Original 1957 RCA Portable TV Commercial, CRT Television, RCA Victor TV History vacuum tubes

[@dougbrowning82]

By the late 1960s, Silverama had become RCA's rebuild brand, with Highlight being the new B&W brand, and Colorama being the brand for new color tubes. New Vista was the brand for sets with the Nuvistor RF pentode, which replaced the twin triode, Cascode RF amp in the early 1960s.

[@Matt..G]

Interesting. Love the RCA jingle.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Ha, ha... Me too! Maybe its my new "ringtone."

[@markpirateuk]

We had very similar sets in the UK, most had a rexine or vinyl covering over a plywood cabinets, 405 line of course!

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Markpirateuk, fascinating comment. Didn't know much about "405 line." ~ I found an old very technical web site about "405 line" television. www.bvws.org.uk/405alive/faq/405_hist.html Thanks for your feedback! ~ Hunter, at CHAP

[@enilenis]

I had a similar old TV, and once the sound on it broke. My neighbour played his TV loud, so I was forced to watch whatever he was watching, with an ear to the wall. Luckily, his taste matched mine.

[@rpf6562]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@robharding4028]

I was a baby from this year, never realised they had so much technology available. We never could afford a T V, even in the late 60's.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Rob, thanks for your comment. Now, in 2020, there are "TV screens" everywhere, even the gas station and dentist office. It's a bit crazy. ~ Hope you will sample some of our other tech videos too. ~ Hunter, CHAP

[@robharding4028]

@@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject I know its quite crazy today, your so right, the televisions are all over the place, I love all things vintage,old films like this especially, thanks for your kind words, and yes I will be checking out all the others, Thank you !

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Rob, you are very welcome! ~ Hunter

[@WFTL14]

Nice summary!

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Mike, thanks very much.

[@matneu27]

"UHF" optional! Nowadays most countries had shut down analog TV over antenna. Anyway it is allways nice to see the tricks of those commercials. The TV was sure hollow when I see how easy the guy carried it an look how quickly the image on a tube based TV appears 😉

[@jaimeantoniolopezbellido5668]

Por supuesto que opcional ,fue obligatorio a partir de 1965 y fue por ley. Pero los fabricados antes se podían vender

[@sterlinsilver]

They make it look so light. Try holding it for a full minute and your opinion begins to change!

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Hi Sterlin, bet you are right about that! And the way that lad runs up the stairs, makes me think the TV he has is a "prop" not a 25 - 30 pound piece of equipment. ~

[@nickv1008]

If you had a 1957 silver dollar, it would be worth $25 today. Food and gas prices reflect this inflation. Salaries and some products did not keep up, but a large flat screen HD television would cost about $1k, and look how cheap computers and cell phones have become. I have purchased gas for 18 cents per gallon, and paid $1400 for a cellphone to watch this "video" on.👍👍

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

... it is amazing... Thanks!

[@barryobrien7935]

Singer Vaughn Monroe in the RCA jingle.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Thank you! did not know that!

[@kennixox262]

HE was a major spokesman for RCA and a popular singer from the late 30's through at least the 50's.

[@therealogbaggy470]

I swear I was born in the wrong time

[@donaldharlan3981]

🧮📻 I love these videos. $169 retail price for 1977, is ~ $810 in 2022 dollars. 🕵 I always thought that, it is still a 'too high' of a price. 💸 Check your dates, 'your' creation date is showing. 📺

[@mspysu79]

I would have spent the extra $20 for the RCA over the Philco. Those Philco sets are junk. GE invented the aluminized picture tube and was using it in 1950. LG stands for Lucky Goldstar.

[@boldone3517]

Your inflation index as it pertained to TVs is a little off. . I work in retail and a fantastic 65 inch will only cost you $700.- $800. tops, and often less.

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Ok, thank you for the clarification! ~

[@albear972]

Hey kid! Didn't anyone ever tell you not to run with the TV? Especially on stairs? I don't care if you want to watch the colt on TV that bad. And hooooly mooooly! That $179.95 in 1957 is worth $1,800.00 today, (2022)

[@dougbrowning82]

To bad that TV is virtually a worthless doorstop today. You couldn't even give one of those away these days, except maybe to a collector.

[@donaldharlan3981]

🧮📻 I love these videos. $169 retail price for 1977, is ~ $810 in 2022 dollars. 🕵 I always thought that, it is still a 'too high' of a price. 💸 Check your dates, 'your' creation date is showing. 📺

[@kennixox262]

Did picture tubes of that era fail more often and if so, a failed picture tube would seem to destine the TV set to the junk pile.