Here is the March, '78 Sylvania solid state B&W console that I brought back from SC. At first, I thought I was going to have to replace some caps; but, it turns out the the vertical height and linearity controls only needed adjusting. As you can see from the pictures, the inside is very clean and the paperwork is still attached to the back of the set. Most likely, the only use this set has seen was while it was on display. The cabinet needs to be cleaned and it does have some nicks and scratches; but, it's nothing that I can't live with. I've seen (and owned) much worse. This set also has lighted channel dials, which I find unusual for a late run B&W console. The only other late run B&W consoles that I've seen were by Zenith and Truetone (Admiral built) and they were about as basic as you could get and the cabinets were not much to look at, either. Of course, I would still grab one of these if one came along.
We were discussing "last gasp" B&W TV's with the owner of the appliance store where this TV came from and he said there were a good many people, even as recent as the late '70's and early '80's, who would not have a color TV if they were offered one for free. He said that some people claimed that a color set was hard on their eyes, while other people believed what they heard about the increased radiation from a color TV causing eye damage. Then, there were just other people who didn't take to change very well. Heck, even as late as the mid '90's, there were still a few old ladies in my area who asked me to fix their 12", 17", and 19" B&W sets and these were the only sets they owned.
Even at that, I'm sure these large screen "late model" B&W sets are harder to find than some older tube type sets. I'm as proud to own this late '70's B&W set just as much as those two '60's color roundies that I brought back from SC. BTW, the chassis in this Sylvania was also used in the more common 19" portables.
05-03-2010, 06:56 PM
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