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Early Color Television

Surviving Early Color Sets

This database includes all surviving early color sets we are aware of. If you have information on the location of any of any early color sets, please contact us. All information will be kept in confidence. With their consent, we will publish the owner's name here. For more detailed information on early color sets, see Ed Reitan's site.

Sets added:

2006 2015
2007 2016
2008 2017
2009 2018
2010 2019
2011 2020
2012 2021
2013 Summary 2006-2020
2014  
Field Sequential Sets/Monitors

Manufacturer

Model/Size

Surviving (museums)

Surviving (collectors)
CBS RX-28 prototype (1945)
1
Science and Media Museum (England) (note 12)
 
RX-43/FCC-8  prototype 7" combination receiver magnified to 9" (1949)  

1

John Folsom
12CC2 10" "Combination"/"Dual" receiver magnified to 12 1/2" (the only commercially sold set) (1951)
1
MZTV (Toronto)
1
Mike Molnar
RX-59 10" "Slave"/"Companion" magnified to 12 1/2" (1951)
1
Canada Science and Technology
Museum (Ottawa)
1
Mike Molnar

 
RX-40/41 Color Converter (1950)
1
Early Television Museum
1
Mike Molnar
Personal Viewer (1950)
3
Early Television Museum (2)
Smithsonian Institution (DC)
 
Industrial Color Television Monitor Console 7" magnified to 9" (1951)
2
Canada Science and Technology Museum (Ottawa)
CNAM Museum (France)
 
Crosley Color Converter
1 partial
Early Television Museum
1
Cliff Benham
DuMont Industrial 12 1/2 inch monitor
1
Early Television Museum
 
General Electric 950 Projection prototype (1946)
1
National Museum of Scotland
 
Gom-Cam Field Sequential Receiver
1
Museum/Palace of Communications and Culture
Zapopan Jalisco, Mexico
 
Gray Research Model 1101 10" studio monitor magnified to 12 1/2" (1951)
2
CNAM Museum (France)
Early Television Museum
1
John Folsom
Raduga (Russian) Receiver
1
Popov Museum (St. Petersburg)
1
Anonymous
Unknown Color drum assembly, made with rectangular CRT  
1
MIchael Bennett-Levy
Zenith "Smith, Kline, & French" blonde receiver (1949) (20 built)
1
Smithsonian Institution (DC) 
1
Dunedin Collection (Scotland)
Zenith Corp.
Color wheel from SKF monitor
1
National Capital Radio & Television Museum (Bowie, MD)
 
1950 over the air version of SKF set  
1
Mike Molnar
Early NTSC Sets/Monitors

The following table shows prototype and first generation production sets made by U. S. manufacturers. [ ] indicates model number. ( ) indicates quantity reported but not verified.

FT (Field Test) means a receiver that was used in "Field Testing" of the NTSC Standards from late 1951 until May 1953. The NTSC submitted its petition after this testing to the FCC in July 1953.

PT (Prototype) is a set with a metal-cone CRT, or with screw socket mountings, or with no engraved stamping on the chassis, or which would have been made in very small quantities, or has characteristics/circuit additions that would indicate it is an experimental/prototype set

All other sets were either sold to the public, or have characteristics that made it clear that the manufacturer had developed them to the point where they could be sold.

Manufacturer

Model/Size

Surviving (museums)

Surviving (collectors)
Admiral FT15"

1 - C1617A, 1 - C1617A (note 12)
Canada Science And Technology Museum
4 - C1617A
Bruce Buchannon
Julian Burke
John Folsom
Fred Hoffmann
21"
1 - C322C series
Early Television Museum

 
9 - C322C series
John Folsom
Bob Galanter
Mike Molnar
Jack Joseph
Nick Williams (note 11)
Jeff Scolaris
Steve Williams
Anonymous (2)
Arvin 15"  
(1) - 15"
Anonymous
Capehart 19"
1 - CXC-12
Early Television Museum
1 - CXC-12
ITT Corp.
21"
1 - 36C216M-5
Early Television Museum
1 - 31T216
Anonymous
CBS Columbia FT15"
1 - RX-89
Early Television Museum
1 - RX-90
Early Television Museum
1 - RX-89
John Folsom
4 - RX-90
John Folsom
Mike Molnar
Kurk Swanson
Anonymous
16"    
19"
1 - 205, 1 - 205 (note 12)
Early Television Museum
 
8 - 205
John Folsom
Mike Molnar (note 9)
David Roper (note 9)
Jeff Skolarus (note 9)
Larry Whitlock (2)
Anonymous (2)
22" rectangular  
1- 22" rectangular
Anonymous
Chromatic Television Labs Chromatron (several models)
Col-R-Tel Color wheel NTSC converter
2 - 100
Early Television Museum
Museum of the Moving Image (NY)

 
30 - 100
Dave Abramson
Loren Ashworth
Chuck Azzalina
Paul Baker
Cliff Benham (2)
Julian Burke
Michael Feldt
John Folsom
Darryl Hock
Bob Grasso
Steve Kissinger
Fred London
Larry Whitlock
Anonymous (16)
Colordaptor Color wheel NTSC converter kit
1 - C-15A
Early Television Museum
4 - C-15A
Don Hauff
Tim Moritz
Kirk Stankiewicz
Anonymous
Conrac 15" studio monitor    
21" studio monitor    
Crosley FT, Chromatron  

 
Dage 15" studio monitor
1 - 650
Early Television Museum

 
Douglas 15" prototype  

 
DuMont 15"  
2 - 15" prototype
Dave Sica
Anonymous
15" studio monitor  
1 - monitor
John Folsom
19"    
21"    
Emerson FT    
15"    
21"
1 - C-502
Early Television Museum
 
Fada 15" prototype    
General Electric FT15"
1 - 15CL100
Early Television Museum
4 - 15CL100
John Folsom
Bob Galanter
Steve Kissinger
Anonymous (1)
15" studio monitor
1 - 4TM15
Early Television Museum
4 - 4TM15
Fred Hoffman
Anonymous (3)
21"

 
2 - 21C700
Sean Duffy
Guy Whelchel
Gilfillan Chromatron    
21"  
2 - C295 prototype
John Hora
Nick Williams
Hallicrafters FT    
Chromatron    
15"    
21"  
2 - 21CK801(note 6)
Bob Galanter
Mike Molnar
Hazeltine FT    
Triniscope    
16" projector (6 models)  

 
Hoffman 15"  
2 (1) - 15M1300U Colorcaster
John Folsom
Anonymous (2)
19"
1 - Colorcaster
Early Television Museum
2 - Colorcaster
Gary Miller
Anonymous
21"  

7 - M4021A Colorcaster
Dominique Evrard
Gary Miller
Ben Moyer
Charles Sanders
Ed Lefevre
Anonymous (2)
Homemade Projection receiver
1 - Projection receiver
Early Television Museum
Color drum receiver
1 - Drum Receiver
Early Television Museum
Magnavox 21"
1 - CTC-4 Clone
Julian Burke
Majestic 15"
Montgomery-Ward 21"  
Motorola FT15"
1 - 16CK1
Early Television Museum
5 - 16CK1
John Folsom (2)
Bob Galanter
Owen Slater
Anonymous
19"
1 - 19CK1 (note 9)
Early Television Museum
1 - 19CK2 (note 9)
Early Television Museum
4 - 19CT1
Early Television Museum
Pioneer Village (NE) (note 9)
National Capital Radio and Television
Museum (MD) (note 9)
3 -19CK1
Bob Galanter
Anonymous (3) (note 9)
1 - 19CK2
Early Television Museum
13 - 19CT1
John Folsom
Freescale Corp (note 9)
Fred Hoffman
Mike Molnar
Mike Molnar (note 9)
Chip Foley (note 9)
Tom Genova (note 9)
Luc Roman
Jeff Skolarus (note 14)
Kevin Snyder (note 9)
Larry Whitlock (note 9)
Anonymous (2)
Anonymous (note 9)
21"
1 - 21CT2
Early Television Museum
9 - 21CT2
Tom Carlson
Henry Cournoyer
John Folsom
Bob Galanter
Ed Lefevre
Jim Richardson
Charlie Trahan
Anonymous
Tim Moritz
Vogue Vintage
Muntz Chromatron    
21"  
2 - 721CV(note 6)
John Folsom
Chris Musselman
Olympic 21"  

 
Pacific Mercury (Sears) 16"  
1 - prototype (note 12)
with metal color CRT and early
“wand” convergence assembly
Ingo Kubbe
Packard Bell 21"  
1 - 21CC1
Anonymous
Philco FT    
15"  
1 - prototype
John Folsom
21"

2 - 22D5102 (TV-123)
Early Television Museum
Pioneer Village (NE)
1 - 22D5100 (TV-123)
Nick Williams
10 - 22D5102 (TV-123)
Dave Abramson
Estate of Ed Westfall
Joe Aldrich
Pete Deksnis
John Folsom
Brian Gadow
Jeff Scolaris
Anonymous (3)
Apple  
Philharmonic (AMC) 15"    
Polarad 15" monitor [M-200]  

 
Raytheon 15" FT
1 - prototype
Early Television Museum
2 - prototype
Bob Millard (note 12)
Anonymous
19"    
21"  
3 - C-21C1-M
Tim Moritz
Anonymous (2)
RCA Labs 15 Triniscope models
1- prototype Trinoscope
UCLA (CA)
 
Telemural color projector [TLS50]  
1 - Telemural color projector
with 21-CT-55 chassis TLS50
John Folsom
RCA Color Products Group 14 FT models
2 - Model 5
Early Television Museum
Indiana State Museum
1 - 16" prototype CPA (note 12)
Nick Williams
1 - prototype Trinoscope
Ed Alfonsi
9 - Model 5 (note 1)
Wayne Abare
John Folsom
Monty Holt
Monty Holt (note 12)
Mike Molnar
James O'Neal (note 10)
Don Saltzman
Anonymous (2)
RCA Victor 15" commercial model 17 - CT-100 (note 2) 161 - CT-100 (note 2)
Rectangular prototype   1 - GF753L Anonymous
21" commercial models
5 - 21-CT-55
Early Television Museum (2)
Indiana State Museum
MZTV (Toronto)
UCLA (CA)
5 - CTC-4
Glass City ReCreation House
Early Television Museum (4)

 
29 - 21-CT-55 (note 8)
Dave Abramson
Mark Aceto
Geoff Bourne
William Burrows
Matt Caputo
Tom Carlson
Dominique Evrard
John Folsom
Steve Frans
Bob Galanter
Blake Hinkle
Bob Hodge
Steve Kissinger
Ingo Kubbe
Gary Miller
David Perdue
Jean-Charles Petignat (note 13)
Chuck Pharis
Mike Sauer
Dave Sica
Gilbert Smith
Kirk Stankiewicz
Nick Williams
Scott Winther
Marshall Wozniak
Anonymous (4)
38 (1) - CTC-4
Henry Cournoyer
Dominique Evrard
John Folsom
Bob Galanter
Bob Gatarz
Kevin Gleason
Fred Hoffmann
Len Horowitz
Dave Jones
Jack Joseph
Steve Kissinger
Bruce Kurt
Mark Mason
Mike Molnar
Chris Musselman
Philip Nasadowski
Phil Nelson
Keith Park
Doul Peel
Chuck Pharis
Jim Richardson
Jeff Skolaris
Gilbert Smith (2)
Kevin Snyder
Kirk Stankiewicz (2)
Jack Stout
Jacob Stracner Watkins
Evan Webster
Nick Williams
Marshall Wozniak
Anonymous (7
RCA Broadcast 15" studio monitor

1 - TM10
Museum of the Moving Image (NY)
6 - TM10
Julian Burke
John Folsom
Phil Nelson
Kurk Swanson
Anonymous (2)
21" studio monitor

4 - TM21
Museum of Broadcast Technology (3)
Early Television Museum
7 - TM21
Dave Abramson
Julian Burke
John Folsom
Fred Hoffman
Ralph Sargent
Nick Williams
Anonymous
Sears-Silvertone 15"  
1 - prototype 4160
John Folsom
21"  
1 - 7140
Nick Willliams
Sears - Toshiba 16" rectangular
1 - rectangular
Early Television Museum
4 - rectangular
Ed Lefevre
Joe Theriot
Anonymous (2)
Sentinel 15"    
21"
1 - IU-816 (Note 6)
Early Television Museum
Setchell-Carlson 21"  

 
Sparton 15"
1 - 16A211
Early Television Museum
1 - prototype
John Folsom
Stromberg-Carlson 15"  
2 - K1
Steve Kissinger
Kurk Swanson
21"  
1 - 102CM (note 6)
John Folsom
Sylvania FT    
15"  
6 (1 ) - 451
John Folsom
Don Saltzman (2)
Anonymous (4)
21"
1 - 21C609M (note 6)
Early Television Museum
5 - 31T Series
Bob Galanter
John Horvath
Tim Moritz
Nick Williams
Jimmy Scichilone
Tel-Instrument Co.     (Van Nuys - slide scanner and triniscope) [2400]
Telechrome Inc. Triniscope picture monitor   (Lost Gilfillan Lab configuration with 10 racks)
Tele-King FT  
Truetone 19" (note 7)    
Uniray 21"    
Western Auto 21"  

 
Westinghouse FT    
15"
1 - prototype (note 4)
Early Television Museum
3 - H840CK15(note 3)
Early Television Museum
Westinghouse Museum (PA)
Wingham Museum (Canada)
25 (1) - H840CK15 (note 3)
John Folsom (2)
Bob Galanter
Estate of Ed Westfall
Fred Hoffman
Mark Johnson
Kurk Kowal
Ingo Kubbe
Eric Loepke
Marlin Mackley
Pete Martin
Jim Otradovec
Jeff Skolaris
Rob Stephens
Kurt Swanson (2)
Keith Wichman
Nick Williams
Marshall Wozniak
John Yurkon
Anonymous (6)
19"  
1 - 890CKU19 ( note 12)
Anonymous
22" rectangular  
2 (1) - H22T155
Jim Richardson
Anonymous (2)
Wickes 15/16" monitor  

 
Wilcox-Gay 15" (Majestic)  

 
Zenith FT    
15"  
9 - 43M20 (note 5)
John Folsom
Bob Hodge
Mike Molnar
Jeff Skolarus
Anonymous (5)

Notes:

1) 200 units were manufactured for use by RCA distributors and NBC affiliates for demonstrations of the first coast-to-coast colorcast of the January 1, 1954 Tournament of Roses Parade. Here is a list of serial numbers from Pete Deksnis.

2) Approximately 4400 RCA CT-100s were made. Pete Deksnis reports that 40 of these sets are opertional. If you are an owner of a RCA CT-100, Pete would like to hear from you. Here is a list of serial numbers from Pete Deksnis.

3) Approximately 500 H840CK15s were made. For more on Westinghouse H840CK15 go to Marlin Mackley's site.

4) Preproduction prototype, with different HV section and extra chassis for color AFC. 

5) One surviving set has a Hytron CRT.

6) See this page about "clone" CTC-4 sets

7) Probably made by Raytheon 

8) Approximately 3000 RCA 21-CT-55s were made, using the a CTC-2 chassis similar to that used in the CT-100. Here is a list of serial numbers from Pete Deksnis.

9) Modified with 21 inch CRT

10) Has CT-100 chassis

11) Made in Canada

12) Chassis only

13) Modified for 625 line NTSC tests in Switzerland

14) RCA mask, 21 inch glass CRT

Early British Sets/Monitors

Manufacturer

Model/Size

Surviving (museums)

Surviving (collectors)
Marconi B. D. 876 projection set
 
 
1
Anonymous
Pye 21" Experimental receiver  
1
David Boynes