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As with most things, the answer is "it depends". Most products have different models, with different capabilities, with different associated costs.

The very nice web site tvhistory sheds some light on this. In the 1930's, if you wanted a TV, you could get on in either "kit" form, or factory built. Naturally, the kit TVs were less expensive, since you had to assemble them yourself.

The web site shows original ads for a 1930 ICA kit TV for $58.80, compared with a 1931 Western for $150. But the prices shouldn't be compared directly; the sets come with a different complement of components.

Both these units were "mechanical scanning disk" models; not fully electronic like later TVs. The $150 Western set comes in two pieces; a shortwave scanner, which can be used as a standard shortwave radio receiver (if you plug in an external loudspeaker), or as a tuner for the "Visionette" unit. According to the ad, this setup provides only the picture; you have to tune your own existing radio to the program to hear the associated sound. This three-unit arrangement helps clarify where the term "Television SET" comes from. But there's good news; if you already have the shortwave unit, you can buy the "Visionette" separately for only $85!

The ICA set is also a piecemeal set, designed to work with a shortwave receiver. For your $58.80, you get only the "TV Amplifier". Vacuum tubes are not included, and you have to supply your own shortwave set to use as a tuner. Even then, that only gives you picture reception; you'd still be listening to the program on the radio, similar to the Western unit. There is also a cheaper version of the ICA kit that comes without

After 1935, the "mechanical" sets gave way to the more expensive fully electronic sets, with tube sizes ranging from 5 inches to 12 inches, and integrated sound, unlike the earlier mechanical, picture only sets. The scanned ads on tvhistory.tv show kits that could be obtained for as little as $80, but the owner had to buy their own tubes, which could cost as much as 50 or 60 dollars. Additional ads show factory built models, complete with vacuum tubes, ranging from $190 for smaller tabletop models with a 5" display, and as much $600 for a cabinet sized model with a 12" display.

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12y ago

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