TV Set Prices

Television History - The First 75 Years

TV Selling Prices

The following charts are a quick reference to some television set selling prices from the 1930s onwards.

Most examples link to the corresponding advertisement or documentation. Keep in mind that the style, quality and size of the cabinet can greatly affect the original selling list price. Also, some console models may have optional radio (wireless) and phonograph equipment. (5"), (9"), (10"), (12"), etc., refer to picture tube diagonal measurement.

Comprehensive pricing by make & model number is a long term goal of the site, where data exists.

	AMERICAN TV PRICES
1930s	Mechanical (Scanning Disc) Kits '30 ICA: $58 '32 SeeAll: $13 (w/o radio receiver) '32 Hollis Baird: $39	Mechanical (Scanning Disc System) Factory-made Sets '31 Western Television: $150
1930s	Pre-war Electronic Kits '39 Andrea: $79 (5") (tubes cost $55 extra)	Pre-war Electronic Factory Sets '39 Andrea: $189 (5") '39 Du Mont: $445 (12") '39 RCA: $600 (12") '39 RCA: $450 (9")
1940s
1940s	Post-war Tabletop Models '48 Freed-Eiseman: $795 (16") '48 Du Mont: $445 (12") '48 GE: $325 (10") '48 RCA: $325 (10") 1948: (16) Set Summary	Post-war Console Models '48 Admiral: $499 (10") '48 Du Mont: $2495 (20") '48 Stromberg-Carlson: $985 (12") '49 Admiral: $695 (16") '48 GE: $2100 (Projection TV) '49 Emerson: $599 (Projection TV)
1950s	B&W: Tabletop '51 GE: $289 (17") '54 RCA: $189 (17") '54 Capehart: $299 (24") '55 Zenith $149 (17") '56 GE $129 (14") B&W: Console '50 Philco: $499 (12") '52 GE: $299 (20") '55 Magnavox $249 (24") '55 Admiral: $149 (21")	Color: Tabletop '56 RCA: $495 (21") '59 RCA: $495 (21") Color: Console Models '51 CBS Mechanical System: $499 '54 CBS-Columbia Electronic: $1000 '54 Admiral: $1175 (15") '54 RCA: $1000 (15") '54 Westinghouse: $1295 (15")
1960s	B&W: Tabletop '60 Philco: $249 (17") '61 Zenith: $259 (19") B&W: Console '61 Zenith: $575 (23") '69 Muntz: $125 (22")	Color: Tabletop '60 RCA: $495 (21") Color: Console Models '68 Admiral: $349 (23") '69 RCA TV-Phono: $975 (23")
1970s	B&W: Tabletop '70 Muntz: $65 (12") '70 Motorola: $89 (12") '70 Sony: $154 (12") '77 GE: $90 (12") B&W: Console '77 Sears: $230 (22") '77 Sylvania: $240 (22") '77 Motorola: $260 (22") '78 GE: $230 (22") [1978 last year for B&W Consoles]	Color: Tabletop '70 Motorola: $349 (16") '72 Emerson: $358 (18") '72 Muntz: $260 (21") '74 Sony: $590 (19") Color: Console Models '70 Motorola: $479 & $599 (23") '72 Muntz: $360 (23") '75 Admiral: $370 to $740 (25") '77 Sylvania: $530 to $850 (25")
1980s	B&W: Tabletop '80 Panasonic: $130 (12") '82 GE: $105 (12") '82 Zenith: $110 (12") '82 Zenith: $170 (19") '88 Samsung: $70 (12") B&W Mini - Handheld '86 Casio: $100 (2" LCD) '87 Sony Watchman: $180 (2") '89 Sony Watchman: $150 (3")	Color: Tabletop '80 JVC: $560 (19") '82 Sylvania: $430 (19") '86 Toshiba: $490 (19") '88 Sony: $550 (4" CRT) Color: Console '82 Sony: $1000-$1400 (26") '86 Sylvania: $540 (25") Color: Mini - Handheld '85 Casio: $300 (3" LCD) '89 Casio: $160 (2" LCD)
1990s	B&W Tabletop '90 Magnavox: $80 (12") '93 Sony: $130 (5" CRT) B&W Mini - Handheld '90 Casio: $80 (2" LCD) '96 Sony Watchman: $110 (3")	Color: Tabletop '90 Samsung: $290 (9" AC-DC) '91 RCA: $770 (27") '93 RCA: $350 (13") '93 RCA: $1200 (31") '96 Samsung: $340 (19") '97 Samsung: $750 (28") Color: Console '91 RCA: $660 (26") '92 Philco: $2300 (35") '94 RCA: $2000 (35") '99 RCA: $1400 (36") Color: Mini - Handheld '99 Casio: $140 (2" LCD)

	BRITISH TV PRICES
1930s	Mechanical Kits '34 "Daily Express" - Mervyn £5 9s 6d	Mechanical Factory-made Sets '28 Baird Model "A" £20.00 ($100) '28 Baird Model "B" £40.00 ($200) '28 Baird Model "C" £150.00 ($750) '30 Baird Televisor: £26 ($130) '33 Plew Model #1 10 Gns. ($53) '34 Bush Mirror Drum 75 Gns. ($394)
1930s	Pre-war Electronic Kits (no examples known)	Pre-war Factory Sets '36 Baird: 85 Gns. ($446) 15" '36 Marconi: 80 Gns. ($420) 9" '37 GEC: £35 ($175) 9" '37 HMV: 120 Gns. ($630) 12" '37 Marconiphone: 120 Gns. 9" '37 Pye: 75 Gns. ($394) 12" '37 Ultra: 70 Gns. ($368) 12" '37 Ultra: 38 Gns. ($199) 9" '38 HMV: 35 Gns. ($184) 9" '38 Murphy: £45 ($225) 9" '39 Cossor: 48 Gns. ($252) 15" '39 Cossor: 70 Gns. ($368) 13.5"
1940s	Post-war Tabletop Models '48 Baird: 35 Gns. ($184) 9" '48 Baird: 55 Gns. ($289) 12" '49 Ekco: 49 Gns. ($236) 9"	Post-war Console Models '48 Baird: 72 Gns. ($378) 12" '48 Baird: 85 Gns. ($446) 12" '48 Ekco: 50 Gns. ($263) 9" '49 Cossor: £95 ($475) 10" '49 Dynatron: 125 Gns. ($656) 12" '49 Etronic: 67 Gns. ($352) 12" '49 Ferranti: £74 ($370) 12" '49 Masteradio: £79 ($395) 12"
1950s	B&W: Tabletop '51 Pye: 51 Gns. ($268) 12" B&W: Console '51 Pye: 76 Gns. ($399) 12" '51 Valradio: £148 ($740) Projection	Color: Console Models (None until 1967)

Read about the history and value of a British Guinea (gns).

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