Mr. Ed "color tv" episode

[Steve D.]

No, not what you think. Even tho the Mr. Ed series extended into 1966 0n CBS,
it never was in color. However a 1965 episode had Mr. Ed, the talking horse, winning a new color tv on a radio quiz show.Please just accept that plot line. In the first photo, Wilbur Post's (Alan Young) wife Carol, played by Connie Hines and his father in law played by Berry Kelly are seated in front of the newly delivered color set. The 2nd photo show the set in more detail. I thought, at first, the set was an RCA. However I can't match the 4 control knobs above the tint, brightness, color controls door to a CTC-12 or 15 which have 3 knobs above the door. Also the seemingly covered logo centered under the screen also doesn't match the RCA logo on the 12 or 15 which are located on the left below the screen. Nothing comes even close to a CTC-11 or 16. Am I missing something here? Any suggestions?

-Steve D.

[Electronic M]

Could be a rebranded RCA chassis set. A number of companies such as Silvertone, Admiral, and Airline did that, and used their own cabinets as well as control layouts.

[ChrisW6ATV]

That really looks to me like three knobs above the gray-looking panel on the lower right. Possibly black knobs with light-colored "faces", on a silver-colored strip behind them.

The set appears to be one with no UHF tuner but with a flat disc decoration where that tuner's knobs would be.

[DavGoodlin]

I saw that episode recently. I was a bit stumped as well, until I saw the back cover as Wilbur rolled it out the door. I think its a GE, chassis FY or CA, a CTC15 clone mostly.

[Tom S]

Yup I agree it's a GE I worked on one similar to it. Not the most friendly chassis to repair. RCA really had the sets tied up in sales. My folks had a Curtis Mathis.

[Sandy G]

Amazing that they had an episode about color TV when the show itself was in glorious B&W... Especially since color was basically the hated NBC/RCA's baby... I bet Paley fumed about THAT one..

[oldtvman]

Steve

That looks like a GE, based on the crt bezel

[oldtvman]

CBS did the same thing with the Beverly Hillibilies, there were a couple of episodes where they showed a color set, but the program was in black and white.

[Sandy G]

Yeah, well, it was pretty common knowledge "Hillbillies" was DESPISED by Paley-And especially MRS Paley...

[orthophonic]

I agree, GE set. The console stereos in the neighbors houses were also GE as
well as the one Wilbur buys in HiFi Horse.

[Steve D.]

Thanks for all the replies. Most agree that the color set is a GE.
I know that the 19" portable TV in the stable/Wilbur's office is a 59/60 RCA.
As we had that very set when I was a teen.

-Steve D.

[oldtvman]

I guess the fact that they displayed a color television on "Mr. Ed" a black and white program just goes to show how much fun they had horsing around.