How much was a TV in the 1950s? In the 1950s, the cost of early televisions varied quite a bit, but on average, a new television set cost between \$200 and \$500. This figure gives us the average TV cost 1950s. These 1950s television prices were a significant expense for most families at the time, making TV ownership a major purchase.
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A Look Back at the 1950s
The 1950s were a time of big change. The country was growing. More people moved to the suburbs. Families had more money than before. New products came out. Cars became more common. Appliances for the home got better. And a new box was showing up in living rooms. This box was the television.
At the start of the 1950s, not many homes had a TV. It was a new thing. Only cities had TV signals. Not all areas could get TV channels. But this changed fast. More TV stations started. More areas got signals. TV became very popular, very quickly.
Having a TV was a big deal. It changed how families spent time. They watched shows together. News came into the home live. Kids watched cartoons. Grown-ups watched dramas and variety shows. The TV became the center of the home.
But getting a TV was not cheap for everyone. It was a new piece of technology. New tech usually costs a lot at first. The price of early televisions was high. People had to save up to buy one. It was often the most expensive item in the living room, other than maybe a piano.
Grasping the Cost of Early TVs
Let’s look closer at the money part. How much did these early TVs really cost? As we said, the average TV cost 1950s was \$200 to \$500. But this is just an average. Prices changed based on many things.
Think about TVs today. A small kitchen TV costs less than a giant screen for the living room. It was the same in the 1950s. The size of the screen changed the price a lot.
Early TV screens were small. Some were just 7 or 10 inches across. A 12-inch screen was more common. A 17-inch or 21-inch screen was considered big. Bigger screens cost more money.
Also, some TVs were just the screen and box. Others were part of a big furniture piece. They were built into large wooden cabinets. Some cabinets also had a radio or a record player in them. These combination sets cost a lot more. They were like buying a piece of furniture and three electronics all at once.
So, the 1950s television prices were not one set number. They were a range. A very basic, small screen model might be at the lower end of the \$200-\$500 range. A larger screen, fancy cabinet model would be at the higher end, or even over \$500.
Let’s break down the range:
- Small screen (under 14 inches): Often \$200 – \$300
- Medium screen (14-17 inches): Often \$300 – \$400
- Large screen (17-21 inches): Often \$400 – \$500 or more
- Console models (built into furniture): Could be \$500 to over \$1000
These prices tell us that getting a TV was a big spending choice for families back then.
Cost Details in Specific Years
The 1950s lasted for ten years. Prices for things change over time. The cost of TVs changed during the 1950s too. When something is new, it often costs a lot. As more are made, and the way they are made gets better, the price can go down. This happened with TVs.
Let’s think about the middle of the decade. For example, how much did a TV cost in 1955? By 1955, TVs were more common than in 1950. More companies made them. The technology was getting better. This helped bring prices down a little bit from the very early days.
In 1955, a popular size was a 21-inch screen. A basic 21-inch black and white TV might cost around \$300-\$400. Smaller screens were cheaper. Larger or fancier models were still more expensive.
Here is an idea of costs in the middle of the decade, like around 1955:
- 17-inch screen: \$250 – \$350
- 21-inch screen: \$300 – \$450
- High-end console with 21-inch screen: \$500 – \$800+
So, while the average TV cost 1950s overall was \$200-\$500, the average price might have been a bit lower in 1955 than in 1950, especially for popular screen sizes.
This shows that the cost of electronics 1950s was changing. As production grew, the cost to make each TV likely fell. This often meant lower prices for the people buying them.
Famous Brands and Their Prices
Many companies made TVs in the 1950s. Some names you might still know today. One very famous company was RCA. RCA Victor was a big name in radios and records. They were also leaders in early TV technology.
What was the RCA television price 1950s like? RCA TVs were seen as good quality. They were popular. Their prices were often right in the middle or upper part of the average range. They made many different models. They had simple table-top sets and large, fancy console models.
For instance, an RCA 21-inch black and white TV in the mid-1950s might cost around \$350. This was a common price for a good quality TV of that size. If you wanted an RCA console model, it could easily cost \$500 or more.
Other brands like Zenith, Philco, and Admiral also sold many TVs. Their prices were often similar to RCA for comparable models. There were also cheaper brands and more expensive, luxury brands.
Let’s list some brands popular in the 1950s:
- RCA Victor
- Zenith
- Philco
- Admiral
- Motorola
- DuMont (often higher end)
- Emerson
- Sylvania
Each brand had different models at different price points. The RCA television price 1950s was a key part of the market. Many people wanted an RCA TV because of their reputation.
Focusing on Black and White
When we talk about 1950s television prices, we are almost always talking about black and white TVs. Color TV technology existed, but it was very new and very expensive. Color broadcasting was also very limited in the 1950s.
So, the price of black and white TV 1950s is the standard price we discuss. These TVs showed pictures in shades of gray, from white to black. They were much simpler inside than color TVs. This made them cheaper to make and cheaper to buy.
Color TVs in the 1950s were extremely expensive. An early color TV could cost over \$1000, sometimes even \$2000 or more. This was far too much for most families. Because of this, almost everyone who bought a TV in the 1950s bought a black and white set.
The price of black and white TV 1950s was the price that mattered to average families. It was the price point that allowed more and more people to get a TV as the decade went on. The dream of having a TV in the home was about watching shows, not about watching them in color yet.
Think about the difference:
- Black and White TV: \$200 – \$500 range (common)
- Color TV: \$1000 – \$2000+ range (very rare for homes)
This big difference shows why black and white TVs were the standard for 1950s television prices.
Was a TV Affordable in the 1950s?
Now, let’s put the cost of a TV into perspective. Was spending \$200 to \$500 a lot of money in the 1950s? Yes, it was. To understand this, we need to look at how much money people earned back then. We need to look at the average income 1950s.
The average household income in the United States in the mid-1950s was roughly \$4,000 to \$5,000 per year. This is a yearly number.
Let’s do some simple math. If a family made \$5,000 a year, and a TV cost \$400, that TV was 8% of their yearly income (\$400 is 8% of \$5,000).
Think about that compared to today. If the average household income today is, for example, \$60,000, 8% of that is \$4,800. That’s like paying almost \$5,000 for a TV today! Most people do not pay that much for a TV now.
This comparison shows that the affordability of televisions 1950s was not like today. A TV was a major purchase. It was not something you bought on a whim. Families often had to save up for months, or even use installment plans (pay a little bit each month) to buy a TV.
For many families, especially at the start of the decade, a TV was a luxury item. It was something they hoped to own one day. As prices came down slightly and incomes rose, more families could afford them. By the end of the 1950s, over 80% of American homes had a TV. But getting that first TV was a big financial step for most.
Let’s look at the average income 1950s more closely over the decade:
- Early 1950s (around 1950): Average income about \$3,300 per year. A \$300 TV was about 9% of income.
- Mid 1950s (around 1955): Average income about \$4,400 per year. A \$350 TV was about 8% of income.
- Late 1950s (around 1959): Average income about \$5,400 per year. A \$300 TV was about 5.5% of income.
This table shows that relative to income, TVs became slightly more affordable over the decade. Still, compared to today, even at the end of the 1950s, a TV was a much larger part of a family’s yearly budget.
Price Trends During the Decade
We talked about how prices changed. Let’s look at these price trends during the 1950s in more detail. At the very start of the decade (1950-1952), TVs were quite expensive. The technology was newer. Fewer were being made. Prices were likely higher than the average range we discussed, maybe \$300 to over \$600 depending on size and features.
As the decade moved on, from 1953 to 1956, production ramped up. More companies got into the TV business. Ways to build TVs got more efficient. Competition between brands helped keep prices in check. This is when the average TV cost 1950s likely settled into the \$200 – \$500 range we noted. The cost of early televisions started to fall in real terms.
In the later part of the decade (1957-1959), prices for popular sizes, like the 21-inch black and white TV, might have gone down slightly or stayed stable. The big change was that more basic models became available at the lower end of the price range, making TVs accessible to more people.
Also, the technology became more reliable. Early TVs often needed repairs. As they got better built, that hidden cost went down.
Here is a simple look at how the cost trends went:
- Early 1950s: High prices, limited models.
- Mid 1950s: Prices stabilize, more competition, production grows.
- Late 1950s: Prices maybe slightly lower or stable, more models available, wider range of prices including some cheaper options.
This shows that the 1950s television prices were not fixed. They moved as the market grew and technology improved. This is typical for new electronics. The cost of electronics 1950s, in general, would follow similar paths as they became mass-produced. Things like radios and refrigerators also changed in price over time, but TVs were the big new electronic item of the decade.
Putting 1950s TV Costs in Today’s Money
It’s hard to truly feel how expensive something was in the past just by looking at the dollar amount. Money was worth more in the 1950s than it is today. A dollar in 1950 could buy more things than a dollar today. This is because of inflation. Prices of most things go up over many years. This is the general TV price inflation 1950s effect we see when we compare dollars over time, although the price of TVs themselves might have fallen in real terms as they became easier to make.
To get a better idea, we can use tools that compare money values over time. Let’s take the average TV cost of \$300 in the mid-1950s. How much would \$300 from 1955 be worth today?
Using an inflation calculator, \$300 from 1955 would be roughly equal to somewhere between \$3,000 and \$4,000 today (this number can change based on the exact calculator and year used, but it gives a good idea).
So, that \$300 TV from 1955 felt like spending \$3,000 or more in today’s money!
This helps us understand why the affordability of televisions 1950s was a big issue. A TV was not a casual purchase. It was a significant investment, similar to buying a major appliance today, or even making a down payment on a car for some.
Let’s look at the range again with today’s money:
- \$200 (low end): Like spending roughly \$2,000 – \$2,500 today.
- \$400 (mid-range): Like spending roughly \$4,000 – \$5,000 today.
- \$800 (high-end console): Like spending roughly \$8,000 – \$10,000 today.
These numbers really show how much a family had to value getting a TV to save up or commit to paying for one. It was a luxury that became more common, but it remained a significant expense throughout the decade. The cost of early televisions truly reflects their status as cutting-edge home technology.
What Made Them So Pricey?
Why were the 1950s television prices so high? Several things made these early TVs expensive:
- New Technology: TV was a new invention for home use. New tech is always costly to develop and produce at first. The parts were complex for the time.
- Hand Work: Building TVs in the 1950s involved a lot of hand assembly. Robots and advanced machines were not used like today. Skilled workers put many small parts together. This takes more time and costs more money than automated factories.
- Expensive Components: The main part of the TV screen was the picture tube (CRT – Cathode Ray Tube). Making these tubes was tricky and costly. Other parts, like vacuum tubes, transformers, and wiring, also added to the cost.
- Research and Development: Companies spent a lot of money figuring out how to make TVs work well and last. This cost is built into the price of the product.
- Limited Scale: At the start of the decade, fewer TVs were made compared to later years. Making things in smaller numbers is usually more expensive per item than making millions.
- Distribution and Marketing: Getting the TVs from the factory to stores across the country cost money. Advertising them cost a lot too. TV itself was a new way to advertise, and those costs were high.
- Demand: As TV became popular, demand grew fast. Sometimes high demand for a new product can keep prices high, at least for a while, because people are willing to pay to have the new cool thing.
All these factors added up. They explain why the average TV cost 1950s was such a large amount of money relative to average incomes. The price of black and white TV 1950s was set by these production and market forces.
Beyond the Purchase Price: Other Costs
Buying the TV was the main cost, but it wasn’t always the only cost to get TV working in your home in the 1950s.
- Antenna: You needed an antenna to get the TV signal. In cities, small indoor antennas might work. But many places needed a large antenna put on the roof. This often required hiring someone to install it safely. This added to the overall cost of getting TV.
- Installation: Sometimes, the store offered installation. Other times, you might need help setting it up and tuning it in.
- Repairs: Early electronics could be less reliable than today. TVs used vacuum tubes, which would burn out and need replacing. When a TV broke, fixing it could be expensive. You’d need a TV repairman to come to your house. Parts and labor cost money. There were no cheap replacement parts from online stores!
- Service Plans: Because repairs were common and costly, some people bought service plans. You would pay a yearly fee, and the repairman would fix the TV if it broke. This was another ongoing cost.
So, when thinking about the affordability of televisions 1950s, people had to consider these extra costs too. It wasn’t just the sticker price of the RCA television price 1950s or whatever brand you chose. It was also the cost to get it working and keep it working. The cost of electronics 1950s included these less obvious expenses.
The Shift: From Luxury to Standard
Despite the high prices, TVs spread across the country very quickly in the 1950s. In 1950, only about 9% of homes had a TV. By 1960, this number jumped to around 87%! This is a huge change in just ten years.
How did this happen if they were so expensive?
- Falling Relative Cost: As we saw, prices didn’t fall much in raw dollars, but they did fall relative to rising average incomes, especially later in the decade.
- Increased Access to Credit: More people used installment plans to buy big items like TVs. They could take the TV home and pay for it over several months or a year.
- High Desire: People really wanted TVs. They saw them at friends’ houses or in stores. TV shows became a big part of the culture. People saved money specifically to buy a TV.
- More Channels/Better Shows: As more programs became available and the quality of shows improved, the value of owning a TV increased.
The story of 1950s television prices is not just about the money. It’s also about how badly people wanted this new way to be entertained and informed. The affordability of televisions 1950s was a challenge, but one that millions of families met because having a TV became such a central part of American life.
Comparing with Other Goods in the 1950s
To get another sense of TV cost, let’s compare it to other things people bought in the 1950s.
- Car: A new car in the mid-1950s might cost around \$2,000. So, a TV was about 1/5th to 1/10th the price of a new car.
- Refrigerator: A new refrigerator might cost \$200 – \$300. This means a TV was often similar in price or slightly more expensive than a major kitchen appliance.
- House: The average price of a new house in the mid-1950s was around \$11,000. A TV was a small fraction of this, but still a significant purchase relative to furnishings or smaller appliances.
Looking at these comparisons, the 1950s television prices put TVs in the category of major home appliances, like refrigerators or washing machines, not small items like radios or toasters. The cost of electronics 1950s like a TV represented a substantial outlay for a household budget.
Legacies of 1950s TV Costs
The pricing and affordability of TVs in the 1950s set the stage for how electronics would be introduced later. Companies learned how to mass-produce complex items. Prices came down over time as production grew. Consumers learned to value and save for new technology that changed their lives.
The high initial cost meant that owning a TV was a symbol of being modern and prosperous early in the decade. As prices fell slightly and incomes rose, it became a symbol of belonging to the growing middle class.
The rush to buy TVs, despite the price, showed companies that people would spend a lot for new, engaging technology. This lesson has continued to influence the pricing and marketing of new electronics ever since. The average TV cost 1950s wasn’t just a number; it was a barrier that millions overcame to join the TV revolution.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1950s TV Prices
Here are some common questions people ask about how much TVs cost back then:
Q: What was the average price of a TV in the 1950s?
A: The average TV cost 1950s was generally between \$200 and \$500, depending on the screen size and type of cabinet.
Q: How much did a basic TV cost in 1950?
A: In 1950, early televisions were more expensive. A basic model might start around \$200-\$300, but many popular models were more, potentially \$400-\$500 or even higher for larger screens or console types. The cost of early televisions was highest at the start of the decade.
Q: How much did a TV cost in 1955?
A: By 1955, prices had stabilized somewhat. A common 21-inch black and white TV might cost around \$300-\$400. Smaller screens were less, and larger/console models were more. This is within the typical 1950s television prices range.
Q: Was an RCA TV expensive in the 1950s?
A: RCA television price 1950s models were generally in the mid to upper range of the market. They were known for quality and were popular, so their prices were typical for good sets, often in the \$300-\$500 range for common models.
Q: Was a TV affordable for most families in the 1950s?
A: At the start of the decade, TVs were a luxury item. The affordability of televisions 1950s improved as the decade went on due to rising average income 1950s and relatively stable or slightly falling TV prices. However, even later in the decade, buying a TV was a significant expense, equal to several thousand dollars in today’s money.
Q: Why were TVs so expensive in the 1950s?
A: TVs were expensive because they were new technology, used costly parts like picture tubes, required a lot of hand labor to build, and involved significant research costs. The cost of electronics 1950s, particularly complex ones like TVs, was much higher per item than today due to less automation and smaller production numbers early on.
Q: Did the price of TVs go up or down during the 1950s?
A: The 1950s television prices generally became more stable or slightly decreased over the decade for comparable models, especially for popular screen sizes, as production increased and methods improved. While general inflation existed, the real cost of a TV likely fell slightly. This shows price trends rather than typical inflation.
Q: What was the price of black and white TV 1950s versus color TV?
A: Almost all TVs sold were black and white. The price of black and white TV 1950s was in the \$200-\$500 range. Color TVs were experimental and extremely expensive, often costing over \$1000, which was unaffordable for nearly everyone.
Q: Besides the purchase price, were there other costs?
A: Yes, you often needed to buy and install an antenna. Early TVs could also need frequent repairs, leading to costs for service calls or repair plans. These added to the true cost of owning a TV.
In Conclusion
The question “How much was a TV in the 1950s?” leads us to discover that getting a television was a significant financial step for families back then. The average TV cost 1950s, typically between \$200 and \$500, represented a large part of the average income 1950s. The cost of early televisions was shaped by new technology, manufacturing methods, and the strong desire of people to own one. While the price of black and white TV 1950s remained relatively high, the dream of having this amazing new device in the home drove millions of families to make the purchase. The 1950s television prices tell a story of innovation, changing lifestyles, and the real cost of bringing the magic of television into American homes. The affordability of televisions 1950s was a challenge, but one that marked the decade as the moment TV became a central part of modern life.