Dug out a '77 19" RCA XL100 (CTC85A)
 

I dug out this 19" RCA XL100 from '77 that I've had for over a year. I rejuvenated the CRT and then the picture developed intermittent "ghosting". I resoldered the delay line and some other connections as well as replaced a 100 uf cap on the video board. I guess I solved the problem since it don't act up no matter how hard I bang on the chassis. I'm sure this set has high hours since both of the neon dial bulbs are burned out. The picture is not the sharpest and it needs the convergence and purity touched up; but, it's still watchable. This one may wind up at the SA since I'm running out of room and can't keep everything. When I was little, my parents had the colortrak version of this set with the single knob tuner. The CRT crapped out when the set was about 5 years old. My Dad had it changed and the set played well into the '90's. It got so it would give off a loud HV "snap" at random times during operation and that's when we got rid of it. It's been my experience that those late '70's-early '80's RCA delta gun tubes were almost as bad as the mid '90's Zenith tubes.

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...0xl1000001.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...0xl1000002.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...0xl1000003.jpg

I used to have a CTC 92a from 1978 that had a strong CRT. Ended up getting rid of it because I messed up the convergence and couldn't fix it. It drove me insane and finally I got rid of it. Man does that neck board look ever so familiar...

Was yours a 19" or 25"? I think the '92 was the last delta gun chassis from around '80. And yes, it's real easy to screw up the convergence. That's the reason I left it alone. It looks good enough for the thrift store.

The other day, I donated my '80 RCA CTC97 rotary tuner set to the SA. I was in there a couple days later and it was gone. The manager said someone bought it right away. I guess there's still some people that don't mind a rotary tuner set. The '97 had a darn nice picture. Even the manager commented on how good it looked.

25 inch console from 1978.

:thmbsp: Nice ctc-85

I had a ctc-89 briefly from 1977....it was the 19 inch colortrak with the electronic single knob tuner. Weak green gun IIRC, very weak. Tossed it unfortunately.

My ctc-97 does have a great pic but I too had to resolder the delay line and replace a few odds and ends after some use. Good set.

Nice set. I have a CTC-85 13" set sitting on the bench right now. It'll need more than yours I'm afraid as it's completely dead right now. won't power on at all.

i had a few of those through the years.very good,reliable sets.had a crt go south in the first one and used a philco 19v in it.very sharp picture.the others were good crts.thy also had a digital tuner set of that vintage.i have one of those in my garage.these are real strong rca s.

I had a few like this pass through my hands; good sets. I have access to a JCPenney version but no room for it.

if you junk it out i will buy the high voltage tripler from you. thanks steve

Steve, do you have an RCA part # on that? I'm going through some old parts.

There's a chance I may have a used tripler laying in a box. I'll check and see...