1970 RCA catalog

[rca2000]

We all love our Zeniths here...me included...BUT one HAS to admit that, in the "old days", RCA sure did have some sets that "pushed the technological edge"...at least, till about the time GE took over or so. From about the late '60's..till the mid 80's or so... Probably with the KCS-153 or so, taking the step of putting an IC in a consumer product...the FIRST TIME that had been done, in 1966. Then--the CTC-40, then the G2000-in 1969, ...and in 1975, the CTC 74/81"Direct address" sets discussed recently, and in about 1984 or so...the "dimensia" system in the CTC-131/132. and up till about the 140...their sets STILL had a semblance of quality too!! Till about the 169...the really last decent chassis....

TIll then...one could always seem to count on RCA unveling some "out there" idea for one of it's new sets--that would push the envelope, and set the trend for the future. The DA sets were a HUGE advance for their time--and even MORE SO was the 2000. and unlike the "current trend" things...those sets DID WORK right--and for a LONG time!!

So...what HAPPENED, over the last 20 years or so??? since then...RCA has came out with mostly forgettable chassis, in particular the MM series...one of the WORST rube--goldbergish messes I have EVER seen!!