Help ID RCA 13" TV similar to EGC330s from ~1981

[MightyFrame]

For several years now, I've been trying to nail down RCA's model number for the RCA-made Radio-Shack-branded TV used to exhibit the TRS-80 Color Computer 1 in 1981-1982 advertisements.




Radio Shack sold the TV separately under catalog # 26-3010.

Trolling ebay today, I find this RCA EGC330S that looks remarkably close, nearly identical case right down to the speaker grille and all-silver color, but still has a single rotary channel selector instead of Radio Shack's 10-button control with a 2-digit LED display above it.





Has anyone ever seen a model number (or a Sams Photofact) for one with the 10-button control with a 2-digit LED display above it?

For reference, the most common version found is the 2-knob RCA EJR330W, which is the same overall case, but with different style slots in the speaker grille, simulated woodgrain over most of the surface, and of course two tuner knobs instead of the 10-keypad/LED display.


Much appreciated, thank you.

PS, this reddit thread from a year ago asks the same question, but comes up empty... https://www.reddit.com/r/RadioShack/...original_color

[Electronic M]

Not my era of TV (I stop about the point where signal/sweep vacuum tubes stop), but from Sam's I've seen from slightly before then, I can say that Sam's would typically write the manual for the main chassis and the tuner(s) they were aware of would each have their own pages in the manual. If Sam's knew of multiple tuners there would be info for multiple tuners.

RCA sometimes would rework the main chassis multiple times significantly enough for there to be 2-5 different Sam's folders for the main chassis...Tuner variations may be spread among multiple different Sam's folders in that case depending on what the maker did or didn't tell them.

If you can find the chassis numbers and or model numbers of the variants and have access to a Sam's library covering that era you may be able to do your own research.

[damen]

RCA made 13 inch non-remote touch pad sets for several years. Model EFR-335 is similar to the Radio Shack set.

[MightyFrame]

Originally Posted by damen

RCA made 13 inch non-remote touch pad sets for several years. Model EFR-335 is similar to the Radio Shack set.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Wow, damen, you are spot-on with that model number. By doing deep internet searches with that, I was able to find my first-ever visual match, posted on Facebook in Sept 2024:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/4445...25313800940122

(SORRY for the huge photos, don't know how to resize them here)





The only significant difference I can see, other than the absense of the Radio Shack badging, is that the 10-key buttons appear to be vertical ovals instead of horizontal rectangles. That and the minor difference of the speaker grille pattern, but it's so amazingly close, that HAS to be it!

Thank you again!

[MightyFrame]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

Not my era of TV (I stop about the point where signal/sweep vacuum tubes stop), but from Sam's I've seen from slightly before then, I can say that Sam's would typically write the manual for the main chassis and the tuner(s) they were aware of would each have their own pages in the manual. If Sam's knew of multiple tuners there would be info for multiple tuners.

RCA sometimes would rework the main chassis multiple times significantly enough for there to be 2-5 different Sam's folders for the main chassis...Tuner variations may be spread among multiple different Sam's folders in that case depending on what the maker did or didn't tell them.

If you can find the chassis numbers and or model numbers of the variants and have access to a Sam's library covering that era you may be able to do your own research.

Thank you. Strangely, your reply didn't show up until about 18 hours after the timestamp says you sent it.

This is all great advice, and I really appreciate it.

I do not have access to a SAMS library, so when I find a folder, I have to either hope to find it on ebay with good pictures, or pay $22 per manual download from Sams website, but without being able to see the front picture ahead of time, it's a costly guessing game to see if I can get the right one.

Perhaps someone here might have a full SAMS library to at least check pictures on the front to visully match the TVs?

For example, my downloaded SAMS directory says that 2085-2 has multiple radio shack TVs that may or may not be matches.

Does anyone have folder 2085-2 to show the pictures of the TVs on the front for comparison?

Thanks again everyone.

Best,
AJ

[damen]

My Sams paper index shows Radio Shack model TRS80 (disk Dr.) in CD-7. It also lists TRS80 (COLOR) 26-3002, in CC-13.

[damen]

Some public libraries still have some Sams in their archives. Maybe some local member could check for you.

[MightyFrame]

Originally Posted by damen

My Sams paper index shows Radio Shack model TRS80 (disk Dr.) in CD-7. It also lists TRS80 (COLOR) 26-3002, in CC-13.

Thank you again. What year/edition is your Sams paper index? I have the 2002 index in PDF downloaded from SAMS, and it does not show 26-3002 at all.

While we're at it, could you please look up Radio Shack TV 16-230 in that index? I'm curious to know if that one will show up also.

Thank you again!

[dishdude]

$400 in 1983 money for a 13" TV is wild. Probably made by Goldstar.

[damen]

My paper index is from 2002. 16220 (no hyphen) is listed as 2085-2.

[damen]

Model numbers 16235, and 16236, and 16237 are also listed, all with different folder numbers. 16230 is not listed.

[zenith2134]

That last set is a Samsung. I had one for many years.