Last model year for Motorola-designed Quasar sets?

[Whirled One]

Finally getting around to post about this, but here goes...

Some weeks ago, I was out yard-saleing and spotted this tube-hybrid Motorola 14" color portable. Actually, at first glance, I just noticed the Quasar rainbow-logo on the front and the click-stop UHF tuning knob and figured it to be from the Matsushita era, and a solid-state TV at that. **yawn** Then I saw the Motorola name and logo at the bottom left-hand corner of the screen bezel, so I took a closer look. Hmm., interesting; not only does it not say "Solid State" anywhere, but the the back of the set has tell-tale signs of a tube or tube-hybrid TV (warning label lacks key phrases like "NO USER-SERVICABLE PARTS INSIDE", relatively high power consumption shown on label, etc.) The owners (an elderly couple) let me plug it in (there was a power outlet nearby anyway), and sure enough, I could see the glow of at least a few tubes through the ventillation slots on the top. The set was in great cosmetic shape-- it'd have looked practically new except for the vinyl covering peeling from the carrying handle-- and it appeared to function okay aside from a moderate case of vertical linearity trouble. Eh, I figured I'd buy it just out of curiosity, and besides, the couple whose garage sale it was seemed to be glad someone actually showed any interest whatsoever in the TV.

After taking it home, I noticed a few kinda interesting things about it. I'm not very familiar with Motorola's later TVs, but (in some ways, at least) this thing has got to be one of the more "service-friendly" sets I've seen from the 1970's. For one thing, aside from one hex-head screw near the AC interlock plug, the back of the cabinet is removable without any tools. Just turn two plastic knobs by 90-degrees and flip two latches, and *ALAKAZAM!* the back cover comes right off! Then, on the inside of the back cover, there's a *huge* decal with a detailed diagram pointing out the location of all major components and service controls, along with various service informational tips. [About the only thing better than that I've seen provided within a consumer item like this would be General Electric and those mini service manuals they tucked away inside the back cabinet cover of TVs they made during the early 80's and thereabouts.] Then there's the convergence panel. It has a delta-gun tube, so it has the usual convergence controls. The fact that the convergence panel can be unmounted from its usual location and reposititioned at the top of the set (for easier adjusting) isn't terribly unusual, but what is a bit interesting is the printed cardboard "overlay" placed over the convergence controls. The overlay provides text labels and iconic illustrations indicating the function of each control, with the coils and pots themselves being accessible through holes punched in the cardboard overlay.

Anyway, this TV is a Motorola WP412JW (CTV-6), which the SAMS index shows as folder 1327-1, which would have been from 1973. That sounds reasonable given that it's still a Motorola-built Quasar, and that it's a tube hybrid set (it has five tubes aside from the CRT). However, that sounds rather early for a set with a click-stop UHF tuner-- I didn't think any of the major manufacturers switched to those until 1975 (when they essentially became required), especially for lower-end products like this. I can't find any date codes on the tubes or the CRT (though it's certainly possible that the CRT has a date code but is obscured by the various hardware around it).

Questions: What year did Matsushita buy Motorola's TV/radio division (along with the "Quasar" name)? I was thinking it was about 1974. When that happened, were all of the Quasar-branded TVs *immediately* switched over to Matsushita (Panasonic) designs, or was there a phase-in period where they were still producing already-existing Motorola-designed products for a while?

[andy]

The cabinet looks very modern for 1973. It could be a newer set that used the same chassis as a 1973 set.

[bgadow]

The changeover was no sooner than 74 and may have been 75. I used to know! It seems unlikely that Matsushita would have kept any tube stuff in production, at least not for very long. I have wondered about the same thing, whether any Motorola designs survived for long. Seems I had read somewhere that they switched to Japanese chassis' but I don't know how widespread that might have been.

I had a 19" Motorola Quasar which I parted out. The crt was basically dead & the chassis was very rough, having sat out in some weather. Sams pegged it as 73 as I recall but I determined somehow that it dated from very late, probably close to the end. I found one label floating around loose inside that referred to Matsushita. That TV was very cheaply made, I felt, and was 4 or 5 tube. Had a black matrix tube and I wished it was in better shape because I would have liked to have seen what an "end of the line" Motorola could do.

One more comment: the EIA number on that CRT was 337 (if I recall right) which comes back to Westinghouse. What were they doing in the CRT business that late? (they were out of the TV business) I have not been able to find an EIA list newer than 1972 so I guess it's possible somebody else was using the number later on but I don't think they worked that way.

[Chad Hauris]

This chassis looks a lot like one I have that is labeled "Quasar Portable" and uses a continuous UHF tuner and older style knobs. The knobs on this one here however look just like the ones used on the Matsushita Quasars of the later 70's.
Also sometimes SAMS cross references the chassis back to when it was first released, in the cases of chassis that are used for several years without significant changes, even though the cosmetic appearance of the cabinet changes...check the photo on the photofact cover and see if it exactly matches up to the looks of this one...I'm thinking the one pictured would be the earlier Quasar Portable.

I know that Matsushita still kept the Motorola names for the color controls "hue and intensity" rather than the usual "tint and color" so they may have continued producing the tube type portable even after the takeover to use up the parts stocks...perhaps the chassis was then changed to a solid state newly designed chassis in the same cabinet later?

That is a 1972 model-year set and has little in common with the traditional Motorola "Works In A Drawer" except that much of the circuitry is the same. If you see part numbers like "68987A01" for example that was made using Motorola parts in a Motorola assy factory. If you see part numbers like VEPS07104A thats Matsushita (panasonic/quasar) of the early 70's. A dead give-away would be if the set used a power transformer and not a series string, I believe all motorola built sets used a power transformer that was actually a ferroresonant for regulation.
I believe Motorola got out of the TV business around 76 or so and focused on communications gear and the Quasar brand was aquired by the Panasonic group as an inexpensive appliance line with the Panasonic angle spinning off Technics to produce high-end audio. As a long time Motorola technician I can tell you that the service manuals for ALL motorola consumer video and audio was discontinued (J-code) in 1977 and 1982 for "consumer communications" meaning the Systems-500 CB radios, this was about the time of the Schaumberg revolution of the Gavin family.
I currently have a real working Works In Your Drawers Motorola set that was produced at the Franklyn Park facility and it works perfectly, this thing has the clearest colors I have seen from one of these sets. I call it the Micor TV simply because many of its parts including the interconnect pins are also used in the old Micor series of commercial radios and are still available today as new production.

Anyway enough of my batwings history

109

[blue_lateral]

Ya, Thats a real motorola quasar. I think the switch was in '76-77 or so. In the last "real Motorola era", there were two basic types of works in the drawer console sets, the cheaper hybrid "quasar II" and the "quasar solid state". The sync/deflection/HV sections were different, but most of the other modules were the same or similar.

Both basic designs were also available as 19 inch (non-drawer) portables. Yours is the "quasar II" kind.

later there were changeover sets that still seemed to use the same motorola drawer hardware I think, but the modules were all new and different, and IIRC didnt use the Motorola (micor) pins. They were still modular sets, though. I havent seen many.

After that, there were sets that were all matsushita. Still modular too. I think these were modules that were also used in matsushita sets of other brands. These used edge connectors, I think. It looked more like rca XL-100 than quasar.

John

I shall stand corrected

109

[blue_lateral]

Corrected? All I remember pretty much jibes with what you posted. I dont remember a lot, but I worked at a shop a long time ago that had been a Motorola dealer. After the switch, the owner sold Matsushita Quasar for a short period of time, then switched to Zenith. It was already Zenith when I was there. Gobs of Quasar stuff still came in for service.

I used to own a works-in the-drawer (Motorola) quasar ll. I had the original receipt, it had been sold in 1974.

I remember seeing only two of the "changeover" models. I actually looked at the date on one because I was myself wondering myself exactly when it had been. I think it said 1976 or 77. These sets had the same (or almost the same) metal stampings for the drawer slide, but all the stuff on front was different, so it didnt look the same when closed. The boards and other parts didnt look anything like Motorola. and the sets didnt say Motorola on them anywhere.

I also remember seeing a Matsushita Quasar portable from just after the changeover was complete. A JCPenney set was sitting on the bench next to it. They used the same Matsushita modules.

All the best

John

[andy]

I'm almost sure I once saw a Matsushita Quasar with the works in a drawer design. I think it was from the late 70's.

[captainmoody]

Motorola's tv division was purchased in late '74 by Matsushita. This I know as I talked with a Motorola Engineer about 20 years ago. He told me they fired all the engineers and some people on the line, replacing them with people from their company. Don't take my word for it though, if you look back through the 70's PBS documentaries you will find one about the takeover. I have one of the last WID sets assembled from remaining Motorola stock in early '75. It is identical to the original with the exception of a sticker on the back noting it was assembled by Matsushita of Franklin Park! I originally serviced this set in the mid eighties, got it from the customer about 10 years later and it is still in use here and working great.

[kx250rider]

The copper-colored, round-cornered chassis makes me think it's all Motorola... The Matsushita chasses that I remember were just a thin zinc colored metal frame with a big board (Quasar SuperModule)...

Charles

[drh4683]

Very nice find! And a very rare one too! As for dating sets, if I cannot find a date on the tubes you can check either the delay line or the 3.58 crystal for a month-year stamping.

[David Roper]

Quasar...

[buum buum buum]
by Motorola.

__________________________________________________ __________________

I remember being fascinated by the "Works In a Drawer" commercials when I was a wee little kid. Enough that my folks would have never considered buying one!

[captainmoody]

I have at least 4 or 5 16mm reels that have 30 second Quasar commercials on them. One of them has that one you mentioned. If anyone shows interest, maybe I can get them transferred onto VHS or DVD for members here.

[captainmoody]

Oh, and by the way, it's easy to find the date a Motorola was made, as almost all of them had it stamped in black ink on the rear of the chassis.
It would look like this: 5M73 5 being the month and 73 being the year.
If that won't work, the yoke has the date code it was manufactured, and that will give you a ballpark idea. If you try to get codes off the modules and they have been replaced, it won't be accurate.
While you are in there, go to the +20v regulator module and replace the caps on it. (about 3)They are dried out by now and WILL be giving you trouble!