1957 Muntz 721CV color set found in northern California

[ChrisW6ATV]

Hello-

I bought this TV from a local ad because it looked interesting, and I have not found much information about it yet. It is a Muntz 721CV 21" color TV that seems to be from 1957, and the chassis may be the same as an RCA CTC-5.










It is interesting, the controls have labels that replaced the original functions, as if Muntz used an existing control panel but relabeled it to include the color controls.



The controls are relabeled as follows:

(Old) New
(Contrast) Brilliance (brightness)
(Brilliance) Color
(Vertical) Hue
(Horiz.) Contrast

[mstaton]

even cabinet looks like a RCA

[David Roper]

John Folsom has one in blond--the only other one known til now! I think his is missing the repurposed plastic panel. It's a Muntz cabinet with an RCA CTC-5 DeLuxe chassis.

[Electronic M]

Great score, especially if the 21AXP22 is good! I bet muntz did not make or sell many of these....

Tom C.

[Eric H]

That appears to be a B&W control panel based on the old functions, what a way to save a buck!

It doesn't look like there are any controls there though?

[mstaton]

you roll the controls with your finger from the bottom

[Sandy G]

Wow.... That's way Kewl !

[Aussie Bloke]

I love it when these rare oddball roundies appear and this set looks really cool and of course very much like a CTC-5 as stated by those who have responded so far. Hope you get this TV working good and soon be posting pics of it in working order .

[kvflyer]

Since Muntz was shunned "Back In The Day", there may not be many of these around. Great that a collector found it and it is appreciated for what it is. Hope you get it going...

[John Folsom]

Here is the blonde version, with missing knob escutcheon panel. This cabinet was very cheaply made, and the chassis is a stock RCA CTC-5.

[ChrisW6ATV]

John, your side control-panel area is different from this one. Here is a picture of the control panel, and of the controls in the panel below the screen:

[ChrisW6ATV]

John's TV appears to have an RCA tuner, the same as a regular CTC-5, while mine is different:

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by ChrisW6ATV

John's TV appears to have an RCA tuner, the same as a regular CTC-5, while mine is different:

Looks like a Standard Coil Neutrode tuner. It was the tuner found in most Muntz sets of that era. Also looks like the " cheapie" color circuit with the 12AT7's

[vintagecollect]

I think it's great another MUNTZ is saved from the scrap heap. Actually a clever control design well thought out with hue, br. and color controls receeded? the faux speaker grill flips down for easy access to vert. horiz. The more obvious user controls easier accessible . IS that an Omega symbol broken off after Muntz badge? Chris does really nice work restoring tvs and I'm excited he found such a rare set to one day bring back to life. I think RCA customers would of been happier if less used color controls were set aside from day to day user controls. DOES this have a modified ctc5 chassis? It seemed ctc5 has more controls on chassis, moved to tuner?



rgb, tears only used as I wish found set

[Mal Fuller]

Until I saw the chassis photo, I'd forgotten about the HV cage with the tediously long captive screw on its cover that you had to wind in and out to access the 3A3 & 6BK4. An annoying concept.