Although probably the worst projection TV ever made, this probably should be saved. It is a Sony KV-1510U from the early 70s, with the yoke polarities reversed and a lens put on the front of it. And then dropped face-up in a particleboard cabinet that weighs 300 lbs. A creation of Mad Man Muntz, and I think it was his last. Anyway, I have only seen a couple of these ever in person, and it is the Grand Finale of the Muntz empire. Hard to believe, but it's SO UGLY; even uglier in person than in these photos. It's ALMOST as ugly, huge, cumbersome, and awful as a Fada projection set from the 40s...

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-MUNTZ-HOME-THEATER-TELEVISION-TRUE-GEM_W0QQitemZ110021228829QQihZ001QQcategoryZ3638QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Charles

That set smacks of the cheapness of Muntz, Thank heavens that was the swansong for all that was cheap nasty.

Did they make any other colour TV's in the 60's & 70's & who made them for them other then Sony in the last example.

Wow. That is ugly. So what - they took a direct view set and projectionized it? I can't imagine that the brightness on that would be any good, and they probably had to run the picture tube pretty hard to get useable brightness in the first place. But, on the other hand, since it's really a Sony set in there, it should work pretty well. So, it's basically become a simple front projection set that you have to reach down into to change the channels on?

Very Muntz.

-Ian

Hehe - just read some of the junk at the end of the listing
PLEASE READ RETURN POLICE BEFORE LEAVING FEED BACK.
So, if I buy it, I have to return the Police before I leave feedback? Why are they shipping Police with the set?

<grin>

Some people really need to learn how to read/spell/type/proofread. I hope this set sells, because this eBayer needs the money to buy a new keyboard - one with a Caps Lock key that isn't stuck.

-Ian

you forgot to esplain why it needs to be saved?

Wow...Talk about a quick 'n' dirty way to get into projection TV...

...

Didn't GE sell a projection TV that used a single color CRT?

Wow, this is just awful! It looks almost home made.
Is that peg-board surrounding the Trinitron? :scratch2:

The Sony might be worth more by itself! :D

Look at those wonderful square lines. That magnificent picture. The genius engineering inside.

Just because it is near impossible to mechanically focus and has a barely stable picture should not detract from it's finer qualities and put it in the Muntz category.

Dave A

...

Didn't GE sell a projection TV that used a single color CRT?

YES, and so did Sony. The GE was HUGE, and had the projector concealed inside a leather bench that was an offshoot of the cabinet. Definitely wins the bizarre prize!

Sony's KP-4000 was a very high end set that had a 12" single tube projector. I have had one, and I proclaim that it had a VERY nice picture. Not bright, but very sharp & clear. It was shaped similar to the Muntz, but WAY more class. Had properly designed lines, and the projector folded up into the cabinet and then a tambour rolltop came down to cover the whole front of the set.

Charles

I remember in the 70's buying (mail order?) a projection box that would fit over the front of a small set and project...if the room was very dark.

It was a cardboard box sleeve inside another cardboard box that would slide forward and back for focus. It had a plastic fresnel lens on the front and you would aim it at the wall of your choice. It came folded up and you popped it in to shape and mounted the lens in some tabs.

I used it with a Porta Color. I forget if I just placed it in front of the set or if there was some kind of mount.

I think I could rebuild it using one of those RV rear window wide angle lenses. Maybe a miniature using a Sony KV-5000.

Dave A

Look at those wonderful square lines. That magnificent picture. The genius engineering inside.

Just because it is near impossible to mechanically focus and has a barely stable picture should not detract from it's finer qualities and put it in the Muntz category.

Dave A


True that it's a real classic, and in fact Dr. Dan has the prototype for that Fada. But you have to admit there's a resemblance in the Muntz... :scratch2: At least the Fada isn't HUGE and overbearing like the Muntz.

Charles

I used to have one years ago similar to that, but used 3 CRTs. it went back to the trash, it had sound and no pic.

YES, and so did Sony. The GE was HUGE, and had the projector concealed inside a leather bench that was an offshoot of the cabinet. Definitely wins the bizarre prize!

harles

And they SUCKED, too!! They were based on the YM chassis. I NEVER saw one that looked right. they had a very dark picture, compared to even a poor projo from the last 25 years or so. The CRT has been unavailable for about 15 or more years, and the flYback has not been available for over 10.

So, the best place for one is in a garbage truck hopper(and don't forget to pull the lever!!)

That Muntz set is just... wild.
It looks like some sort of wacky home-built project that would have been published in an issue of Popular Mechanics or something. I mean, Mad-Man Muntz didn't even bother to disguise the fact it uses an off-the-shelf Sony TV! At least it's a remote set (hopefully ultrasonic-based) so you don't have to reach down into the thing to change the channel. Oh, and nothing says "high class" like black-painted pegboard. :)

As for other single-CRT projection sets, don't forget the Sony Vidimagic "portable" projection TV, which I think uses an Indextron CRT rather than a Trinitron. Even so, the Vidimagics I've seen produced a rather dim (but otherwise okay) picture.

If you don't have room for the whole thing here's just the lens!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Muntz-Theater-Television-Lens_W0QQitemZ220018629471QQihZ012QQcategoryZ73374 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I well remember ads on daytime TV in the early 80s for a company called Theatre-Vision. It sounded like they built their own stuff, and maybe sold other makes as well. Don't know if this might have been just local to Balt/DC?

The only thing that could make that thing any fuglier is if it were sitting on pink shag carpet. :puke: