RCA Color Portable on eBay

[Eric H]

http://cgi.ebay.com/60s-Retro-RCA-18...em230034505954

[David Roper]

Y-e-a-h, those . . .

We had one in the family. The cabinet was different--mostly off-white with a light grey bezel IIRC, but definitely the same TV. It seemed like you could never turn the contrast up high enough, and it did not produce the sharpest image, but then again, ours outlasted all of the Sonys that came later. That could have something to do with the fact that it got far less use than the Sonys once they came along! Definitely no match for a trinitron, although color-wise it was fine. It was the TV I took with me when I first moved out in 1981. It went to my sister a couple years later and I lost track of it.

[drh4683]

thats a rare site to see on ebay! Seems like nobody cares about trying to sell sets of this vintage, only roundies and older for the most part. That looks like a CTC-53. I have this same set and as David mentioned, the contrast was never that great nor was the sharpness of the picture. Wonder what these cost when new. Mine is a '73 but I also have a very similar one from '70, a CTC-36. Not bad sets, but definitly a cheaper sets, series string heaters etc.

[Chad Hauris]

These sets use low focus voltage tubes and these CRT's tend to not be as sharp or bright as the standard 6KV focus tubes.
The flyback and HV system on these sets does seem much more reliable than the RCA console sets though.

[andy]

This from an old RCA catalog. I was actually given this set when I was a kid, but the picture was very blurry. I didn't keep it around for very long. I wonder if the CRT in this one is any better? Someone should retrofit a set like this with a high focus voltage CRT.

[kx250rider]

I was tempted to bid on that, because I need a CRT like that. But #1, the set is too decent to junk out for the CRT, and #2, the shipping will be more than that seller thinks .. Probably more like $75. Even though it's not THAT heavy, it will get a UPS supersize fee. I have shipped those.

Charles

[bgadow]

I still have a whole mound of these sets, as given to me by JCFitz. Most work at least a little. Still here, still free to a good home.

I bet RCA made out pretty good with these. I would agree with the picture comments-there is a soft look which is not unpleasant but it lets you know that you didn't pay the extra money for a Zenith. (assuming a Zenith even costed more)

Something about these sets makes me think of "The Odd Couple". I recall the guys had a 19" portable but don't recall what it was-this is the right time frame, at least.