Admiral TV ID....

[nasadowsk]

Hey, a friend of mine found an Admiral TV at an antiques shop, and being the doofus he is, can't ID if the set's color, B&W, 50's 60's 70's 40' 30' 20's 1800's or whatever....

So, he gets me the model and chassis number instead:

521M16 <- There may be numbers/letters after that
21Y1 "TV Radio Chassis"

I'm guessing it sounds early mid 50'sish B&W, but beyond that? It's an upright console, it 'might' have a 21 inch screen, which may / may not be a round CRT, a square CRT, or a triangular CRT, which itself could be 110 degree, 90 degree, 70 degree, 1 degree, or 1 million degree deflection.

(wacks head against table)

Anyway, I'm looking for some basic info on the thing to see if it's worth heading over there (a few hundred miles) to snag the set...

Thanks!

[Chad Hauris]

Just to venture a guess...the most popular Admiral TV/Radio seems to be a 17" b/w set from the early 50's with the TV on the left side of the console and the radio/phono on the right side.

[Steve K]

According to the model number that set is the one with the rare triangular color picture tube from 1932! Seriously it is a 1952 21" rectangular black and white combo unit.

Steve

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by Steve K

According to the model number that set is the one with the rare triangular color picture tube from 1932!
Steve

Oh yes, Admiral's ill fated venture into color TV ended when the laboratory caught fire and burned to the ground in 1933.

This rare photo was snapped by a reporter who happend to be there at the time.

[Steve K]

LOL! That's exactly the set I was talking about! Another thing that was lost in that fire was the fluorescent light fixture (seen in the picture) that Admiral developed and did not patent. History states that the first patent for fluorescent lights was filed in the late 30s. Admiral loses another one!

[nasadowsk]

Hehehehe. Thanks guys

I guess I'll pass on yet another boring 2nd - 3rd tier B&W console. Esp at $40 for it.

Though - what's the CRT? If it's a 21EP4, I could use it afterall for the tube, but that's it.

[Steve K]

The 21Y1 chassis was used for both a 17 inch and a 21 inch tube. I believe the model number indicates that it is a 21 inch set and if it is it should use a 21EP4.

Steve

[Sandy G]

Wonder what the # on the triangular CRT was? I think I shot one o' them in the town dump back when I was a kid...-Sandy G.

[nasadowsk]

Hmm, if it's a 21EP4, I can use it. But only for the CRT. And I'd hate to want to chop a set for that, unless someone out there needs a chassis or parts for it. So, I might sit on it for a while, until I'm up there again for whatever and can see it myself. I don't need or want another 21" B&W console, but I do need a 21EP4...