The OFFICIAL Curbside TV Find Thread After Analog Completely Ceased...

[radiotvnut]

Originally Posted by rca2000

Last Friday night , as the DTV mandate took effect, I received a call from a friend, that his town was having it's "clean up day" on Saturday morning. He told me there were a number of modern tv sets, a few projos, and such--NONE of which I really cared about. BUT--there was ALSO a 17" or 19" RCA 1975 model color set--looks like a ctc--72, that I DID want--AND--he saw a " big RCA console tv with doors", that looked to HIM like a CTC-38 or 39. I figured it would be a CTC-40, and asked him if he could go back....and check for these "magic words" on the set--"Trans vista color" --which WOULD DEFINITELY indicate a ctc 40(I THOUGHT.) He looked again...and it DID say TVC, and had the "bar switch" on it. With that...I jumped in the van...and headed out, at about 11PM. A LONG traffic jam, with some road construction made me THINK--"man....maybe this is NOT worth it. I have a swap meet to go to on Saturday morning..maybe I should go home. But ..I did NOT go home...and got there, and we went over to get the set. First...I picked up the CTC-72--without ANY second thoughts. Then...we got to the "CTC 40". I took a QUICK look in the back, to make sure WAS a 40, and not a 38...and THEN I SAW IT!! THE HV QUAD!! This was NOT a ctc-40...but a MUCH more rare CTC--44, that is a LOT like the 40--BUT with SS hv, instead of a tube!! I could NOT believe it!! The last 44 I got, I had to drive for a LONG way..and here was one only about 20 miles from me--in a VERY nice cabinet!! Had I allowed a nice CTC-44, with doors, that was ALMOST in my back yard, to get crushed, and found out , I know I would have cried...,.but alas--I HAVE it now. The ctc-44 was only made for one year, 1971, and it was a HIGH END set. It was replaced by the CTC-46 and 54 for 1972, as RCA went to modular sets


It is still in my van, with the 72. I have not had time to look much at it...but it IS safe and sound now, after almost going to the crusher truck and then to the dump....saved by a few hours.

BTW--I have NOT been here much in recent times. Several deaths in my family, MAJOR job problems, (causing) money problems...etc...etc..

That was a nice save and it probably won't take much to get it going. You're lucky that you were to get that set from the waste pile. Around here, no "trash picking" is allowed and they have people watching to make sure it does not happen. I just spent $20 on a newspaper wanted ad for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in an effort to get old TVs from the '50's, '60's, and early '70's. I can only hope that it does some good and I don't get a bunch of people wanting to sell me their '80's goldstars and '00's Broksonics. Anyway, keep us posted on the 44.