Motorola 7VT1 or Frankenset ?
 

It's been long debated as to whether the 7VT1 picture on the cover of the original TS-18 Motorola service manual actually existed.
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The 7VT2 and 7VT5 certainly do and I have example of each. There is also a 7VT3 in brown bakelite but no one could confirm seeing a 7VT1.

Well recently I saw a tip about this odd looking Motorola TV and decided to take a chance.

It just arrived today. Wasn't packed all that well but it survived.
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I'm still not exactly sure what it is though.

The label on the bottom is for a VT-71 TS-4 chassis. The chassis inside is a TS-18 and the front mask and knobs match a 7VT5.
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So it's either a 7VT1 they made back in 1950 with leftover parts maybe. Or it's a very well done frankenset.

I'll post more in the TV area when I take a closer look inside.

That paint job and decals are trippy and I suspect done somewhat recently.
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I suspect that RCA and Motorola teamed up to produce this set. :scratch2:
There is something just a little "south of the border" about it. Time for that siesta :boring: Nice score though.
Tony

LOL They would look great together.

I wish you pleasent dreams during your RCA siesta.:D

With how many haphazard production changes the VT-71 had it wouldn't surprise me if it gracefully drifted into being the 7VT1...

Still with a 7JP4? or is it the 8-inch tube?

7jp4.

After careful examination, I'm inclined to say this really is a 7VT1. Here's my reasoning.

1. The curved cutout is done very well

2. The foam CRT gasket seems to be made for this cabinet.

3. The sheet metal pan has no holes for setting the channels. VT71, TS-4 based sets have tuning slugs accessable through holes in the bottom. The tuners in TS-18 chassis are set by stretching or squeezing coils on the wafer switch. No other TS-18 based set has a sheet metal bottom because the cabinets have full bottoms like the bakelite 7VT2.

So they specifically made a sheet metal bottom for this model with no holes and had to add some insulating cardboard to the tuner.

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I also noted there are holes for the typical cast metal Motorola logo. I think I have a spare somewhere around here.

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ALso the 7JP4 CRT is good :) I was able to get a spot on it from just the CRT tester voltage levels.

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Here it is with the CRT seated better and polished up a bit.


I'll need to track down a full set of red knobs. I need a set for a 9VT1 as well. Considering getting some reproductions made. Like to get a couple sets of gold knobs too.

Someday I may strip and refinish it. It sure is eye catching as it is though.

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I think it would be eye-catching even without the stickers. Can't wait to see how this one comes together.

I agree it's all factory, minus the paint. No one could have faked the woodworking that well, and it all looks equally aged. It's a great find.

I agree, sort of a rare bird.

Good on 'ya Bob!

It might be possible to combine a 7VT5 mask and gasket with a VT71, but why bother on such a cheap set? It would be hard to get the woodwork so perfect but certainly do-able by a competent Cabinet Maker.

The decals look old, the Red is certainly a repaint but maybe done long ago, the plugs that hide the front cover screws are still the original color.

I would be torn between restoring a (nearly) one of a kind set, and leaving it alone with it's history.

It's very odd that it would have a tag for a TS-4 chassis and a TS-18 chassis and bottom cover. It seems unlikely Motorola would deliberately put the wrong chassis in the set.

Stripping the red paint off might tell the story, if there are bare spots around the mask then that would mean it had been sanded or sawed on after the original finish was put down.

There was also no tube chart inside nor any trace of adhesive where one might have been.

Odd thing about the bottom is no other model that uses a ts-18 chassis has a metal bottom. They all have fully enclosed cabinets.

Bob, did you find a date on the chassis (or cabinet)?