When color television began in the United States in 1954, people were disappointed due to the small tv screens of the first generation's color tv sets. Those tv sets with 15" screen diameter did not have more visible screen than the first PC monitors, too less for enjoying television from a distance. Although those early color tv sets had wide gamut phosphors, this could not convince with respect to the small screens. So, people interested
in color tv did not bought these early sets but waited for color tv sets with larger screens. In fall of 1954, the first 21" color
picture tube, the 21AXP22 was produced. With this 21" color picture tube, people could actually enjoy television in color. The Hoffman company, located in Los Angeles, produced the first color television sets on the U.S. west coast.
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The Radio Corporation of America (RCA Victor) was the leading company of the development of color television.
Beside RCA, other brands were involved in producing their own designs of color television. This color tv set here was made by Hoffman, and is not an RCA clone. It is an independent development in chassis and design. The Hoffman Colorcaster was sold in 1955, and was fitted with the new 21" color picture tube 21AXP22. This tv set here has as a replacement the 21FJP22, which was inserted in the 1970s. Since the 21FJP22 was an all-glass tube, it has more weight than the metal cone 21AXP22. Two brackets, mounted on the top of the cabinet, carry the additional weight of the picture tube.
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