CTC 5 in Ohio

[Ampico-kid]

Hi John;

Glad you finally managed to pick up the set. It looks to be in great shape and having a crt that strong, especially an 21AXP22, is a great big plus.

There've been some disparaging remarks made about "The Super Series" CTC 5 Chassis (your Aldrich is one of them), but I have one myself and I think the color reproduction is quite good. There are some quirkie things about it that make the initial set up a real challenge, but even at that it was quite an interesting experience. I think you'll be challenged and educated at the same time.

My set also came with what I assume is the factory base, but it looks different than what your set is sitting on. I'm sure some of the experts here can tell you what it's all about.

Good luck with your new acquisition.
Bob

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by Ampico-kid

Hi John;

...
There've been some disparaging remarks made about "The Super Series" CTC 5 Chassis (your Aldrich is one of them), but I have one myself and I think the color reproduction is quite good. There are some quirkie things about it that make the initial set up a real challenge, but even at that it was quite an interesting experience. I think you'll be challenged and educated at the same time.
...
Good luck with your new acquisition.
Bob

I'm sure I'll learn alot from it. I'm moving this set to the head of the queue and will work on it after I finish the cabinet for the Sylvania. That could mean this fall the way things are going.

John

[Steve D.]

John,

The "Special" series was the price leader CTC-5.
It used the "Super" series chassis. Aldrich was the name of the model. The difference between the Special and Super is there is no black in the mask around the pix. tube. Your set has an aftermarket stand. The original RCA Victor stand is as pictured in Bob's post has a grill cloth. My first color set was also the Aldrich model. It produced a beautiful color picture. I wouldn't fuss to much with trying to refinish the cabinet. It has, except for the front panel, fiberboard under that photo finish. RCA also produced the CTC-5 "Deluxe" series with a more complex chassis, but that's another story.

-Steve D.

[Phil Nelson]

Wow, nice set.

Phil

[ohohyodafarted]

Way to Go John!

Glad to see that the 21AX is very good. You're going to have a lot of fun with that set. It will get you hooked on early color. Then you will get the craving for an early 15" color set and you will get the 15G disease like me and John. Good thing you have high vacuum equipment. I can see you using it in the not too distant future.

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by ohohyodafarted

Way to Go John!

Glad to see that the 21AX is very good. You're going to have a lot of fun with that set. It will get you hooked on early color. Then you will get the craving for an early 15" color set and you will get the 15G disease like me and John. Good thing you have high vacuum equipment. I can see you using it in the not too distant future.

I barely have room for this set. Being on an open stand is a big plus for where I have it.

Although they say "never say never," I think I'll leave the CTC-100s to the experts. Now if I ran across a Westinghouse H-840CK15 or an Arvin 15-550KB-UHF that I could afford, I might change my mind...

John

[jr_tech]

John,
I just dug out a slightly damaged approx 90 page RCA booklet on the CTC 5 sets... Yours free if you want it, drop me a PM.

The damage is strange, it looks as if it was burned on on one corner, and the damaged area was cut off... as you can see no info is lost, it just looks sorta ugly

jr

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by Steve D.

John,

The "Special" series was the price leader CTC-5.
It used the "Super" series chassis. Aldrich was the name of the model. The difference between the Special and Super is there is no black in the mask around the pix. tube. Your set has an aftermarket stand. The original RCA Victor stand is as pictured in Bob's post has a grill cloth. My first color set was also the Aldrich model. It produced a beautiful color picture. I wouldn't fuss to much with trying to refinish the cabinet. It has, except for the front panel, fiberboard under that photo finish. RCA also produced the CTC-5 "Deluxe" series with a more complex chassis, but that's another story.

-Steve D.

Thanks for the advice. I might leave the finish alone. But, there doesn't appear to be fiberboard anywhere on this set. I've attached a photo of the damage on the top and to me it looks like birch plywood underneath the finish.

John

[Steve D.]

Originally Posted by jeyurkon

Thanks for the advice. I might leave the finish alone. But, there doesn't appear to be fiberboard anywhere on this set. I've attached a photo of the damage on the top and to me it looks like birch plywood underneath the finish.

John

John,

I stand corrected on the Aldrich top being plywood under the photo finish. My Aldrich didn't have factory UHF, so I installed a UHF receiver inside the cabinet and drilled two holes in the side for the receiver knobs to protrude. I recall that at least the side panels were fiberboard or Masonite. This was many years ago. I don't drll holes in CTC-5's (or any vintage set) anymore. I do agree that you should leave the finish alone, although you probably could touch up the top a bit.

-Steve D.

[jeyurkon]

Originally Posted by Steve D.

John,

I stand corrected on the Aldrich top being plywood under the photo finish. My Aldrich didn't have factory UHF, so I installed a UHF receiver inside the cabinet and drilled two holes in the side for the receiver knobs to protrude. I recall that at least the side panels were fiberboard or Masonite. This was many years ago. I don't drll holes in CTC-5's (or any vintage set) anymore. I do agree that you should leave the finish alone, although you probably could touch up the top a bit.

-Steve D.

And you were right about the sides. They are Masonite.

John