1951 RCA Console

[Kevin Kuehn]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I had the Bakelite table model version of the set. I got it from a neighbor, a freebee. It was an entry-level set, the last 12" set RCA made!
I appeared to be the first RCA set to use Selenium rectifier and voltage doubler power supply, even though it had a decent sized power transformer and not a hot chassis. When I got it, it didn't need much work and it worked well!
I'm trying to remember, it was the early 60's.

Holy cow when you mentioned Bakelite table version a light went off and I had to go take a look. I believe I have this same Bakelite set, an 2T51. Another one I have not gotten around to. This made my day because I knew this had the Direct Drive high voltage circuit, but I did not realize it was the same chassis used in the set Dj3928 had posted about. Sams Set 111, Folder 11, dated 11-50, covers both, so you may have misplaced yours by 10 years.

As nasadowsk mentioned, I think RCA only used this Direct Drive circuit from early 51 possibly into 52. I have not heard any reason why or if there were problems associated with it. RCA promoted them as being very power efficient. I have an Emerson set here that apparently licensed the same circuit from RCA.