'84 Philco 12 B&W TV

[radiotvnut]

I've had this set for years and thought I'd posted about it; but, I can't find it anywhere. So, I guess I didn't. I just recently had eye surgery and the color TV was a little much for my eyes; so, I've been using this TV as my main set for the last week. Here's a YT video I made of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57XQn3BV51A&feature=plcp

I know this is a NAP-era Philco; but, the chassis looks like something that would be found in an older GTE-era Sylvania or Philco. I know some of GTE's color chassis designs were carried over into the NAP era.

[Sandy G]

Yeah, you ARE from Mississippi, aincha ?!? (grin) That honey-smooth accent gives it away...And yeah, that IS a neat little set...They sold for peanuts when new...I never knew how they could make TVs in Asia, send 'em over here, & STILL make money on 'em, when they sold for $50 or less...

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

Yeah, you ARE from Mississippi, aincha ?!? (grin) That honey-smooth accent gives it away...And yeah, that IS a neat little set...They sold for peanuts when new...I never knew how they could make TVs in Asia, send 'em over here, & STILL make money on 'em, when they sold for $50 or less...

At the time that set was new, they were still selling for $90 to $100 . The set was probably still made here.

[radiotvnut]

No, it was made in Taiwan.

[holmesuser01]

Those were decent looking little sets. I saw a few with bad soldering during my time doing NAP warranty repairs. Most of the ones I saw were badged Magnavox.

[radiotvnut]

I have an '87 Magnavox 12" B&W set that, IIRC, is either a rebadged goldstar or samsung. It's no where near as good as this TV.

I remember when these types of sets were in the $90-$100 range. By '86-'87, one could buy an Emerson or Goldstar for $59-$69. By the mid '90's, one could buy a 12" B&W for $29-$39. Those last gasp sets were not that well built, ran off a wall wart, and usually didn't hold up long; but, for $29, I guess one couldn't expect much.

It's funny that in the early '80's, a 12" B&W set was in the $100 range and was considered a cheap TV for the time. By the late '90's, it was common to find new 19" color TV's with remote for $100. Of course, these were usually cheap Funai built sets that didn't last nearly as long as the B&W.

[hamilton]

I remember in the mid-1980's, going to a pawn shop with my parents, and getting the exact same Philco TV set. I can't remember what they paid for it, maybe about $30. My parents and I took turns watching it, moving it from my bedroom to their bedroom.

[dieseljeep]

Someone in the original poster's home is a heavy smoker, or was at one time. I used to use formula 409 to get that nastyness off.