Last Tube TVs?
 

What were the last fully tubed TV sets to be sold new, and the last sets sold with any tubes in them? I know of at least one Sony B/W portable from the late 60s that was badged 'Solid State', but contained a tube HV rectifier. How many TVs did I pass over in thrift stores years ago, not realizing they had tubes inside?

Well... not totally sure, but the RCA CTC-39 was the last fully tubed console. The CTC-40 had a 3A3 HV Rectifier. I'm pretty sure the Portacolor was the last tubed set, with 1979-1980 being the last year they rolled off the line.

Hello I am sure that magnvox sold tube consoles past the mid 70s... Timothy

My post wasn't totally clear. I meant for RCA. Not sure on the other manufactures. I'm thinking by 1975 all the major brands were solid state. ( at least for consoles) they may have had a few hybrid portables rolling off the line past '75.

GE portacolors were probably the last, also they had a
19" , C-2 chassis IIRC that probably was almost as late.
They were used in many store brands & started at $250.
A real toilet IMHO. Zenith ran the 4 tube hybrid til F-line
1975 as a leader 19". They also had a 14" 1/2 tube
chassis that may have sold in G-line but dont remember.
Most ended in 74-76, people didnt want tubes anymore.

73 Zeno:smoke:

A few of you made comments about tubes being used in consoles, or not used in consoles as they transitioned to transistors. I'm sure transistors was marketed as an improvement in quality, reliability etc.

I'm wondering, among the big manufacturers, they all had entry level sets, and of course the top of the line cruise ships with the largest screen, record players, stereo tuners, remote, wheels, lights, roll out doggie beds, etc.

Was there any real quality difference in the sets, circuit designs, best technology, best AGC, AFC, etc..... Among the more expensive sets.....?

I bought a new 15" RCA B&W portable that was fully tubed in '73 or '74.

That prompted me to look into my 1970 Sony TV-950, never had a reason to open it before. Nope, no tubes. I expected a battery pack inside as there's a "charge" switch on the back, but nothing there either. I'm sure all original external battery packs would be stone dead by now.

The Sony I had was small (about 5") and also had that charge port on it, with no internal battery. I wish I could remember the model number!

I have a Sony KV 1320UB that has a 3AT2 EHT Rec in it, and I also have the externally identical KV 1330UB that doesnt!

They are both from '70/71 ish....

Very last set I saw in a shop new that had valves was in 1981 --It was an old stock item, a 22" ITT CVC-9 hybrid colour set, --although that make/model will probably be meaningless to a lot of you.....

I wish I had bought it now and stored it away!:tears:

I am aware of ITT, but I have never seen a USA domestic product with their name on it.

Mine has an 8" or 9" screen. See it here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacec...57638419636316

IIRC I once had a rotary dial phone made by them.

Capehart was associated with ITT, from the early 50's.
There was a line of replacement tubes with the ITT logo. Mail-order brand and foreign made. :scratch2:

The Portacolor is probably the last real tube chassis TV sold in the US. Some claim to have seen one dated 1980 but I've never seen a photo-probably more like '77. Most companies had hybrids on the market through the 75 model year including RCA, GE, Zenith, Motorola (until Panasonic took over), Philco-Ford (until GTE took over), Admiral.