Motorola "works in a drawer" color set wanted

[old_tv_nut]

Originally Posted by NewVista

I once trashed a WID set. It was interesting technology to explore/dismantle. Quite a unique TV. And if I'm not mistaken, it was the world's first all-solid-state color ? I remember the special (expensive?) HV rectifier was solid state and looked like the Seattle Space Needle. It seems it rectified the entire 25kv from H.O.T. with large coil winding (no high voltage Multiplier employed ?)

First large screen color all solid state. The solid state HV rectifier consisted of a stack of lower-voltage diodes. The shape of the fins was designed to equalize the capacitive current and therefore the transient voltage across the individual diodes from the top to the bottom of the stack.

[Username1]

I believe that story about Zenith not wanting to update their manufacturing process. Same reason I keep my old cars, I know them inside out. Reminds me of a story I once read online from a former Chrysler engineer that outlined how the company had planned to keep the 225 6Cyl. alive into the 90's. He concluded at the end, that they just loved that engine, and did not want to spend the money on a new design when they knew all the buggs in the current design, had fixes, and the plant to build them was already built.

[andy]

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[andy]

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[heathkit tv]

Originally Posted by andy

The way I understood things, GE bought RCA in about 1986, then immediately sold RCA electronics, and their own consumer electronics branch to Thomson (no P). Thomson ran RCA for about 15-20 years, and also used the GE name for electronics. I'm fairly sure that RCA was completely dissolved a few years ago, and I don't think Thomson has anything to do with the brand any more. I haven't seen the GE name on a piece of new consumer electronics for a few years, and RCA is pretty much gone.

The RCA web site doesn't say much about who owns the brand now. They even have an "RCA history" page which implies they're still an independent company, and completely omits GE and Thomson. Digging into the customer service area reveals that they have been made by ON Corporation since April 2010. I can't find anything about ON Corporation.

I remember when they changed the huge letters on the top of the RCA building (at Rockefeller Center in NYC) to "GE". I refused to refer to it as anything other than the RCA building (as did most everyone I knew).

[DaveWM]

that is really really depressing (the demise of companies like RCA/Zenith/Slyvania).

[Bill R]

RCA (the name at least) was bought by Audiovox. I think they morphed into ON corporation.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by Bill R

RCA (the name at least) was bought by Audiovox. I think they morphed into ON corporation.

Once greatest name in TV, now a brand selling remotes/accessories in Dollar Stores.

Their most valuable products - not their latest TVs, but their earliest TVs

[miniman82]

I assume you've seen this?

http://videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=250014

[kramden66]

i was just going to post that there is a works in the drawer set on ebay but i see the link above , now this set was all solid state , there was no rectifier tube ?

mike

[NewVista]

"See a demonstration of the New Solid State (except for rectifier tube) Motorola"

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by NewVista

"See a demonstration of the New Solid State (except for rectifier tube) Motorola"

I remember Brandt went out of business in the mid 70's . I didn't know he handled Motorola products. Probably was there for 40 years. Kind of an old sourpuss.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I remember Brandt went out of business in the mid 70's . .

Was that the shop near small brick cinema?

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by NewVista

Was that the shop near small brick cinema?

I know the theater was right up the street. I haven't been on Delaware Av. in ages. I moved from Milwaukee almost nine years ago, after living there 57 years.

[NewVista]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I remember Brandt went out of business in the mid 70's . . Probably was there for 40 years. Kind of an old sourpuss.

There was kind of an estate sale there ~ mid 90's. I got there late but there still were many mint B&W roundies, brochures, magazines, trade journals. Makes me wonder what I missed out on---could have been Predicta's, early color ? The guy seemed to have had a keen eye for saving & amassing significant TV's,