$3 RCA B&W Vidicon found
 

Passed it up a few times, but I couldn't walk away from it after the 3rd time. Got it from a guy who cleans out storage sheds, then has garage sales to sell off the junk he doesn't keep. Looks to be from the 80's, model # is TC1005/N01. Has a Tonkina f/1.4 lens on it, the camera is for CCTV use of course.

I would do the same. What is three dollars? You can't get a decent steak sub for $3.00. Even if you throw it away, it is always fun to buy and take it apart.

Good for you...

+1. I have no real use for it right now, but tomorrow, who knows ? (grin)

I've got 3 telephoto lenses for those kinds of cameras lying around in my closet..

Cool, I may have to get one of those off you...if I can get the thing to work that is.

I plugged it into the composite input on my big screen, and I get nothing but fuzz. The 'net is devoid of info on these, so I guess my first stop will be the data sheet for the vidicon to see what kind of stimulus it needs to operate. I'll bounce that off o-scope readings of the actual circuit and see what the deal is.

I used to work on cameras like that in the early-to-mid 1980's, but I don't think I have any service stuff for them anymore. If I find anything, I will send an update message.

That's pretty cool. I have a vidicon-based camera (and matched CRT monitor) that's been in daily use, approx. 20 hours per day, for 17 years. Would you b'lieve it was bought at Radio Shack? It was the very first video surveillance system they sold. The camera has no doubt outlived many CCD-based ones by a wide margin. Bill(oc)