Motorola 7VT1 or Frankenset ?

[bandersen]

It's been long debated as to whether the 7VT1 picture on the cover of the original TS-18 Motorola service manual actually existed.


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.


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.




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.