[bgadow]

Here is another C-2, but from the end of the line, built in the spring of '75. With initial power up there were tubes lighting but no other signs of life. Investigation showed all of 3 compactrons had cracked at the base. Must have been dropped pretty hard? With that done the set worked alright. Certainly better than its older brother. You may note that this set is a 19v. Some interesting things about this model: it was a former rental set. A check of the GE service manuals shows it to be a special one, similiar to the RCA Mural line. Features include blocked-off rear controls, a volume limiter adjustable only with a special tool, and if you look at the pic of the back of the tuner you might think it is remote or at least power tuned-it is not. This is a raster-blanking feature. My guess is it would allow hotel operators to turn off extra-cost channels, or at the least make it so you couldn't tune in a snowy screen? The service manual also pointed out a special package that could be bought called "Fiddle-Free" which would replace the VHF fine tuning knob with a dummy, relying on the AFC to do its job; also there was a UHF knob plug that could be installed for markets where there were no UHF stations. With the kit installed there would be a sticker to be placed on the front that read "Fiddle-Free". Anyway, this set doesn't have that. It uses a solid-state hv rectifier. This isn't saying much, but I think this is the best tube GE color picture I have seen (in person) in my adult life. Both of these sets are capable of very sharp focus, at least compared to the RCA low focus voltage competition.

I intend on keeping the older set but I have no idea what to do with this one. Space is too tight so for now it goes up in the attic. I wish somebody would come along that wanted it!