Types of Old TV Cabinets

Comparing the design and development of the cupboards housing the earliest commercial television sets to the look of contemporary TVs is akin to comparing a covered wagon to a Maserati sports car. The cabinets of the first TVs incorporated a variety of functions and models. Using both fine and manufactured wood and later plastic, old TV cabinets make for an interesting study in Americana.

Earliest Cabinets

The earliest known television from the 1930s is reminiscent of the radios from that era. Made of quality wood, these premier cabinets were finely crafted for durability. Manufacturers simply replaced the radio with a TV, keeping the traditional look used for the past three decades.

Sliding Doors

Moving into the mid-twentieth century when television became available to the consumer in the United States, TV cabinets were now made of laminated wood. With only one or two stations available for the viewer, the option to "hide" the screen with the sleeker design and sliding doors over the set was a popular cabinet model. Standing on four legs, this new design fit in with living room furniture as well.

Home Entertainment Centers

Manufacturers of televisions offered consumers the first home entertainment center beginning in the 1960s. Wider cabinets encased the TV screen. To listen to the radio or put on a record, the owner merely lifted the door on top of the cabinet to dial a knob or put a needle to the plastic disc. Designs also came with the radio on one side and the record player on the other.

Luxury

Introducing color television to the world in 1953 did not take hold among enthusiasts until the 1960s for a good reason---it was too expensive. Pricing came down, and the more affluent buyer invested in the new phase of this already decades-old industry. The look of the pricier colored TV set was richer, as a return to fine quality and grander wood cabinets came back in style. There was one obvious difference---these beautifully designed models lost the four legs and sat on the floor.

Smaller

Manufacturers built the first portable TV in 1954, making the television set unit smaller. Television housing was now a compact, plastic casing with rounded corners, and the new models were available in a variety of bright colors.

References

• TV History
• First Color Television Sets
• Crosley Radio Company Timeline