Black and white tv picture tubes

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by maxhifi

Hmm console it is then. I was afraid of that, table top sets are easier to accommodate. Subjectively, What's the best black and white picture from your collection?

Hard to say for sure... Perhaps the best monochrome picture I've seen was on my RCA CTC-4 color set. When the focus and fine tuning were dialed in to optimal it looked fantastic...Add to that there was almost no overscan (meaning the entire image signal appeared on the face with no cropping) and it was a type of detail and contrast I had not previously thought possible in a tube set.

I have had a number of good monochrome sets in my possession, but I can't say I've ever put them side to side to see who is the best.

An unlikely performer is my early 50's Majestic. The CRT is not super bright in it, but despite that it holds it's own well... The picture was from before I fixed a lingering vertical issue.



Another brand and era to consider are the Philco split chassis sets from about 1951-55 (they came in table models too). They are cheap, common, easy to work on, and capable of superb focus/video detail and good contrast. Mine had a weak CRT so I compensated for it by replacing the seleniums such that the B+ and HV ran high. It resulted in a LOT of overscan (which reduces perceived video detail), but even despite those handicaps it still left a VERY good impression...Wish I had a better photo of it.



I fixed this RCA this year and it performs quite well. It has a RCA video jack (presumably as a test point) and a phono input on the back that I hope to convert to an AV input when I get some time.


This 17" Setchell-Carlson is working un-restored and the noise is due to dirty contrast and brightness pots, but still it is the most impressive set it's size that I own and displays a very crisp picture when it feels like it.



Early 60's Zeniths not only work well, but also seem to be somewhat immortal this ~19" set with UHF option and it's space command equipped brother below it are still going on their original caps. Sunlight is shining directly on the CRT face in that picture IIRC.




This Zenith is the only monochrome console in my main viewing room more for the cabinet (which is my favorite of the monochrome consoles I own) than the picture, but it does have a nice picture.



Lastly to drive home Zenith's immortality. The set below is working, fantastically well/better than it has any right to, on all original parts aside from some tubes and about 5 paper caps that were replaced with brown drops sometime in the 60's(I'd guess)! This may be the only Zenith porthole left that can claim such a feat.



Edit:A good idea if you want a set with a bright picture is to take a CRT tester with you during pre-purchase inspection and only buy if the CRT tests reasonably strong.

I watch mostly Anime, and it does not look as good without color so I rarely use my monochrome sets.