This turned up on the 'Bay. The Photofact for the set is 275-7 (1955):
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-EMERSON-TELEVISION-MODEL-1032_W0QQitemZ160539482102QQcategoryZ38035QQcmdZVi ewItemQQ_trksidZp5197.m7QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DLVI%26i tu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D 6786671509291572346
After all of the leatherette- covered 7JP4 models of the early 50s, could this be about the first rectangular screen portable offered?
not affiliated,
jr

I have two of those sets. The first rectangular portable was a 1952 Motorola 14" . The design was simular to the 9", out a few years earlier, where the front cover protected the screen and controls.

The first rectangular portable was a 1952 Motorola 14" . The design was simular to the 9", out a few years earlier, where the front cover protected the screen and controls.

Thanks! I guess that would be this set :
http://tvhistory.tv/1952-Motorola-14P2U.JPG
From the TV history site. Quite an arm stretcher, but it has all of the elements of a portable.
jr