Television History - The First 75 Years
 
 

[Home]

Small (Micro) TV Sets

In the mid-to-late 1960s and through the 1980s it seemed as if there was sort of an informal battle between manufacturers to see who could make the smallest television set.  I'm sure someone could write a book on this subject alone.  Although my main interest is prewar television, I have managed to pick-up a few interesting examples of these early micro-TVs.  Sony provided the largest (and somewhat continuous) selection of these micro sets.  There are many models, and just a few will be shown here.  If Sony collectors would like to have additional examples of their sets posted, please contact me!

The First Transistorized TV Set - 1959

(31K)    
1959 Philco Safari - Model H2010L - 2" Projection TV - AC-DC - With Hood Closed - Tan Leather Case (Black available also)

(17K)
The set above, operating -- but don't ask what was being displayed - it was a news broadcast.

(98K)
November 1959 - Electronics Illustrated - Has cover article about the Philco Safari set

(87K)
Facts and Figures - 15 lbs. - 21 Transistors - $250.00

(120K)
Safari Ad - From a 1960 Canadian magazine;  Cost: $399.95 (Canadian dollars not US)

It all begins with this Philco set.  Its dimensions are actually quite large:  8" wide x 15" tall x 5-1/2" deep, but the race to build smaller and smaller sets was on!

RCA and GE had displayed laboratory models of transistorized TV sets in 1956 and 1958, respectively, but Philco beat everyone in the world to the punch by introducing the Safari model in late 1959.  They even beat Sony to market, who were planning a release of their set shortly. 

The unique design of this set (to conserve battery power) was the ingenious method of using a small 2" vertically mounted picture tube, which reflected the television image at a 45 degree angle off a concave mirror!  At the optimum viewing distance of precisely 4 and 1/2 feet, you had what appeared to be the same size image given by a 14 inch picture tube!  

There was one serious drawback,  --- This system required a VERY narrow viewing angle.  If you were off by a few degrees, the picture would be cut-off easily.  The consequence?  A stiff neck after a very short viewing time!  However, it was transistorized -- battery powered -- and portable -- all amazing features in 1959.

SONY's First Set in America

(20K)
1961 Sony 8-301W -- 8" Transistorized -- AC-DC -- $249.95 New

(24K)
8-301W Side View -- (Note: The chrome accent bar is missing on this unit.)

(59K)
8-301W -- Rear Panel View -- 23 Transistors -- (2) 6 volt batteries for power supply -- 13 lbs.

(24K)
Sony Advertisement

When Sony introduced this set, it was the beginning of a long series of product launches in the United States.  This model performed flawlessly, and Sony began to gain respect and earned a reputation for quality in electronics.  

1963 RCA Transistorized Prototype

(50K)

(62K)
This incredible hand-held miniature television was never produced commercially, but sure was a sign of the things to come in the future!  The article states the circuitry is completed, but the flat picture tube is under development.

(52K)
A reference to a miniature circuit (IC) that may result in portable computers!
Amazing information for 1963.

1966 Motorola Transistorized Prototype

(212K)    (208K)
(Courtesy Frank Guenthoer, Germany)
www.taschenfernseher.de/index-e.htm for the English summary
www.taschenfernseher.de/index-f.htm for the (new) French summary
 

(12K) - Mid 60s Portable B&W television

(30K)
1965 Sony Model 4-203w  3-1/2" Screen (Battery Pack is BP-6, and woodgrain version is 4-204W).  My thanks to Richard Doherty for this information.

1969 Sony Dealer Brochure

(148K)    (156K)    (132K)
Models: TV-400V, TV-500U, TV-710U, TV-720U, TV-900U, TV120U
 

(34K)
1971 Panasonic Model TR-001 -- 1-1/2" Screen -- Called "Integrated Circuit", although I don't believe it had any ICs as we know them today.  No doubt you will remember the Panasonic tag line:  "Just Slightly Ahead of Our Time".  Panasonic had some innovative television sets in the 70s and 80s.  It began with this TR-001, and was soon followed by the TR-005, the 5" screen "Flying Saucer" design, and then the 1-1/2" micro series (see below). 

(32K)
Model TR-001 -- LH Side View

(30K)
Model TR-001 -- RH Side View

(22K) Top View    

(44K) - Chassis view (Courtesy Frank Guenthoer, Germany)
www.taschenfernseher.de/index-e.htm for the English summary
www.taschenfernseher.de/index-f.htm for the (new) French summary
 

(224K)
1971 Panasonic B&W TV Dealer Catalog
Showing both the TR-001 and TR-005

(42K)
1978 Sinclair -- Model MTV-1 - 2 inch screen -- Dual Band -- PAL & NTSC Standards -- Size: 4" wide x 6" deep x 1-1/2" tall - $399.95 New

(35K)
Model MTV-1 --- Rear View

Planet Sinclair Website

(42K)
1981 Sony KV-4100 -- 3.7" Color TV -- Micro Cassette Recorder -- Remote Control

(35K)
KV-4100 -- LH Side

(47K)
KV-4100 -- RH Side

(31K)
1981 Panasonic Model 1010P -- 1-1/2" CRT Screen

(19K)
Model 1010P -- Operating (Rosie O'Donnell Show)

(96K)
1984 Toyomenka TMK-717  - 2" Screen, with AM, FM, SW and TV.
Operates in UK, EC, and USA;  3-1/2" magnifying glass that clips on the front.
Uses AA batteries, a rechargeable pack (no longer available) or AC power.
[Courtesy Bil Munsil]

Click here to see the World's Smallest Television Set!

(14K)
1988 Sony "Watchman" - Model FD-210 -- 1-3/4" Screen  -- This was the first in the series of "Watchman" sets.

[return to FAQ page]     [home]    [SITE MAP]