150 VINTAGE TVs: We Buy, Sell, Prop, Convert to Color, old TVs! 24 Frame Televisions, 1920 to 1980 Wood & Metal Portables Table Tops Console televisions: Working, As Found, Props, Parts 24 Frame TVs

If you look below, you can calculate the approximate
age and value of your television....

Vintage	Characteristics	Value
1920s and 1930s Mechanical	Mechanical TVs were basically short-wave radios with a neon light and scanning disc connected. Mostly wooden table tops were produced, but some consoles were sold, and many kits and home-brew sets were assembled.	Need not be complete: Consoles over $5,000. Table tops over $2,500.
1930s Electronic	Pre-war 5" and 9" table tops and direct-vision consoles were produced and sold, plus there were 12" consoles (mirror-in-the-lid style). Some sets featured screens up to 20", and there were several 5" kits produced. Most of the production sets were sold in 1938, 1939 and 1940 (many were displayed at the 1939 NY World's Fair). These TVs have long, funnel shaped picture tubes (1803, 1804, etc., or 5AP4, 12AP4, etc). Most of these sets will have 1 channel, 3 channels, or 5 channels: only those modified post-WWII will have all 13 channels on the tuner.	Need not work or be complete to be of considerable value. Complete sets $3,000 to over $10,000. Kits $1,500 to $3,500 and up. Pre-war CRTs and Pre-war TV parts are of value; 1920s and 1930s TV books and original instruction booklets, flyers, and dealer hand-outs, are of value.
1946-1949	In 1946 and 1947 most B&W TVs were sold with round 10" and 12" CRTs standard; plus cheaper sets were produced with 7" and even 3" tubes (common Pilot TV-37); DuMont produced TVs with up to 20" CRTs. (Some 1946 through 1949 sets had tuners with channels 1-13). By the late 1940s, RCA and other makers had round 19" picture tubes. Cabinets were mostly made of wood or bakelite; some with very strange or elaborate cases. Table tops, consoles, and combinations with TV, radio and phono, were sold.	Working or not, these 1940s B&W TVs have a similar value. Common 7", 10" and 12" Table top sets about $50-$150 and up; Unusual or very collectible sets are worth $200-$750, and a few, more. 7" consoles are rare, value over $300. Most 10" to 16" consoles are common, and less desirable than table tops, value $25-$150.
1950s: B&W	Larger screen sizes with rectangular CRTs (DuMont produced up to 30" CRTs). Most had box-shaped cases, usually in mahogany. Most 1950s consoles are taller than wide. Plus, colorful metal portables with 8" to 19" rectangular tubes were mass produced during the period.	Large screen, simple sets: $25-$150. Brightly colored portables $25-$100. Unusually styled 1950s TVs: $75-$250.
1950s: Color	Early Color TV is hot right now! Color TV was tested in 1939 by GE, then CBS and RCA used color from 1946 through 1953 (some had 3 picture tubes inside). Color wheel attachments, and even color drums, were placed in front of, or inside B&W TVs, to produce a color image! By 1954, Westinghouse, RCA, Arvin, Admiral and others sold 15" color TVs (most with round 15GP22 CRT), and CBS and others sold 19" sets. By 1955, most makers produced 21" round tube color TVs. By the late 1950s, many color TVs used rectangular picture tubes.	Color prototype TVs, pre-1953: $2,500 up (These need not work or be complete.) 15" to 19" round-color TVs $500-$2,500 (Higher prices for working sets with good CRTs.) 21" and larger, round-picture tube color sets: $50-$350+.
1960s	By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Danish Moderne influence was shown in some of the television cabinets. Most 1960s consoles are wider than tall, and blonde finish was popular. Plus, large screen, very rectangular portables with metal and plastic, in subdued colors, were sold.	Simple portables, table tops and consoles $25-$75. Unusually styled designs including Danish Modern design: $50-$200 and up.
1970s-1980s	"Space-age" designed TVs were the rage, with large plastic or wood sets showing the "rocket-ship" influence. Small plastic portables which resembled astronaut's helmets, and even mini flying saucers, were sold! Very small color sets with CRTs only 1" to 5" were introduced (LCD type color sets are not popular).	These are expected to be working, with excellent cosmetics. Typical sets: no collector value. Unusually designed table tops and consoles, $75-$150 and up. Tiny CRT color sets $25-$100+

This table Ó 1999-2007 by Harry Poster.
No reproduction allowed-all media rights reserved.

We buy old, unusual and valuable TV sets--complete or empty--any quantity!
We also buy old tubes and tube testers, ham gear, unusual and console vintage radios, signs and displays, unusual electronics, plus older manuals, books and flyers, and lots more!
We're in Northeastern New Jersey, but we can travel, or have your items picked-up.

Your location (very important--and often determines the value!);

plus, please include. . .
Make and model;
Cosmetic condition;
Type of set: wood, bakelite, blonde, mahogany, table top, console, etc.