finally found a Dimensia - Videokarma.org TV - Video

RobtWB · #1 03-03-2011, 01:20 PM

I have been searching for an RCA Dimensia set for a while now, and found this one on St. Louis CL.
From the information I can gather this was the first of the Dimensia console sets. This one was manufactured in June 1987 and purchased new on January 09, 1988 at a Best Buy Superstore in Bridgeton, MO for a whopping $849.99. Quite a chunk of change for a television in 1988.

This set has been very well cared for. The 25 year old cabinet is near flawless. The original owners manual, remote and bill of sale came with the set.
The picture??? Well it is superb. It rivals in color saturation and definition my CC2 set, and we all know their legendary picture quality.

The only downer is the original remote is non-functioning and impossible to repair without breaking the plastic holding the circuit board secure. Of course virtually any RCA remote manufactured in the last quarter century will operate the basic features of the set, but there are menus not accessable without an original remote.

VintagePC · #2 03-03-2011, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobtWB

The only downer is the original remote is non-functioning and impossible to repair without breaking the plastic holding the circuit board secure. Of course virtually any RCA remote manufactured in the last quarter century will operate the basic features of the set, but there are menus not accessable without an original remote.

In cases like that, all you can really do is repair it in such a way that visible damage is minimal. Unfortunate, but of course, as a consumer, you're not meant to be meddlin'...

Eman · #3 03-03-2011, 03:14 PM

try ebay for a new remote? seems to be a couple up

AlwaysLyceum · #4 03-03-2011, 04:30 PM

Awesome!!!!! You are so lucky! I would kill for a Dimensia set like that!! I have a 1986 Colortrak 2000 (with the Dimensia-style "control" jacks on the back), but yeah, I love your console! You enjoy that!

stromberg6 · #5 03-03-2011, 04:56 PM

Nice find! I have a CTC-136B Colortrak 2000 in the family room that still provides a great pix. I put a rebuilt tube in it about 12 years ago. Wondering about the chassis number sequence for the Dimensia series, older than my 136?
Kevin

wa2ise · #6 03-03-2011, 05:01 PM

Just don't tell people that "I've got Dimensia"...

"Dimensia" was a marketing name screw up. An old friend of mine, an advertising company owner, mentioned to me that everyone at the news conference when RCA first presented the Dimensia line to the world, whispered "Isn't that a kind of mental illness"?.

Gunslinger · #7 03-03-2011, 05:02 PM

I have a better one thsn that! I have one that has the cabinet with the spaces for stereo components. I took everything out of the cabinet and put it in the table model so it would fit in my cabinet. It was a left over wwhen I was selling them. You can't beat the CTC140. There arre 2 types of remotes that will work that model. One is the black one that will also operate the stere components. The other came with the 26inch table models. (FPR2622)

I sold a lot of them. Made $$$ as there weren't many dealerships that had them at first.

RobtWB · #8 03-03-2011, 05:16 PM

The set I have has the CTC 140 chassis, which version A thru F I haven't figured out just yet.
Still amazed at just how good the picture is on this set.
Would really like to find a replacement original RCA remote for the set. I see them on ebay ocassionally, but they are usually the flat models - the proper one for this set is the wedge shaped one. When I get time gonna go ahead and break into this remote and see if it is salvagable - if so, probably have to re-secure the board into the remote with rtv or similar.

RobtWB · #9 03-03-2011, 05:33 PM

Anyone remember when RCA sold out to Thompson???
Was looking at the owners manual and the tags on the back of the set - all of them read RCA - no mention of Thompson on this set.

stromberg6 · #10 03-03-2011, 05:45 PM

I think RCA was sold to GE in late 1985, and then GE sold the consumer electronics parts to Thompson. Don't know when the last receivers were actually manufactured in the USA.
Thanks for the info on the Dimensia chassis numbers. Now I just have to find one lol.
Kevin

andy · #11 03-03-2011, 06:10 PM

...

AlwaysLyceum · #12 03-03-2011, 06:21 PM

Hey all you chassis know-it-alls! Which chassis is this one?? Is this the table top version of the console above??

AlwaysLyceum · #13 03-03-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlwaysLyceum

Hey all you chassis know-it-alls! Which chassis is this one?? Is this the table top version of the console above??

Forgot the link—

http://www.rossauction.com/topics/07...imensia_tv.jpg

Gunslinger · #14 03-03-2011, 06:39 PM

I have 2 of those remotes. One, I repaired years ago. The other is virgin but needs to be fixed. You can fix them ONE time. You grind off the flattened tabs with a dremmel tool. Clean the pads with the solvent (I use rubbing achohol) clean the board with an eraser. Let the rubber dry. Put together and while holding it together, melt the other tabs and hold until cooled.

mwplefty · #15 03-03-2011, 06:59 PM

I'd say this set is worth repairing. For 10 years from 1987-c.1997, this model never really changed much in appearance. I can see why it was so expensive over 20 years ago.