Early 1970's RCA portable. - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Phil R · #1 08-12-2014, 12:59 PM

Hi, I recently got a small basic RCA color TV from the 1970s and I'd like to have more information about it. It has a CTC-53S hybrid chassis. I have seen posts about CTC-53 but nothing about the CTC-53S.

The TV has a "Made In Canada" sticker under it but I guess it was just assembled or even partially assembled here.

I bougght this set as it reminded me a bit the B&W RCA "Townsman Series" set I had when I was a kid! (see the attached picture).

RCA 19" Color TV by PhilR2, on Flickr

19" RCA TV set by PhilR2, on Flickr

RCA 19" Color TV by PhilR2, on Flickr

RCA 19" Color TV by PhilR2, on Flickr

Small video I made of it with my cell phone:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/14852118624/

It doesn't work perfectly and would probably need some restoration but I'm not familiar with this kind of job. The picture is clear but sometimes distorted (mostly at the top of the screen). Looks better in reality than on that capture I made with my cell phone...
This set isn't an instant-on but the tubes remain lit with the switch set at off. I'm wondering if there's a simple way to defeat that and what was the purpose of doing this!

jr_tech · #2 08-12-2014, 01:54 PM

What is the source of the video? If it is from a VCR tape, the bend at the top of the screen is fairly typical for an earlier set. As VCRs became more popular, sets were designed to better deal with the inherent horizontal instability of the VCRs.
jr

jstout66 · #3 08-12-2014, 02:07 PM

Those sets had a really good picture when working correctly.

Electronic M · #4 08-12-2014, 02:23 PM

Nice set.
Not all sets that had 'instant on' (or any of the other names for it) were labeled as being so equipped...However instant on by definition keeps the tubes lit, so unless this set uses series string tube heater wiring and has a separate set of contacts in the power switch that are stuck on, you have an instant on set. Many instant on sets had a Vacation Switch or some such (not to be confused with the service switch) that would disable the instant on (preventing the tubes from glowing after power off)....If yours lacks that switch there are two options to kill the instant on: re-wire the power switch to eliminate the instant on, or unplug/turn off a power strip the set is plugged into after/in lieu of turning the set off with it's power switch.

zenith2134 · #5 08-12-2014, 02:30 PM

Very nice !!

Phil R · #6 08-12-2014, 02:49 PM

The source I used was a Channel Master digital converter.

I said it wasn't an "Instant On" as the picture doesn't appear immediately as it did on my the solid-state Sylvania GT-Matic I used to have (this one had a pilot on the picture tube).

I don't think the filament on the picture tube remains lit on the RCA. If it does, it still far from being an "Instant-On". But because the other tubes are pre-heated, the set takes about the same time to turn on as a regular transistorized set with a CRT.

Sandy G · #7 08-12-2014, 02:54 PM

I dunno why they called those beasts "Portable".... "Luggable" would be more like it...

Electronic M · #8 08-12-2014, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil R

The source I used was a Channel Master digital converter.

I said it wasn't an "Instant On" as the picture doesn't appear immediately as it did on my the solid-state Sylvania GT-Matic I used to have (this one had a pilot on the picture tube).

I don't think the filament on the picture tube remains lit on the RCA. If it does, it still far from being an "Instant-On". But because the other tubes are pre-heated, the set takes about the same time to turn on as a regular transistorized set with a CRT.

There are different kinds of 'instant on' wiring depending on the year and maker. Most tube/hybrid instant on sets ran the heaters at ~half voltage when the set was turned off....There would still be warm up time, but it would be much shorter and would be called "instant on". I've never seen a set that had instant on where that term was literal, though it would not surprise me if some of the solid-state era sets with that feature left the CRT heater on full blast all the time.

I have some 'instant on' sets (proclaimed to be so in the manual) both tube and hybrid, they keep the tubes lit at half voltage when the set is off, and they have a warm up time (a short one).

It is common practice on this forum to refer to any set that, by design, keeps tube heaters lit to some degree while the set is turned off, as an 'instant on' TV set regardless of actual warm up time.

Phil R · #9 08-12-2014, 04:26 PM

So maybe it's instant-on then! The image appeared immediately on my 1974 Sylvania Solid State. As soon as I pushed on the volume knob!

I think it's a weird idea to have that on a tube/hybrid chassis. It makes a room heater... I'm wondering if they had better durability on sets that were used daily because the tubes remain lit or if the idea was just to avoid having to wait for the tubes to warm up?

zeno · #10 08-12-2014, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil R

So maybe it's instant-on then! The image appeared immediately on my 1974 Sylvania Solid State. As soon as I pushed on the volume knob!

I think it's a weird idea to have that on a tube/hybrid chassis. It makes a room heater... I'm wondering if they had better durability on sets that were used daily because the tubes remain lit or if the idea was just to avoid having to wait for the tubes to warm up?

I dont think these sets were instant on. More likely it has a gang
on/off switch that is part bad. I dont have the exact manual but
if I got time I can look at similars before a trip to the Whites Thurs.

IIRC the first instant on was a B&W Westinghouse. It was a 19"
with a black sunscreen & quite impressive at the time.
I remember the commercial for it.
Eliminating the hot-cold cycle was sold as longer tube life BUT
the constant heat baked the PCB's & dried up the sets so much
it shortend the life of the set. Nothin worse than an all tube
instant on set with high miles.
Later solid state sets probably benefited from it, you never see
a bad CRT in a flat chassis Zenith. They also came out with
fast warm-up cathodes. And yes it can be defeated quite easily
most the time.

73 Zeno

Phil R · #11 08-12-2014, 07:41 PM

When I first sat that the tubes remained lit, I thought that there might be something wrong as I didn't think it was an "instant on". The chassis number is CTC-53S.

Let me know what you find about it.

Thanks!

Robb · #12 08-12-2014, 07:53 PM

Nice find ! Kinda rare model.
Where in canada are you located, Quebec ?
Id buy it off you !

tvcollector · #13 08-12-2014, 07:57 PM

Were are you located? It seems all this neat stuff pops in the mid west like in the Chicago area in pristine condition.. These things don't exist here in So. Florida anymore.. I get an occasional late 40's early 50's console, or some mid-late 1970s combo or console sets.. Usually something overly BIG that someone is trying to unload..

Robb · #14 08-12-2014, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvcollector

Were are you located? It seems all this neat stuff pops in the mid west like in the Chicago area.. This is unseen here in So. Florida..

I believe hes in Quebec Canada.

Phil R · #15 08-12-2014, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robb

I believe hes in Quebec Canada.

You guessed that because of my poor English writing?!

You guessed right!