Sony BT044S 4" B&W Portable - Videokarma.org TV - Video

AUdubon5425 · #1 02-20-2009, 10:23 PM

Returning from a trip, I stopped at a thrift store about 50 miles before home, in a town I don't get to often. Didn't see any electronics except for a BPC by the door, so started browsing the books. A little sign in a hallway caught my eye that said "electronics - ask for assistance."

Seeing no one around, I made my way in and found two little treasures. One is this Sony BT044S, made in October 1985. It is a 4" B&W portable running on four C batteries. This set is absolutely mint - I had no idea if it worked but for $1.00 I took the chance.

Put some batteries in and voila, she came to life with quite a nice picture.

A little research showed that this was assembled in Mexico and is a rebodied Sony Watchman FD-40. It uses a neat crt called a flat display picture tube, where the gun is above and parallel to the screen. There's an illustration of it at Frank's Handheld TVs: http://www.taschenfernseher.de/e-tube.htm

I'm happy to have found it, but at the same time sad it only has four months left before all it will pick up is the shopping channel.

I'll post some pictures of the chassis later. I almost hate to open it up.

Oh, the other item is a Realistic DX-440, which the lady insisted on only charging me $4 for, because "it sure looks like it takes a lot of batteries." I tried to offer her more for it but she lowered the price from $5 to $4.

mr_fixer · #2 02-20-2009, 11:11 PM

Really nice finds, I have the same Zenith tv but i had to pay $8 for mine. I like the fact it has a video input for post SDTV uses.

andy · #3 02-20-2009, 11:26 PM

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compucat · #4 02-21-2009, 10:49 AM

Years ago I found a NOS Sony FD-42A in box. It is still in my collection. This same set was also available under the Magnavox name as the Escort model. They are very nice and unique sets. Far less bulky that a traditional 5" set but with almost the same screen size. They are definitely worth keeping despite the analog switch off.

kx250rider · #5 02-21-2009, 11:11 AM

I have the FD-210; the first one from '81. Those "lollipop" tubes were weird, but actually performed great. Just thank Goodness they never made a color version of the lollipop tube... Imagine doing purity & convergence on that

Charles

Sandy G · #6 02-21-2009, 01:16 PM

The DX-440 is really a Sangean, can't think of the number just now. Other than so-so build quality, & a "chuffing" synthesiser, they are pretty good little sets. They were a poor man's version of a Sony 2010, which was in production for something like 10 years, was STILL selling good when Sony pulled the plug on it. The Sonys go for BUX on You-know-where, & I listen to a lot of hams that use them as their "back-up" receiver. But you did great, IMHO, on both yr scores !

wa2ise · #7 02-21-2009, 03:03 PM

The local PBS station played the movie "Rain Man" last weekend, starring Dustin Hoffman (IIRC) playing the autustic Raymond. His brother buys him a portable TV a lot like yours below. So Raymond can watch Judge Whapner on the Peoples' Court. He said, in the movie, that he spent about $300 for it.

AUdubon5425 · #8 02-21-2009, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_fixer

I like the fact it has a video input for post SDTV uses.

Goodness, I didn't even notice that until I read your post! A bit tired from the journey, I guess.

compucat · #9 02-21-2009, 07:22 PM

I noticed on all the flat crt type sets it is nealr impossible to get perfect screen geometry and even focus over the entire face of the tube. It is still a technical marvel especially for something made in the 1980s.