JVC Model 3241 (3250) VideoSphere Television (1970s)

Shaped like a spaceman's helmet, the futuristic JVC VideoSphere is a highly collectible modern television. Several other space-age TVs were made during the 1970s, including one that resembles a flying saucer.

The VideoSphere makes a great companion to my Weltron 2001. The second photo shows both of these "space helmet" devices together. The Weltron combines an AM/FM radio with an 8-track tape player.

The TV controls are located on the top, along with a heavy chrome chain that lets you carry the set around or even hang it from the ceiling.

The base of the television contains an alarm clock with sleep timer and a power plug in the back. This allows you to fall asleep with the TV on and wake up to your "alarm television" in the morning. You can also plug the TV directly into a wall plug, of course. The clock is the mechanical digital type, showing the time by flipping down little numbered cards rather than by lighting LEDs.

The clock/timer base was an option. Many VideoSpheres have a plain plastic base with no clock.

I bought this set in working condition. The VideoSphere originally came with a bubble-shaped screen cover made of smoked plastic. My set is missing its cover. If anyone has a spare cover for sale, please contact me via email.

After buying this set, I stumbled onto a package deal including the black and red models at prices too good to refuse. Some time later, I was contacted by a former JVC factory technician in search of a restorable VideoSphere. We agreed on a deal where I would trade him my non-working black VideoSphere if he would restore my white VideoSphere to factory specs. The deal worked out OK, and everyone ended up happy. My non-working red VideoSphere is still waiting in the shop for the day when my solid-state repair skills get a little better.

In the course of exchanging email with this technician, I learned that the tuner on these sets was a frequent source of trouble. The contacts on the switch wafers eventually wear out. The typical symptom is that your tuner will first become intermittent. You may need to jiggle the tuner to get a clear picture on an often-used channel. Eventually, you won't be able to receive that channel at all.

The standard factory fix for this problem was to throw out the worn tuner and install a new one. New tuners are no longer available, unfortunately. If you have great skill in solid-state electronics and a lot of time, it is theoretically possible to refurbish a worn-out tuner, but the cost of having a professional technician do that for you will easily exceed the value of your set.

To extend your VideoSphere's life, use it the way that I do. Set the tuner permanently on Channel 3, which was likely never used. Then connect it to an old VCR and use the VCR's tuner to switch channels. This reduces wear on the irreplaceable tuner.

After posting this page, I got an interesting email from an owner of a model 3250 VideoSphere. Obviously a later model than the common model 3241, it includes a built-in UHF tuner with a separate slide-rule dial scale on the top of the case. Its screen cover is also more oval shaped than the "original recipe" VideoSphere cover.

If you get your hands on a model 3250, count yourself lucky. I have never seen one in the flesh during years of radio and TV hunting.

The 3241 VideoSphere was very popular and is still quite plentiful. I think $150 would be an average price for one in good working condition.