I have always been amused by a perticular group of rca table tvs, the ctc19 and ctc27. Just recently I picked up a nice RCA CTC19 table set with a 19EWP22 crt. I have found these sets to be some of the best built tube type rca tvs. These sets are in a full metal cabinet with metal back, unlike their bigger 23" sets had a plastic back, slightly cheaper cabinet. The ctc19 chassis series began in 1965 and lasted through 1967 when the ctc27 replaced it. Whats interesting is that there are only 3 models that used the ctc27 chassis which were built from 1968-1969. It was primarily a "hotel" television.
Here are all the models of the RCA VICTOR CTC19:

ADAIR: FG525E
ALLEN: FH522E (in my collection)
BARTRAM: FH526,U,W,M,WR (I have the "U" in the collection)
GIBSON: FH528BK,GK
STOCKTON: GG530W,M,P
MANCHESTER: GG532L
TOWNSEND: GH560M,W
STAVENGER: GH564W
ONTARIO: GH568L
FELTON: GH584L
BREMANGER: GH588L
CABOT: GH592L
CHAUMONT: GH596F,S

There are basically 13 models, 21 versions of the ctc19. This is extremely small compared to the number of ctc16 and ctc31 sets that were built.

The ctc27 is just like the ctc19, but "cheapened" up a bit. Same cabinet styling but a plastic crt bezel. The cabinet however is still steel as well as the back. The chassis however was somewhat cheaper, the rear apron controls were all solder mounted to the pcb. The ctc19 is all point to point pots.

There are very few ctc27. These are very scarce. Remember, RCA Tvs didnt last as long as zenith, and they were easy to throw away once there was a problem.

ARLEN: FJ543E
DENNIS: FJ547E,W,WR,Y (I have the W in the collection, as does captianmoody)
FRASER: FM477W,WR
"HOTEL/MOTEL" JL464W, JL468WP,AP



The picture below is a ctc19, a 1966 model "ALLEN". Just finished cataract repair and tuned it up this evening.

Another thing to note, these sets used a transformer chassis, and were a high quality chassis, like the ctc16. Once they are serviced correctly, they have a beautiful picture. Here is the allen again tuned to channel 9

This is another ctc19, known as the "bartram" a 1967 model.

The ctc27 chassis. This is the Dennis, almost identical to the ctc19 types with some styling changes. For example, the ctc27 series was a little more squared off cabinet compared to the ctc19, the crt bezel in perticular. This set is a 1969 model. 1968 is the first year rca used the Dual reflector color blocks letting you know its a color tv.
This set shows rcas cost cutting. Not as heavy or as solid as a ctc19.

just for fun, check out how the allen looked before I redid the cataracts! This was by far the easiest cataract repair yet! It was so bad that when I cut the tape around the perimeter of the crt, the lens was able to pop off with just a slight touch! No heat gun or anything needed. Wish they were all that easy! This is payback for that 68 magnavox that was a tedious disaster of a job.

Originally posted by drh4683
There are very few ctc27. These are very scarce. Remember, RCA Tvs didnt last as long as zenith, and they were easy to throw away once there was a problem.


Doug, those late-'60s RCA table models sound a lot like current production "RCA" branded Thomson-built sets, IMO, as far as the life span is concerned (years before Thomson started building its sets with onboard tuners). The irony, however, is that Zenith sets would outlast RCAs in those days as you mentioned. Go figure. :dunno: However, I understand the OB tuner problem in Thomson-built "RCA" televisions has been resolved, as very recent production sets now use separate standard tuners in place of the troublesome onboard ones.

This is not to say, however, that the earlier RCAs (like my CTC185) are junk. Quite to the contrary, these sets will work trouble-free for years once the onboard tuner issues are resolved; the CRT, likewise, will go for years if it hasn't shorted in the first year or two. I had some issues with the OB tuner in my set early on, but I attribute this to the fact that I had bought the TV only a month after it had been manufactured (the set was made in October 1999; I bought it in mid-November the same year). Any time one purchases something so soon after it was made and goes on the market, he/she can expect problems, some of which can be major (such as, in the case of TV sets, CRT failures, catastrophic failures in the horizontal or HV systems and the like).

Now that Thomson has licked the OB tuner problem by using standard tuners separate from the PC board, they may be able to rebuild a reputation for manufacturing quality products. Knowing this, my next TV may well be another RCA. I like the styling and operation of my own set; as I said, since I had the tuner repaired, I haven't had five minutes worth of trouble with it or any other part of the set. It makes a beautiful picture on cable (again, as I stated in an earlier post, the dark-tint inline tubes used in today's "RCA" and other TVs are far superior, IMO, to earlier delta-gun tubes; the pictures are great, even in brightly-lit rooms--and the color processing systems in all modern "RCA" sets make the picture look that much better).

RCA was a respected name in home entertainment for years, from the '50s to the '90s; now that the tuner issues have been addressed and corrected in the new sets, perhaps now they can regain the respect they once commanded, and that stylized RCA logo on Thomson-built sets may mean something again, hopefully soon. Now, if only Gold Star would get the bugs out of the sets they make that bear the lightning-bolt Z Zenith logo, the latter will mean something again some day as well; at least that's my sincere hope.

BTW, there is something I like about the stylized logo RCA has used on its TVs, stereo gear, etc. since 1968. Can't quite put my finger on it (the reason why I like the modern logo so well), though. I am old enough to remember the original circular RCA logo and when the original RCA changed it to the present stylized symbol now on all RCA sets; I do not adjust well to change, but this was one change I welcomed.

The small picture of RCA's mascot "Nipper" in front of an old spring-wound phonograph is a favorite of mine as well. Some RCA TVs of late '70s vintage had this picture, along with the modern RCA logo, on their front panels (I saw an RCA 25" color console with this logo on the curb along one of the streets in my small town a couple years ago; however, I have not seen this combination of old and new logos on today's Thomson-built "RCA" sets since then).

Thomson has seen fit, however, to honor the heritage of the original RCA company by using Nipper's picture on the front covers of the instruction manuals for Thomson's TVs, radios and the like. The addition of Chipper is a nice touch as well. Nipper and Chipper together are Thomson's symbol of the "new" RCA (out with the old, in with the new), and I must say, again, I like it a lot.

I like your choice in sets Doug! Those CTC-19's were cool. Way back I had a CTC-19 that was remote. Wish I had it now, so I could give it to you. It worked, but I sold it and bought a CTC-41 console.

james,
A ctc19 remote set is rare! According to my service notes only 1 model was made with the remote. Was it an electronic or mechanical remote?
These sets are the next in line of favorites after a zenith space command. Too bad I cant go back 20 years! Id be finding tons of them!

electronic. the remote looked just like the one on the CTC-31.

This is a cabinet for a CTC19 I have laying around. Pretty sure that it was a console floor model. If anyone can use this cabinet, I'm located in northern NJ, just off exit 165 off the parkway.

Did they ever make a round CTC-19? I remember seeing a round RCA at the side of the road when I was a kid which I'm sure had the same unique control layout of the CTC-19. I wish I had been able to pick it up, but I was already pushing the limits with the Zenith 24MC32 that I still have to this day.

What did that set do to deserve to be behind bars? LOL

Anthony

There is a round set with similar control layouts, but it would not be called a CTC-19; RCA never used the same chassis number for round and rectangular sets. (example: CTC-16: round, CTC-17: rectangular). There is a round chassis that is an analogue of the simplified chassis of the CTC-19 or CTC-31 but I can't remember what it is called (CTC-22?) The chassis could be almost the same except for the addition of pincushion correction circuitry in the rectangular chassis.

Also, does anyone have a picture of a CTC-50? Have never seen one in person. It is a transformer powered 18V" set that I think is like the CTC-27.