1977 RCA ColorTrak Console TV

[Captainclock]

Hello, My grandparents over a decade ago had inherited from my Great-Grandparents (my grandmother's parents) a 1977 RCA ColorTrak Console TV that had a full number keypad on the front panel and a knob for the volume and power, and anyways they used the TV up until they moved out of their old house and the entire time they used it it had excellent picture and sound (and it was even cable compatible) but then once they moved out of their old house the TV sat in the livingroom of their old house for several years without heat or AC and high Humidity so the TV was assumed to be possibly dead and we had discussed possibly taking the TV to the Thriftstore because it was still a good TV when it was last used but then racoons got into the house and pooped all over everything and so now the TV is basically just going to be trashed.

Just was wondering what your thoughts were on this.

[Jon A.]

That's probably a CTC81 set, quite rare and desirable to certain collectors.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

That's probably a CTC81 set, quite rare and desirable to certain collectors.

Well That's good to know, although its too bad I didn't know about this site 6 years ago, otherwise I would of posted it on here and seen if there would of been someone interested in taking off of my grandparents hands, because like I said it was still a perfectly functional TV with great Picture and sound yet. but I really don't know what kind of condition its in anymore or if its even around anymore.

[rca2000]

But does NOT sound like a DAP set...sigh...

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by rca2000

But does NOT sound like a DAP set...sigh...

What do you mean by "DAP" set?

you're not too far from the Ft. Wayne, Indiana Area, maybe you could go over to my Uncle's house (formerly my grandparent's house) and see if it would be something you'd be interested in.

[Jon A.]

I'm pretty sure the first two letters stand for Direct Address. The back of a remote I saw for one says the master switch at the TV must be on for the remote to operate, and the remote doesn't have a standalone power button. Selecting any channel turns the set on, "00" turns it off.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Jon A.

I'm pretty sure the first two letters stand for Direct Address. The back of a remote I saw for one says the master switch at the TV must be on for the remote to operate, and the remote doesn't have a standalone power button. Selecting any channel turns the set on, "00" turns it off.

I see, yeah this TV never had a remote (although on the back of the set had a "service switch" that you pulled the switch out to disable the TV for servicing it and then you'd push the button back in to return the TV back to normal operation. I think it was a fully solid state TV because it seemed to be an instant on TV. It also had an auto-brightness feature as I remember it had a photoeye next to the power switch if I remember right.

[Electronic M]

If it has a Delta-gun CRT at least save the CRT.
Racoon crap and non-climate controlled storage is often nothing to a set of that vintage. I pulled a 1972 metal cabinet Sylvania out of a ditch, the set had clearly spent a few years OUTSIDE with nothing keeping the rain and elements off of it, cabinet rusted til the vinyl disintegrated off, yard waste covering the chassis, etc, and I was STILL able to bring it back to life.

[Captainclock]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

If it has a Delta-gun CRT at least save the CRT.
Racoon crap and non-climate controlled storage is often nothing to a set of that vintage. I pulled a 1972 metal cabinet Sylvania out of a ditch, the set had clearly spent a few years OUTSIDE with nothing keeping the rain and elements off of it, cabinet rusted til the vinyl disintegrated off, yard waste covering the chassis, etc, and I was STILL able to bring it back to life.

Yeah, well I wish I would of been able to of convinced my uncle of that fact but he's really bull headed when it comes to stuff like that.
He even had an old Bachmann Trainset that he had intended to give to my oldest cousin burried with part of the house he tore down because he didn't think it was worth saving (even though I had asked him nicely several times to try and get it for me for parts because I had the same exact trainset that needed a lot of parts for it which are NLA because my oldest cousin liked to be rough with toys my trainset included) anyways I would wonder if I told him that this TV is was a rare and quite valuable/collectible TV set if he would of believe me and try and save it from the house and put it up on craigslist or and ad in the paper for it.