Advent VideoBeam 1000 (1975)
A plug-and-play CRT-based home video projection system with a fixed 7-foot diagonal screen and rear-projected sound.
Overview
The Advent VideoBeam 1000 is a CRT color television projector system made by Advent Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It came out in 1975 and was the first of its kind for the home. The design is plug-and-play, with minimal user adjustments. It uses three RGB cathode ray tubes with Schmidt optics. The phosphor is deposited on an internal plate in front of a spherical mirror. Picture and sound both project from the base toward a curved screen, which reflects the image and audio back to the viewer. A permanent magnet dynamic loudspeaker in the projector base produces the audio. Projector and screen are sold as a matched pair, with a fixed projection distance of 100 inches.
Specifications
| Production Year | 1975 |
| Screen Size | 51.5" x 68.5" (7-foot diagonal) |
| Projection Distance | Fixed at 100 inches |
| Number of Tubes | 3 (RGB) |
| Wave Bands | VHF including FM and UHF |
| Tuner | Single knob VHF/UHF tuner with AFC |
| Remote Control | Available as an option (described as "big boxy") |
| Power Supply | AC 120 Volt |
| Power Consumption | 180 W |
| Projector Weight | 140 lbs |
| Screen Weight | 68 lbs |
| Audio Output | 5 W |
| Audio Frequency Response | 80 - 12,000 Hz |
| Construction | Solid state with semiconductors; multiple boards on swing-out chassis |
| Standard | US FCC NTSC |
Design
The VideoBeam 1000 is solid-state, with a swing-out chassis holding multiple circuit boards. Protective circuitry blanks the tubes if the deflection fails or the anode goes over-voltage. The tubes are Advent's proprietary "LightGuide" projection tubes with Schmidt optics. A built-in cross hatch generator handles convergence adjustment, and users had to calibrate for up to two hours after startup. The projector cannot be refocused because its distance to the screen is fixed. A "Normal/External" switch sits next to the volume control. The system also has a scratchy potentiometer that wears over time. Advent made the CRTs in-house at its Cambridge factory.
Context
Advent developed the VideoBeam 1000 in-house under founder Henry Kloss, who aimed to pioneer home-video projection. The VideoBeam 1000A succeeded it about a year later. Advent lost money on each unit sold and made up the losses with profits from its speakers. The company discontinued production in the early 1980s as competitors entered the market and sales declined. The system saw commercial use, including in Gatti's Pizza restaurants, where units typically lasted 3-4 years before replacement.
Market
Original price was $2,500. Common failures include damaged screens and degraded CRTs. Any contact can ruin a screen's reflectivity, and then it needs full replacement. The CRTs are now unobtainable. Electrolytic capacitors often fail and should be checked, and RGB video output transistors may need replacement. Cleaning the screen improperly was a frequent cause of damage. Parts are scarce. Advent provided some service replacements during its operational years, and limited supplies of unused components surfaced as recently as 2014 and 2017.
Market Value
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ ADVENT VIDEOBEAM 1000 Jun 2026 │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ High $15 Latest $15 │ │ Median $8 Trend ▲ Up │ │ Low $2 Volume ~3/mo │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ $50 ┤ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ $29 ┤ │ │ │ │ │ │ .│ │ │ . │ │ $0 ┤. │ │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ vol │█ █ █│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ 2026-04 2026-05 2026-05│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
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