CTC-5 coming up for auction PA - Videokarma.org TV - Video

***Eric H*** · #1 07-14-2004, 11:52 PM

Not on eBay, in PA

Here's the info as I received it:

"I am an auctioneer located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. I am selling a 1950's
RCA color TV in my August 14th auction and I was wondering if you could
offer me any information about the set or if you would be interested in
placing an absentee bid? Any information you can offer me on the set would
be greatly appreciated. I found your website very informative and I am
looking forward to receiveing your reply."

Sincerely,
Erica

Erica S. Wineske
Certified Appraiser & Auctioneer
Classic Edge Auctions & Appraisal Services
www.ClassicEdgeAuction.com
(717) 534-9000

#2 07-15-2004, 12:02 AM

I trust you informed them of the disappointing truth, that those sets are worth about $25.....and only if they're working.

And also, that the freight costs will directly impact what people are willing to pay for it.

Anthony

Steve D. · #3 07-15-2004, 12:55 AM

Anthony,

I think the value of this set depends on who is bidding. It looks to be a nice clean "Whitby" deluxe model. A couple of serious tv collectors could run the price up quickly. On the other hand, if there are no tv collectors there, the set could be had at a bargin price. Bring a truck, shipping will be expensive.

#4 07-15-2004, 02:35 AM

Sheddup rabbit. You're gonna nix it for all of us. LOL

Anthony

Steve D. · #5 07-15-2004, 10:34 AM

Anthony,

I get it. You were being sarcastic. How clever.

ChuckA · #6 08-15-2004, 08:46 AM

The CTC-5 is still in PA, although now it resides in my garage.

It is almost in as good a condition as the picture Eric posted at the beginning of this thread. Typical of most auction houses they managed to damage the cabinet transporting it to the auction site. The lower right trim near the speaker grille was chipped off, the front trim has a painted on finish so it looks like I can hide it with some sanding and matching "yellow" paint.

The CRT red gun was completely dead, blue & green checked excellent. After a few hours of testing and burning in with no success I guessed that maybe the cathode weld had seperated, so I tried to reweld the connection with my tester and a trusty screwdriver handle. A couple of jolts and whacks on the neck and the red gun came back to life. I put it through a few heat and cool cycles and it is still working. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Insides look like it hasen't been touched in 40 years, original tubes, lots of dirt and the mandatory nicotine covering everything inside and out.

I did try a quick power up on the Variac, but it did nothing, not even filaments - worse case scenerio is an open power transformer primary. It will have to wait for now to many customer sets in for restoration right now.

Chuck

Sandy G · #7 08-15-2004, 12:03 PM

Bee-Yoo-tiful set! Great score ! Hope you didn't have to mortgage the farm to get it, either. We'll need pics when you get it runnin' again...-Sandy G.

Kirk · #8 08-15-2004, 10:40 PM

Nice score Chuck!

Everyone (even the technicians that I used to work with at RCA Service) told me that the "Super" CTC5 models stink and it is not possible to get a decent picture on one.

Not so. I'm sure you will make that set look great!
It is possible, this one was my "summer project" and has a 21AX in it.

Take Care,
Kirk

Kirk · #9 08-15-2004, 11:03 PM

Now I had to finish watching the TBS presentation of "Austin Powers"...This should get Chuck excited about getting "Project 5" started!

Steve D. · #10 08-15-2004, 11:03 PM

Kirk,
I've also owned several CTC-5 "Super" series sets. And as you show on yor post, they can produce very good color pictures. Chuck's set has the "Deluxe"chassis with more advanced (for the era) color circuits. With some TLC and a good picture tube it should do very well. Good going Chuck. Nice set.

ChuckA · #11 08-16-2004, 07:12 AM

Well Guys,

Thanks for the votes of confidence.

I couldn't keep my hands off of it yesterday, so I pulled the chassis to see what was wrong with the powering. Turns out the on-off switch is toast, so for the time being I jumpered the switch until I can find a replacement control.

I had to fix a couple of old "repairs" & replaced a couple of shorted tubes, but nothing else looks burned or broken, all fuses are intact, a good sign.

Today I'll try bringing it up on the variac again.

Chuck

ChuckA · #12 08-18-2004, 08:53 AM

Finished recapping the set last night, and fired it up this morning.

Still can use a full setup, but overall the convergence is right on. Focus control is all the way at one extrenme so need to find out what changed there.

Screen looks much better than in this picture, my camera just doesn't like screen shots. The chassis is after recap.

Chuck

Sandy G · #13 08-18-2004, 09:07 AM

Would anybody besides me like to throttle Kelly Rippa? Anybody that gets paid megabux for basically doin' nuthin but being cute and acting stupid...Arrrgh! But she's marginally better than Kathie Lee.....Sorry to get sidetracked. GREAT picture on the old RCA, even if it is of-...THEM.....!!!-Sandy G.

ChuckA · #14 08-18-2004, 10:29 AM

Sorry about the picture selection, but it was the better of the ones I took.

Chuck

Kirk · #15 08-18-2004, 09:42 PM

Nice Job Chuck!

There is something about a polka-dot dress.....

I have a set like that one but it is in rough shape..picked it up a few years ago...someone painted the cabinet an ugly maple color and the crt is weak. I am going to give it to a fellow collector who volunteers at the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Conn with me on the weekends. He is only 19 but has been bitten by the early color bug. I will show him your post and I'm sure it will get him excited! (The TV not the dress :-)

Take care,
Kirk