch and he couldn't adjust it much more. Keep in mind that this set had about a trillion hours on it as found judging by the chassis and inside of the cabinet..

Try getting that kind of service with a modern CRT.

EDIT: This set also had the photocell which controlled the brightness; and a little door that ran from top to bottom covering the user controls.