Symphonic mini B&W TV

Who remembers THESE little cuties?

Either that's a really big cup of mud, or that set is smaller than I remember it.

[Sandy G]

No, Anthony, they're THAT small. I have one-it's in decent shape & works.-Sandy G.

[OvenMaster]

Whoa! I almost got one of those when I was a teenager!! The store (Two Guys) only wanted $90, but that was serious buckage in those days. Thank you for the pix!!!
Tom

[Sandy G]

There's one of these l'il guys on You-Know-Where right now w/31/2 hrs left for $36.00. Its item #616767386. Looks like it works pretty well, too.I remember seeing these when I went to Noo Yawk w/my family in summer '69. Couldn't cajole my dad into one of 'em, though.-Sandy G.

[OvenMaster]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

I remember seeing these when I went to Noo Yawk w/my family in summer '69. Couldn't cajole my dad into one of 'em, though.-Sandy G.

If you mean the boatload of camera and electronics stores around Times Square back then, I remember those places! It was my first trip to NYC in 1971 and I was 12, and was totally mesmerized by the city. The memories are still as fresh in my mind today as if it were yesterday!
Tom

[Celt]

Whatever happened to style? You never see anything as creative as that in the newer sets. I can think of many radios, record players and televisions when I was growing up that were at least interesting to look at. The new stuff has all the charm of a toaster-oven.

[Jeffhs]

Originally Posted by CELT

Whatever happened to style? You never see anything as creative as that in the newer sets. I can think of many radios, record players and televisions when I was growing up that were at least interesting to look at. The new stuff has all the charm of a toaster-oven.

You can say that again! I see the small TV/AM/FM sets in discount and drug stores all the time, and yes, they don't look anywhere as nice as the original Symphonics, etc. of the '60s-'70s. They are about as nicely styled (!) as today's color TVs in black plastic cube cabinets. The Korean, Japanese, etc. electronics firms turning out these small sets (which probably don't last very long--one good knock or drop and there goes the CRT or the main circuit panel The CRTs in those sets probably don't last long either; if the set is used a lot, the tube will probably give out within a year or less) just don't have the sense of style the American TV manufacturers had in "the olden days" of the '50s through the '70s. The price tags on the new sets bear this out. Twenty bucks or less (I've actually seen these going for far less than $20--one time at a discount house I saw one for $11.97, and I swear I saw one a while ago for $9.99 listed in a catalog) for a new portable TV, with or without the AM/FM radio, seems incredible even in this day and age. How the stores that sell these cheapies can turn a profit on them is beyond me. As I always say of things like this, go figure.

That toaster over remark reminded me of way back when banks would tempt you to open a new account by giving away toasters etc.......which led to a Polish bank's bankruptcy, seems that if you brought in a toaster they'd give you $50. Thank you and good night! Try the veal!

Those sleezebag stores still pervade NY as well as San Fran. These operations are the lowest of the low, you'd get a better deal from those fellers in the white vans.

Anthony

[Richard D]

HI, I have two of these, one is a parts set if anybody needs anything. The other one I received as a gift in 1969 and still going strong.
Richard

[kc8adu]

Originally Posted by Richard D

HI, I have two of these, one is a parts set if anybody needs anything. The other one I received as a gift in 1969 and still going strong.
Richard

didnt you have a dead crt in one of those?
seems to be the sore spot .
what is the size and number of the crt?
i wound up with a bunch of tiny crt's and it would be nice if they fit these sets.

[andy]

Was that Symphonic made by Funai? What's the quality like? Funai has been making bottom of the pile junk for as long as I can remember, but were they good at one time? A TV like that would have been pretty high end back then.

[Celt]

Originally Posted by andy

Was that Symphonic made by Funai? What's the quality like? Funai has been making bottom of the pile junk for as long as I can remember, but were they good at one time? A TV like that would have been pretty high end back then.

Speaking of Funai Ltd., they now have control of the Emerson, Magnavox and Sylvania nameplates. I bought a little Emerson TV/DVD stereo combo last year on the "orphan aisle" at Fart-Mart for a measly $78.00. One of the ribbon cables wasn't seated properly and the DVD wouldn't work as a result. It was an easy fix. Actually, the build quality inside isn't all that bad. Typical modern stuff. Gold band resistors, Nichicon caps, etc. Nice pic quality. It's missing a few features that would have been nice (previous channel return for one). Mine was this horrid flat metallic silver. While it was apart, I masked off the control panel, removed the speakers, pic tube and dvd drawer and painted it with dark charcoal hammertone paint. It looks real classy now!

[Sandy G]

I had a wacky-ass dream once that I was back in NooYawk w/my folks, & went down the "TV/Radio street" & all these little guys were COLOR instead of dumb ol' black & white....and there were several different sizes of 'em, & they ALL wanted to come home w/me....Alas & alack, I STILL couldn't talk my iold man into any of 'em...<Sigh>-Sandy G.

(said like those old Philip Morris commercials)

"Call for Hair-ree Po-ster!"