I somehow happened upon this:

http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/atq/2060598244.html

a 1949 Spartan "4900 entertainment center" with the mirror in the lid for viewing the CRT.

Wow, I have never seen one like that before!

that rules!i would make room if it were closer

That is really nice! I like the looks.

John

Very nice! You don't see many Spartons.
Isn't Phil out that way ? I'm sure he could use another project :D

Portland's a three hour drive from here, but I had to turn on the No Vacancy sign after bringing home yet another console two days ago. That whale wouldn't fit in the back of the SUV, anyhow.

Phil Nelson

Sparton made two mirror in lid postwar sets: the monster console, and a standalone model. Both 12". Very unusual design, considering that by '49 the general idea of what the consumer's vision of a modern television looked like was pretty well entrenched, leaving the decade old mirror in lid idea in the dust.

I just got off the phone with a friend of mine in Portland. He has been looking for a single tv set to restore, and he really wants this one. He has emailed the seller and hopes to be able to do a pickup soon. We'll see what happens.