View Full Version : RCA TV Antenna, anyone have one?


drh4683
12-14-2009, 08:57 AM
That '69 RCA 25" table set I picked up this last weekend has a snapped off antenna. I called up moyer to see if they have one for this model. I hate it when I describe exactly what I need and someone on the other line tells me no such parts ever existed etc. etc. "CTC-38's never had built in antennas". I explained what I had (this was someone other than Bill) and he refused to believe what I had. I then got the "let me go check, but I don't think so". You know your dead in the water when dealing with people like this. He returned with a "that TV had four different antenna possiblities and we have none of them". OK, thank you...

This TV is a victim of identity theft, the typical missing model tag:mad: I looked up in my manuals and brochures and I'd bet money its a model FM-505W, the exact chassis number is a CTC38XA. By chance does anyone have an antenna that might fit this thing? Let me know how much. BTW, I cleaned out my inbox. Thanks!

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ta1B_ryr8bE/SyQJnu7FeTI/AAAAAAAAAyc/td1i6BxuJek/s800/DSCF0660.JPG

zenithfan1
12-14-2009, 12:54 PM
I'll check at Chester's for you. They have an isle of antennas in there, can you post a pic of the broken one?

drh4683
12-14-2009, 01:15 PM
Thanks Mark. I'll get a picture up once I get home. Does anyone have a service manual for this model that indicates the part number? I don't have the most extensive library on RCA other than field service guides.

truetone36
12-14-2009, 01:50 PM
I have a CTC-38 parts set,but I don't remember if the antenna is still there or not. I'll dig it out of the shed and take a look.

drh4683
12-14-2009, 02:30 PM
Thanks, I appriciate it.

MRX37
12-14-2009, 06:00 PM
I may still have the antennas from a CTC 120 console TV, any chance of those working?

zenithfan1
12-14-2009, 08:29 PM
Are you home yet? Where's the beef?, I mean pic. Sorry, filled up on Wendy's today:D

drh4683
12-14-2009, 09:05 PM
Ah Wendys...Havn't been there in a while.

Here's the antenna. It appears to have been may by Jerrold. I looked in my stash and actually found an NOS one! I need two of them though! If you can find a matched set with the black base that would be great. They are individual antennas with a spring clip retainer. I would like to think more of these are out there. I'm interested two or three if they have more, grab them! These are pretty common in the RCA's. I used to have a 20" CTC-38 with busted antennas. In fact, chad has that TV now.

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ta1B_ryr8bE/Syb7jrf5C3I/AAAAAAAAA1s/7VElz1PIJV8/s800/DSCF0667.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ta1B_ryr8bE/Syb7j-WmjiI/AAAAAAAAA1w/FAVgBr0yS54/s800/DSCF0669.JPG








Here's the brand new one that I somehow had. The OD of the bakelite insulator that fits through the cabinet is about 1-1/16" and the antenna fully collapsed is 11-5/8" end to end.


http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ta1B_ryr8bE/Syb7ketAhiI/AAAAAAAAA10/T8YMBIWBFzA/s800/DSCF0672.JPG

N9ZQA
12-14-2009, 09:17 PM
Doug -

What holds the antenna shaft into the part that sits inside the set? I wonder if it wouldn't be possible to machine a replacement out of black nylon?

-Jim

Carmine
12-14-2009, 09:27 PM
Pardon me.. I thought this thread was going to be about the sub-marginal performance of this turd:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/Chromacolor2/SU1HMDAzMDMuanBn.jpg

In which case I was going to recommend you not bother!

zenithfan1
12-15-2009, 01:25 PM
Hey Doug! I just grabbed one from Chester's that looks just like yours in the pic. What is the diameter of the hole? I want to make sure it's right. If it is I'll pick up a few more, plus I think they have the right ones for the '68 Admiral table set too. I'm glad I went:D I'll also post a pic of the new one when I get home.

drh4683
12-15-2009, 03:25 PM
Great! Im pretty sure the admiral uses the same type as the base looks the same. My '68 Admiral has a cracked base but it works. Im pretty sure the Admirals use a brown colored insulator. The hole OD for the RCA is 1-1/16", and the antenna should be 11-5/8" end to end fully collapsed. I'd like to have a matched pair for the RCA plus a few more if they are available. I need to check that place out. I love those old electronic supply houses, whats left of them.
Thanks again

zenithfan1
12-15-2009, 04:42 PM
You're welcome, I measured this one just now and it's 1" for the insulator and 9-1/2" long, 37-1/2" fully extended. That's really close but do you think it will fit?. I think it just might, a 16th of an inch isn't much difference. The difference in length should be ok as long as you use two of these. There are more antennas there that I will check tomorrow to see if there is a better one. I'll still post a pic later so you can see it. Check here around 10pm. This one also uses the same retaining clip as yours too. There are some Zenith ones like this too if you need them. They look like the ones used in the 14A1CXX chassis sets from about '71.

zenithfan1
12-15-2009, 10:14 PM
Here's the pics, it sure looks close if not the same. I am afraid upon close comparison that it's just a bit too small, mainly the lip that keeps it from falling inside the set. Like I said, I'll take another look at the rest of what they have tomorrow (actually later today since it's almost 1 am):)
rubber cover on:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0451.jpg
extended:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0453.jpg
cover off:
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0454.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0455.jpg

drh4683
12-16-2009, 10:20 AM
Pardon me.. I thought this thread was going to be about the sub-marginal performance of this turd:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v619/Chromacolor2/SU1HMDAzMDMuanBn.jpg

In which case I was going to recommend you not bother!

Thanks Mark. Good point on the flange though, it looks slightly small. Look forward to hearing what else they have.

Chris, that looks like a good quality antenna. Perhaps I should just get one of those and put it over the antenna holes on my table set. How well does that thing work? (if at all). Most indoor amplified antennas are a joke.

Carmine
12-17-2009, 12:19 PM
Chris, that looks like a good quality antenna. Perhaps I should just get one of those and put it over the antenna holes on my table set. How well does that thing work? (if at all). Most indoor amplified antennas are a joke.

I was curious how well the amplified flat design would work... Not any better than the un-amplified dollar-store rabbit ears I have on the set. :thumbsdn: Which is why I bought it from a store with a good return policy.

As for the holes on your set, have you considered some nice plastic flowers? That would very country-chic, and would add many $$$ in value judging by what I see on the eBay.

Findm-Keepm
12-17-2009, 06:38 PM
Doug,

I'll check my stash here and the Russell stock at work. Seems Russell Industries only made a few RCA replacements like that - RCA had 6 different part numbers for those antenna assemblies - with different lengths and ferrule diameters.

I may even have the clip, used of course.

Cheers,

zenithfan1
12-17-2009, 08:12 PM
I'll check again tomorrow, I was running too late to stop in there today. I hope they have the right one. This one don't fit the Admiral either.

drh4683
12-17-2009, 09:15 PM
Thanks for checking Brian+Mark. Too bad it don't fit the admiral either! Millions of them made and hardly any left in 2009.....I guess thats the story with the entire hobby though.

bgadow
12-17-2009, 10:11 PM
I need to check my small stash. Most of them are way too new. I might have some NOS stuff-if so, it is inventoried by part number.

Where the CTC-53 type different? At some point I'm going to part one out.

zenithfan1
12-18-2009, 05:53 PM
I'm 90% sure I have the right one this time, it fits the Admiral too. It has a black base but that's ok, especially in your case with the RCA. I'll post pics in a little while.

zenithfan1
12-22-2009, 01:50 PM
Here are the other antennas. I would say the measurements but out of 3 tapes, none can be found. I'll measure it and get back to you. It sure looks right though. It fits a '68 Admiral color if that tells you anything. The length looks like the 11" too.
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0466.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0467.jpg
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii90/zenithfan1/000_0468.jpg

drh4683
12-22-2009, 03:27 PM
That looks very promising Mark! How many did they have available?

zenithfan1
12-22-2009, 03:56 PM
They had five IIRC, I'll measure it and get the rest if it's the right one this time. I'm almost positive it is. I'll take two for the Admiral so those ugly holes are filled :) You can have the other three. :yes:

drh4683
12-22-2009, 05:11 PM
Excellent. Thanks a million. That means I'll have two extra as I already have the one. The two extras will get used right away as my admiral has busted antennas too!

zenithfan1
12-22-2009, 08:05 PM
You're very welcome. I'm glad I could help. I'll go grab the rest tomorrow and get them to you ASAP.

zenithfan1
12-24-2009, 08:31 PM
No offense, but is this another spam poster? Looks that way to me.

bandersen
12-24-2009, 09:15 PM
Yep, I just reported it.

luvvinvinyl
12-24-2009, 09:20 PM
I'm on it.

Carmine
12-25-2009, 09:35 AM
No offense, but is this another spam poster? Looks that way to me.

Who? What? I hate when posts are just deleted... You sit there and wonder what people are talking about. Why not just ban the poster?

zenithfan1
12-25-2009, 11:00 AM
Who? What? I hate when posts are just deleted... You sit there and wonder what people are talking about. Why not just ban the poster?
Chris:
It was another one of those first time posters that say "I like it" or something similar just so they can have links to products in their signature. It's pretty annoying.

Thanks for deleting it, luvvinvinyl.