I picked up the RCA 629W in Michigan yesterday. I plugged in the set and got a blue/ green raster. Switched on the service switch and got the RGB lines. The blue and green seem very strong. The red seemed a little weaker . The convergence is off, mainly the blue with respect to Red/Green.
Overall I'm happy the CRT shows signs of life, its a 21FBP22. It looks to be original. The man I bought the set from said he bought it for his mother new in 1966. She stopped using it in the 1980's and it's been sitting since.
The first thing I tried to do is set the gray scale better, but it seems the set doesn't have enough red drive. I tried to test the emissions with an old SD-92B color kinescope emissions tester. I didn't get any readings for any of the guns.
Maybe the tester is broken or I am not using it correctly. I got the tester from the old RCA service tech years ago. Has any one ever used one. The transformer in the tester does light the filaments, only the meter shows no movement.
Also noticed the degauss coil is unplugged and there is quite a bit of crt impurity in one corner of the screen.
The set will need work with the color, rf, and high voltage circuits for sure.
I'm really not going to get into fixng this set for about a year yet. I have too many other projects on the burner still. I just wanted to verify the condition of the crt. I posted a few pictures of the sets' image and crt tester.

That will get an amazing picture after repair.
It is nice to show pic of cabinet too when convieniant.
Thanks

As Requested, more pictures.:yes:

Oh wow.. That's a beautiful set.. Shows some good signs of life.. I'm glad you were able to get it from Craigslist..

Oh yeah. That's definitely a keeper. Nice score.

i picked up a rca ctc16 combo once.did a wake up on the crt.tested strong and when i fired it up i was greeted with a bright,shard color picture.hello,1965!after approx, 30 minutes,the red gun died a slow and painful death.i scrambled to test everything in the red circuit hoping it wasnt the crt.unfortunatly,it was the crt.i nearly cried.restored it a few times but it would fade after 30 to 45 minutes.no hope to save.was an original colorama with the dark green face.i replaced wit a channelmaster rebuild and it looked great.moved it to the front of my shop for display.one month later.we had a breakin and though little was taken,4 sets were destroyed.3 roundies and a zenith hybrid had the crts smashed.insurance didnt pay much as no crts were available to buy and replace.i was allowed 89.00 per crt.adjuster found an old vdc price list and thats what the roundies were going for back then.i feel your pain.that a great looking set and i hope your crt can be saved or you find another.

Oh wow.. That's a beautiful set.. Shows some good signs of life.. I'm glad you were able to get it from Craigslist..

Eric H found this set on Ebay and posted it here in CURBSIDE.

Way to spot and post Eric. You'll have fun with that when you get to it and the best thing is, no CRT cateract to fix!

I understand having too many projects. I just now got around to a CTC12 another, remote VK member spotted on CL nearby, I picked it up almost 2 years ago.

Ed, I could test that CRT for you if you want. I have a working B&K 466 that I'm familiar testing roundy color CRTs with.

Way to spot and post Eric. You'll have fun with that when you get to it and the best thing is, no CRT cateract to fix!

I understand having too many projects. I just now got around to a CTC12 another, remote VK member spotted on CL nearby, I picked it up almost 2 years ago.

Your right Dave,
The lack of a cataract was what helped motivate me to buy the set. Currently, for a least the past two + months I've been learning how to re-plate an extremely corroded/ pitted Admiral 14R12 chassis. It's the second one I'm bringing back to life. I guy gave it to me about 25 years ago.
Ed

Ed, I could test that CRT for you if you want. I have a working B&K 466 that I'm familiar testing roundy color CRTs with.

Tom,
I think I'll take you up on that offer, to test the CRT, when you have the time to come and visit. PM me when your ready.
Ed

Eric H found this set on Ebay and posted it here in CURBSIDE.

Yes, I noticed that, If you noticed I even posted a reply on that thread.. I forgot that its was eBay and not CL.. I was complementing on the set, and glad that you got it.. That is all..

Hi TV Collector, Thanks for the compliments. I just wanted to make sure Eric H got credit for spotting the set on Ebay.
Ed

As Requested, more pictures.:yes:

That was the entry-level wood cabinet model that year. The metal table model and that one.
RCA and others, thought they were doing you a favor by using a bonded CRT in their higher priced models, NOT!!!!!
The metal table model didn't have a deguasser and really didn't need it. Both sets were good value for the money. :thmbsp:

Great score! That looks to me, to be a fairly low-hours set, and by the looks of it, that 21FBP will come back to life, with a wake up! Good idea to have Tom "Electronic M" help you out with the CRT Testing and waking up.

Great score! That looks to me, to be a fairly low-hours set, and by the looks of it, that 21FBP will come back to life, with a wake up! Good idea to have Tom "Electronic M" help you out with the CRT Testing and waking up.

Thanks for the input Dave,
I'm hoping that the crt will get better. I had the bias switch set in mid position for the pictures.
Ed

RCA and others, thought they were doing you a favor by using a bonded CRT in their higher priced models, NOT!!!!!
:thmbsp:

The introduction of the bonded face plate was a quantum leap forward for those in the industry. There was nothing more frustrating than installing a new tube and seeing dirt between the face plate and CRT.
Been there, done that.

EdKozk2,
How much did you pay? I'm just wondering what the market is today for buying a used CTC-16.

EdKozk2,
How much did you pay? I'm just wondering what the market is today for buying a used CTC-16.


http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=268446

The listing is still there..

Tv collector,
Your right, the first time I tried the link , ebay sent me to a bunch of ads. The top of the ad page said, " 0 results ". I tried the link latter and it worked correctly.

I finally got back to this set this week. Degaussing the crt made a world of difference. All three colors are purer.
I wanted to check the horizontal output cathode current. Is there a jumper link to disconnect the cathode from ground ? I'm hoping for an easy way to get a current reading .
Ed

Unless someone added a cathode fuse above chassis (something I recommend) the only easy way to do it is a test socket with a provision to insert a meter in series with the cathode or measuring the plate current (which Involves dangerous voltages).

Or get one of these.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SECO-MODEL-HC8-IN-CIRCUIT-TUBE-CURRENT-TESTER/273550352497?hash=item3fb0df2071:g:C9IAAOSwq~Jbk-em:rk:11:pf:0

Or get one of these.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SECO-MODEL-HC8-IN-CIRCUIT-TUBE-CURRENT-TESTER/273550352497?hash=item3fb0df2071:g:C9IAAOSwq~Jbk-em:rk:11:pf:0

Thanks Kevin,
Took your suggestion, should arrive middle of next week. I didn't even know these were produced.
Ed

CTC 16 H Ideal tv set for a NYC apartment. this one, is my Frankenstein set. (Zenith picture tube) model gf629w name the Bromley. Long hours set with a new flyback. Reliable and dependable. your new set will deliver the goods.