This very early (channel 1, no fine tuning, and back mounted lower front panel) '48 Motorola VT-71 was found entirely original and non-working for many decades. The cabinet is in beautiful original condition, but the chassis had a hard life! My tech had to put in a replacement speaker, HV coil, various tubes, and a complete over-haul underneath. The CRT had it's plastic key snapped off, but amazingly displays an excellent picture. I put a repro CRT mask in it as a finishing touch. The set gets to be enjoyed again 60+ years later!
The picture has a lot more contrast in person:
http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m554/decojoe67/DSC00378_zps0779dfd4.jpg (http://s1131.photobucket.com/user/decojoe67/media/DSC00378_zps0779dfd4.jpg.html)

Excellent! The blonde cabinet is rather rare and yours looks great with the correct "butterscotch" knobs. Good job and thanks for taking the time to share with us.

Excellent! The blonde cabinet is rather rare and yours looks great with the correct "butterscotch" knobs. Good job and thanks for taking the time to share with us.

Thanks so much. I always wanted a blonde TV, but they so often are badly stained. When I saw how clean this one was, and it having the original proper knobs, I had to grab it. Many thanks to Renovated Radios for supplying me a left-over repro CRT mask. It really completes the set.

Thanks so much. I always wanted a blonde TV, but they so often are badly stained. When I saw how clean this one was, and it having the original proper knobs, I had to grab it. Many thanks to Renovated Radios for supplying me a left-over repro CRT mask. It really completes the set.

I still have two VT71 restorations to do. One is a blonde like yours and the other is a mahogany with channel 1. I was luck to have already bought the reproduction masks for the CRT. I know that Blacksmith is not making them any more...

Ahh HATE Yew...(grin) Actually, I'm in SERIOUS Lust..Have only seen like ONE VT-71 "In the Wild", & it wasn't for sale...

Ahh HATE Yew...(grin) Actually, I'm in SERIOUS Lust..Have only seen like ONE VT-71 "In the Wild", & it wasn't for sale...
For about 20 years now I've dealt with collectors/dealers that have a constant large inventory of sets. It's no place for bargains, but you have the chance to acquire and enjoy some nice sets.