Weird little RCA CRT mini color set 3.5" CTC-124

[kx250rider]

I think this is a rebadged Panasonic CT-3311, but not sure. It's a CTC-124, and I can't find any reference to it. Has the tuning bar on-screen display like the Panasonic, but also like the RCA 9" XL-100 from the same time period. This is a weird one... Got it on eBay a couple weeks ago. Works nicely, and seems to be fairly clean other than some worn places on the metallic paint finish. I thought first it was a Trinitron tube, but it's not... The tube is branded RCA, but again, the whole thing smells Panasonic. Not a Euro set... Has a 120v 60 cycle adaptor, regular U/V tuner, and is not multi-system (NTSC only). Canadian maybe? Central American?

Charles

[leadlike]

Charles, from a quick glance at the side controls, they are identical to the Sharp 3ls36. Tuning is the same on that set as well.

[kx250rider]

That's a thought! I think I have the schematic on the Sharp... I'll try to find & compare.

Charles

[leadlike]

I'm almost totally convinced that it is the chassis from a Sharp. The control lineup on mine is from front to back: Ch Call, VHF-UHF, Tuning, Off On-Vol, Picture, Tint, Color, Bright, V-Hold. I don't have it hooked up to power right now, but as I recall, the on screen tuner bar changes from green to red when you change from UHF to VHF. Although mine uses 14.5W while yours uses 14W.

[colorfixer]

It may be a Matsushita built set, but not from Canadian market. Canadian market sets are easy to distinguish because they will have a colored paper CSA label (canadian standards association, Canada's electrical safety bureau), have bilingual english/french labelling on the rear, and more often than not, references to RCA's canadian office.

The pattern and layout of the channel labelling is identical to my PC-101 (canadian version of CT-101). Even the controls on the side are laid out the same. The obvious difference would be the CRT, since Matsushita would use their own tubes, but remember that they used RCA tubes as early as 81 in their larger sets.

What year is the set?

[jr_tech]

The mounting plate on the bottom of the set is identical to the one on my Sharp (2 locating holes + screw hole) ... Perhaps RCA sold a tilt stand similar to the one for the Sharp ? The base for the sharp contains the AC power supply.
jr

This recent thread on "packaging" has some great pix of a Sharp, which clearly show control and jack locations:
http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=249963

[leadlike]

Hmm...I didn't notice the mounting plate, but you're right, it is the same. I figured Charle's set had the transformer incorporated into the case, but I guess it runs of wall wart power.

[Sandy G]

I dunno, but Me Likey veddy, veddy muchly !

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by leadlike

Hmm...I didn't notice the mounting plate, but you're right, it is the same. I figured Charle's set had the transformer incorporated into the case, but I guess it runs of wall wart power.

I forgot to mention that... It has a big pack that mounts in keyhole slots on the back of the TV (like a Sony KV-4000). Oddly that does have a Panasonic-ish#(VSQSxxxxxxxxxxxx, or something like that). I bet there was a base accessory... I got a Xerox of the owners manual, but it doesn't say anything about that "tripod mount" or whatever you'd call it.

Charles