Picked up two RCA's today - Videokarma.org TV - Video

***Eric H*** · #1 10-09-2011, 03:35 AM

Well actually it was yesterday now.

Where to put them, one is Solid State and Color the other is Tubes and B&W, they both have rectangular tubes so here is the right place I guess.

On the left, an RCA XL-100 from 1987, not sure what size, nine or ten inch perhaps? It didn't work when I tried it at the Thrift Store but it seems to work fine now, maybe their outlet was dead?
Anyhow it's a little rough, needs a good cleaning and it has some minor paint wear and a busted antenna, the glare screen is a little fogged but hopefully it'll buff out.
I didn't need it but it was only $5 and it's Red!

On the right, a 1956/57 RCA Personal Portable 8", Off White with no stand.
I was amazed when the Antique Store Lady only wanted $25 for it!
It's in decent condition, one foot broken off but taped to the side of the set, the handle is warped.
There was a tube rattling around inside so I opened it up and put it back in it's socket.

The Filter cap has been replaced with a Sprague at some time in the distant pass, probably along with some of the paper caps that have been replaced with some Turquoise color plastic ones.
It power's up and gets sound from the speaker but no light on the screen despite having a running H Oscillator and an arc at the cap of the HOT.
Something smelled like burning resistor after running for a minute or two so I shut it down.

radiotvnut · #2 10-09-2011, 08:50 AM

Nice finds. We had that same XL100 in our kitchen for years. Ours was an AC/DC set and had a signal seeking tuner that displayed a vertical green or red line that scanned across the screen as it was searching for a channel. I'm sure the B&W set will be fine after a recap and control cleaning.

DaveWM · #3 10-09-2011, 09:55 AM

I worked on one of those little RCA B&W sets a few months ago, cool little sets, stacked chassis but very well engineered so pretty easy to work on.

Had a very nice sound (no sync buzz) and a power tranny, looks like the engineers were left alone on that one.

stromberg6 · #4 10-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Just traded for two of the RCA "Personal Portable" B/W sets, and look forward to seeing if they can be restored. Already did one before, and apart from a weak CRT, the little thing produces a pleasant, if not finely detailed, picture. Must have been a niche in the market for these back in 1956, as it seems many were made. Patience is required while working on these gems, but if all is well besides caps, and other common parts, you should be rewarded with a nice TV on which to watch old TV shows in B/W, which is what I use mine for. GOOD LUCK!

I should add that Phil Nelson's experience with these was a great help during my work on the first. Thanks Phil!!
Kevin

***Eric H*** · #5 10-09-2011, 08:10 PM

This one has a weak CRT, only the second one I've found out of about 13 of these that I have had.

It came up good after a short cook at 8 volts so hopefully it'll hold, if not I have a NOS replacement, if I ever get around to restoring it.

DaveWM · #6 10-09-2011, 09:22 PM

I would not be too concerned about how it test, the one I worked on was weak as well, still made a nice pic.

Sandy G · #7 10-09-2011, 09:30 PM

I have 3 of those l'il 8" babies, NATURALLY the best cosmetic shape one has the weakest CRT....Its sorta a grey-beige...I fell for them back in the '70s at McCallie School in Chattanooga, one of the teachers had one in his "office", I thought it was Kewl as all get-out. Back then, it was just an "older" TV, nothing to write home about.

mbates14 · #8 10-10-2011, 09:43 PM

i used to have the GE version of that XL-100 years ago. I tossed it becaus ei couldnt figure out what was wrong with it. you could watch the green line just run across the screen trying to tune something, and eventually would, but no pic.