Check out the RCA 2000

[freakaftr8]

Still totally worthless without the cabinet. Unless someone was fortnuate enough to have a cabinet from a previous hack-up.

[zenithfan1]

Even then, the numbers don't match and it's not an original. That would have to be stated at time of sale and it devalues it quite a bit. Would be cool to have a cabinet right about now though....They really did ruin a museum piece.

[drh4683]

I was searching craigslist last night and ran across this ad again. This time I decided to send them an email. Here is a complete, unmodified quote from both my email and the reply, you'll love this:

the ad: http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/ele/1510640221.html


my question that was sent last night:
"I'm confused. Why are you destroying such a historically significant TV? You know what you have, yet to are gutting it out. WHY?"


the reply as of this evening:
"thanks for your email. it has taken a lot of contemplation to make this decision however the tv really has no value at this point (nor do we see any vast added value in the future). we love the cabinet it is in and would like to make certain that someone could gain from this. we have and are still considering storing the guts if no one would be interested however it really just doesn't seem feasible. unfortunately tv/video has not nor never will follow in the path of great vintage audio - although this television was ahead of its time it will never have the imaging of a newer television. again, we did not make this decision in haste as we have all tube televisions in our home now (nothing newer than 1989)... we really don't watch tv but would love to add this wonderful cabinet to our furniture collection.... thus, we are offering the inside for someone who has been long searching to get their tv running. hope this helps clear up your confusion. danette"

Im still thinking of what to say in reply as I HATE people who think TV's are useless and audio is all that matters. Its this very attitude that makes me stay away from many audiophiles.

However, since "vintage video" is useless and has no value, danette should just give me the guts and CRT for free, right? Why request "serious buyers only" if the stuff doesn't bring in the cash like vintage audio? You idiot you. People like this frustrate me. Most likely a shallow minded couple who lives in some upscale yuppie area in Naperville driving a lexus RX330 with a christmas wreath tied to the grille. "oohh, this looks so cool and retro, lets gut it and make it into a shelf because its never going to be worth anything" You know how it is, these are the people you run into at the estate sales who love the retro look be in reality, they are very modern people who are against "old technology" nor have any appriciation for it. Its all about the money. Typical phonie Chicagoland suburbanites.

AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[andy]

000

[roundscreen]

The lexus rx330 is butt ugly. Every time I see one on the road I want to ram it with my gmc jimmy.
Andy does have a point, Be nice to the fools. It would be cool if you at least get to save the chassis and tube.

[drh4683]

Originally Posted by roundscreen

The lexus rx330 is butt ugly. Every time I see one on the road I want to ram it with my gmc jimmy.
Andy does have a point, Be nice to the fools. It would be cool if you at least get to save the chassis and tube.

exactly. Yes, I didn't want to sound off on them as I figured it would impact my chances on getting the parts, whats left of them. I already emailed them if the remote control and CRT are also available. I'll save it all if I can. I already have 20+ Zenith and RCA scrap chassis'. why not add another...atleast it will be interesting to see what this chassis is all about.

[zenithfan1]

Wow, what idiots huh? The stuff they say don't even make sense. I hope you can save the guts at least. I have a line on another 2000, I hope I can save this one. I tried to save the one these fools have but was 15 min too late as usual. You know how that goes, poke poke remember?

[drh4683]

OK, it gets even better. I asked about the TV chassis availability and this is the reply:

hi doug. let me talk to my husband to chat with you as i know nothing about this tv... we haven't even started the project yet and probably won't get to it until after January 10th as my husband will be out of the country leaving sunday til then. danette



This tells me the TV is still complete! I just told them what that TV means and that it must be preserved as it is and that I want to buy it. Hopefully they will not be greedy and selfish by refusing to sell it so they can gut it out as they planned.
Then again, why offer the guts when you have not even gutted it out yet? Hasn't this ad been going for quite a number of weeks now? This is rather strange. Im starting to second guess the situation here now that I think about it.

[bgadow]

I have a pretty good imagination-but I cannot imagine any way to make that cabinet presentable aside from leaving it as-is. What am I missing? Andy has it right, when I think of gutting something of this vintage (or newer) I instantly think "trailer park". (Hey, I've lived there!)

Could they be talked into a trade with, say, a good working Zenith like that one Carmine just fixed up? They are still fairly common, look cool, will be more reliable than the 2000. The 2k isn't a set I am out there looking for, but if one came my way I would sure grab it. A very important milestone set, I feel.

[drh4683]

Im in the same position of saving one if it crosses my path. The TV is in Naperville which is just down the road. If I can help it, I want to prevent this one from getting destroyed.

So I got yet another reply as I requested that this TV remain original and that I'd like to buy it if possible. The reply:

"We are open to generous offers as we have our hearts set on the cabinet"

ok then. Whats a generous offer? What does it take to convince them that the TV complete is better than a hacked up empty cabinet? Something crazy like $800? Who knows what they think or what they will accept in order to let it go. OK, I have a shot at saving it at least, the questions is how much am I willing to shell out to save it. Also, if this is indeed the TV at the milwaukee estate sale, I remember the base looked warped and that it was aluminum and that there would be concerns of fractures/cracking. I don't want to make some kind of deal only to be totally let down when I see it in person. I never saw or owned one of these in person. I've heard alot about them and I always thought they were special sets based on their technological offerings vs. other set of that era.

[sampson159]

i had the same situation with that ctc7 last spring.gonna hack it up and install a plasma.talked them out of it and now ampicokid has it in his skilled hands.give me their number.i will get the complete set.generous offer?as always,it is all about the money.

[leadlike]

I'm happy to hear the set is still complete. I was trying to figure out how someone unfamiliar with tvs would remove the chassis without damaging something, or just not document their work, leaving the new owner with the headaches of figuring out how it all goes together.

Generous offer? I wonder what they would take? I can't imagine their disappointment in picking this thing up, being told that it is extremely rare, and then having all those dollar signs in their eyes fade when they found that there really isn't anyone around willing to pay a premium price for it.

I also wonder if they would be open to a trade. If they are just after a gutted cabinet, wouldn't any number of the more common Zenith pedestal sets fit the bill?

[Adam]

Seems to me that they're just trying to see what they can get for the parts vs. what they can get for the whole set. If it were me, I'd offer a good price for the set, and say I wasn't even interested in the chassis by itself. If they think there is no interest in the chassis alone and they can't get anything for it, they might not be inclined to gut it so much.

The people I bought my chinese cabinet Zenith from were similar, they had all older 50s-60s furniture. They weren't into old technology, just said they liked the looks of the stuff. But they actually watched the Zenith until one of the filter caps shorted, then put it up for sale, didn't even think of gutting it. I just want to know how people into old furniture (not being old tv guys who constantly check around for old sets) come up with such rare tvs.

[Carmine]

I'm going to have to weigh in here with a comment... Perhaps it won't be popular.

My advice to all of you who are interested is as follows: Stop obsessing over this particular set. These yuppies are playing you like a cheap fiddle, laughing at your efforts! Dignity still trumps old TV sets! I'd like to see the set saved too, but it just isn't worth begging and losing your self-respect.

Who are these small-minded fucknuts to say:

tv really has no value at this point (nor do we see any vast added value in the future).

Really? There are people all over the world collecting early and significant television sets from an era just a few years earlier than the RCA 2000. I'd have to laugh at the guy who turned up his nose back in 1980 at a Hemi 'cuda from behind the wheel of his vintage model T. Now that 'cuda sells in excess of $2-million.

I know the feeling of disgust in watching such bone-heads ruin someTHING nice, but I also know the joy of telling them to shove it up their ass when they get greedy. There was a time when I saw so many beautiful 60s/70s Chrysler Imperials being sent to demo-derbies because they were so strong in a crash, back in the late 80s and early 90s. I figured that unless I grabbed up all the versions I wanted, they'd be all gone in a few short years.

But you know what? I started networking with people, the internet came along, then eBay and Craigslist and pretty soon I realized that I could still find the kinds of cars I wanted to buy at reasonable prices. Thus I realized that the toothless in-breds who would take advantage of somebody's horror at seeing something destroyed, no longer had the power. There is a guy in Florida with two '61 LeBaron Imperials who just lets them sit in the sun because every time somebody shows interest, he raises the price. Who will have the last laugh? Well the cars' soft trim is already shot, and the steel, glass and mechanical parts will long outlive this greedy old kook.

Think of this set as being in the hands of a collector who suffers a tragic house fire. Gone is still gone. Don't appease them with offers of a more common set. Draw a line in the f'ing sand! These a-holes are just able to tease you because they know you want the set. Don't give them the power.

In the days since discovering others who liked old TV sets, I've now owned and traded almost all of the sets I ever could have wanted, but luckily the joy of finding something new, or the satisfaction of enjoying something old, has not gone away. Even better, I still have a few giant whales to chase!

Here is the letter I'd send them. (Feel free to cut/paste)

Dear TV owner,

I've considered the idea of making you a "generous offer", and then realized that I didn't get the money to make such offers by suffering fools such as yourselves.

Therefore, my suggestion is that you stop wasting your time looking to recoup your estate sale investment on the internet. The set's guts are only of any value WITH the cabinet ding-dong, because those particular guts are only used IN that cabinet you hold so dear. The rarity of the set means it is even more rare that you will find somebody who needs only "parts".

Begin your hillbilly attempt at "creating" retro furniture with my blessing. You can throw the guts straight into a trashcan without guilt, because all of the parts need to repair this (and similar) sets are available individually, AND among the network of electronics enthusiasts that you image does not exist. When you are done, and realize that you don't really have the skill set required to pull this off, remember that you were forewarned. lol

Yours Truly,

John Q. Teeveecollector

[Carmine]

Oh yeah, BTW... In taking another look at these sets, isn't this actually the perfect tv to use as a stand for a flatscreen? Then I'd just split the signal and occasionally open the doors to show all my "googie" friends the old-timey TV set I found!

Then we could all watch my unnatural and oversaturated mass of LCD pixels and make fun of the generation before us who actually knew how to DO things, rather than simply BUY some cheap chinese shit~