(1970) JVC VideoSphere Model 3241 : Astronaut Helmet TV

The "oddest looking television ever made" might be an understatement but this is what makes this JVC VideoSphere so intriguing. It's a piece of art, a reminder of space innovation and ultimately a talking piece. Now if we could get one in color....hmmmm
00:00 - Intro
00:13 - Overview & Background
02:20 - Close Look at the JVC VideoSphere
06:30 - Insides of the Clock Base
07:28 - Testing the Clock Base
09:04 - Insides of the TV Shell and Cover
10:40 - Testing the Television
12:16 - Playing Atari Defender on the VideoSphere
14:00 - All Put Together
14:54 - Playing Pole Position on the VideoSphere
15:26 - Playing Donkey Kong on the VideoSphere
15:56 - Recap
17:00 - Vintage Gaming Memories Shrine
#retro #retrotv #jvc #vintagetv #atari

[@Qubeorama]

That is a really cool television! What is there not to like about it with the flip clock and retrofuturistic design!! I would love to have one of those myself to tinker with!
I remember a colour set in europe around the 80's that shared a similar design to the videosphere called the Philips Discoverer.

[@VintageGamingMemories]

Thanks! Ya, I can't get enough of those flip clocks too 🙂. I looked up the Phillips you mentioned and found it. Wow.
www.thehistoryoftv.com/phillips-space-helmet
And double wow on what they are "asking" for on eBay -- $2,400 - 3,200 USD

[@zsombor_99]

15:04 The image is a bit wavy, I mean, it's not perfectly still, right? 🙄

[@VintageGamingMemories]

Thanks for checking out the video. I should have mentioned that I made this video while on a boat, haha. Yeah, I noticed it afterwards of a little bounce/wave to the image too. Not sure if it was the signal coming in or voltage fluctuation.

[@zsombor_99]

@@VintageGamingMemories It's due to aged components in the TV itself.

[@VintageGamingMemories]

@@zsombor_99 Right, most definitely. I'm sure a full inspection would have me replacing a number of items inside due to its age but I just did a quick visual check for any bulging or leaking caps and for any scorch marks on the board or on components. I may do a revisit on the insides to test the caps and resistors with a multimeter. Hoping to find a clear schematic diagram of this before I go back in 🙂. Thanks!