Latest addition: RCA 621TS

[miniman82]

That's right, after much searching and waiting, one finally came my way!

This one was strange, I threw down a bid on it while it was listed on Epay. I was quickly outbid, and thinking nothing of it moved on to search greener pastures. After all, a local pawn shop still has one but wants a mint for it. Then about 2 weeks later I got a notice from the seller: second chance offer, due to unpaid bid! Long story short they accepted my original bid, as it was the next one in line after the winning bid. So I had won the set for $200, but it was in California and I'm in Virginia...

Enter Steve Kissinger, who lives not far from the location of the auction. He volunteered to ship it for me, with a little bit of help from Steve Dichter picking it up. The pair of Steves helped me out big time, the set arrived in 2 gigantic boxes safe and sound earlier this week.

Best news is the 7DP4 CRT: it was a rebuild so I had my doubts, but it tests like it's never had HV on it. It was probably rebuilt during the period the chassis was going through some attempted restoration and never used, as evidenced by a note with the chassis that it had undergone repairs in the mid 80's.

Plan right now is to clean up the chassis, replace all the power caps, variac it and see where it's at. Meantime the cabinet will go off for restoration, where no money will be spared in bringing it back to former glory. This was one of the more rare blonde cabinets, and I intend to bring it back that way. I do admit to liking the darker ones more, but I'm going for originality on this one. I will need to have the front piece fabricated as it's gone missing, anyone have one they can mail me so I can take some measurements?

Enjoy the pics of the process!

[decojoe67]

It's pretty cool to have the rare blonde version. I am curious how the blonde finish will be recreated. I've actually never saw one professionally restored. They all seem to have their original splotchy-stained finishes. If you really want to do the set right use the correct beige painted knobs. You rarely see them that way and the dark knobs just look terrible against the light finish IMO.
Good luck with it!

[vts1134]

Good luck indeed and congratulations on the new set. Always nice to get a set with a strong CRT, especially one that is hard to find .

[Sandy G]

I GOTTA get mine down to Terry-and SOON !

[earlyfilm]

Originally Posted by miniman82

. . . . . . . . This was one of the more rare blonde cabinets, and I intend to bring it back that way. . . . . . . .

Please don't let the set hear you insulting it or it may refuse to absorb the refinish!

When your set was made, "blonde" refferred to Betty Grable.

The 621 came in only three colors, in the order of sales, Standard Mahogany, Walnut and Toasted Mahogany.

Your set is "Toasted Mahogany."

In later 1940's RCA sets, "Standard Mahogany" was sometimes called "Red Mahogany."

Jas.

[miniman82]

Do you think that's an actual stain color, or was that just how they referred to it? Because it may just be possible to get the original stain mixed for a price, sort of like color matching bodywork on cars. If not, I'll just have to trust the place I end up taking it to. This isn't an exact science, after all.

[Kevin Kuehn]

I think your set looks blond now because it is so weathered, possibly sun bleached. Anyhow it looks like a fun project.

[Electronic M]

Nice scroe!

[Sandy G]

If you run acrost 2 CRTS, even if they're that Air Force radar CRT substitute, let me know, willya ? Much Obliged..

[Eric H]

There was another 621 on eBay shortly after this one, it was a complete rotted disaster but the front mask was intact. It also went for around $200 I think, the mask would have been worth that by itself I think.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1940s-RCA-62...p2047675.l2557

I was tempted since it was near me, if the CRT was good that would be worth another $200.

[earlyfilm]

Originally Posted by miniman82

Do you think that's an actual stain color, or was that just how they referred to it?

I have no actual first-hand knowledge, but I'd guess the name "Toasted Mahogany" was to overcome the resistance of older purchasers, who like my grandfather said on blonde furniture, "looks like it ain't been finished."

Several furniture makers tried blonde furniture and in the older parts of the country there apparently was much buyer resistance. This is why I feel that RCA adopted the name "Toasted Mahogany", and used it at least through 1949.

I would guess that it was not like an original color name, as anyone who has ever done furniture finishing knows, the longer your stain sits before wiping, the darker and richer it becomes. Also how one stained the wood-filler before the color stain brought out more "grain". (This was much more important with the older dyes and solvents than with the currently made stains.)

I would love to see an original era Kodachrome slide of one of these sets. The "Standard Mahogany" set used contrasting colors, while the "Walnut" and "Toasted Mahogany" RCA sets used a more muted color scheme.

Holy Cow! Your set looks better in the original listing than your quick photos.

One might as well enjoy these pictures before ePray deletes them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vtg-RCA...-/400844989748

Those knobs, described by the seller as "original" indicate either Walnut or Standard finish. I suspect that they are replacement, probably done in the 1980's with the other work. Usually the color under any removable trim, indicates the original color. The red color in many early RCA sets that carried a real wood finish (not photographically printed) tended to fade, and the CT-100 is the poster child of that fading.

Also, the solvent used with the wood filler can greatly change how the grain looks, if it turns white when it ages. That one bit me on most of the furniture that I built in the 1950's. My teacher, who was in his 80's at the time, taught me to use boiled linseed oil. I should have used mineral oil. followed by a very thin wetting coat to seal it in.

James.

[miniman82]

Originally Posted by Sandy G

If you run acrost 2 CRTS, even if they're that Air Force radar CRT substitute, let me know, willya ? Much Obliged..

I take it you haven't seen this: http://antiqueradios.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Kevin Kuehn

I think your set looks blond now because it is so weathered, possibly sun bleached. Anyhow it looks like a fun project.

I guess the $200 price is fairly standard. I saw one in the garage of a long time TV repair shop. I threw the guy an offer for $200 and we agreed!
The only thing is, it missing the back and the bottom cover. Someone cut the CRT mask to make it, almost a porthole. I have to try to duplicate a replacement. The cabinet shows normal wear and tear, for it's age. I'm pretty sure, it's walnut. The HV cage and all knobs are there.
The CRT seems to be usable. It's a high focus voltage CRT, that was replaced sometime in the life of the set. An RCA replacement.

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

I guess the $200 price is fairly standard. I saw one in the garage of a long time TV repair shop. I threw the guy an offer for $200 and we agreed!
The only thing is, it missing the back and the bottom cover. Someone cut the CRT mask to make it, almost a porthole. I have to try to duplicate a replacement. The cabinet shows normal wear and tear, for it's age. I'm pretty sure, it's walnut. The HV cage and all knobs are there.
The CRT seems to be usable. It's a high focus voltage CRT, that was replaced sometime in the life of the set. An RCA replacement.

In the 90's the 621TS was rapidly increasing in value towards the $2,000 mark. I purchased mine in the early 90's for over $1,000. It seems most collectors believed a rather small number existed. With the Net, many have turned-up and that seemed to lower the value down considerably. I feel in time, when they're basically all unearthed and in collections, the value will rise again.
Also, my opinion is the set in question is "toasted mahogany" or blonde. Even under the wood where the mask goes, it's an even very light color. It would take a tremendous amount of sun bleaching to get a walnut or mahogany finish to look the that, especially on the top panel/speaker grill, and painted accent strips.

[Dave S]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

In the 90's the 621TS was rapidly increasing in value towards the $2,000 mark. I purchased mine in the early 90's for over $1,000.

Yeah, I'm not known for shopping for market value sets. I prefer the thrill of the chase. But I paid $600 for a mahogany set years ago that was in fairly weathered condition. That's probably a $200 set today. Good thing I found my blonde (oops! sorry, "toasted mahogany") set on Craigslist a couple years ago for $50.