When did RCA stop making XL 100 sets?

[Rod Beauvex]

I had one dated 1992 or 1994, had stereo sound and composit video on channel 90 and S-video on channel 91. Kind of wish I hadn't given it away.

But when did RCA, in whatever zombie form it had taken, stop making them?

Were the rounded corner black sets with Guide+ XL100s?

[radiotvnut]

I think it was in the early 2000's. I seem to remember having a plain jane early 2000's 25" mono RCA that used the CTC203 chassis that was labeled as XL100. When the XL100 was introduced in the early '70's, the term meant "XtendedLife 100% solid state and was used on the then-new higher end solid state color TV's. By the late '70's-early '80's, the XL100 badge was applied to lower end color TV's and the colortrak badge was applied to the higher end TV's. By the early '80's, they used the term "colortrak 2000" to identify their highest end TV's. By the early '90's, the colortrak 2000 wording was replaced with the "colortrak plus" badge.

[Rod Beauvex]

I feel kind of dumb for posting this here. The last time I saw this place the forums for rectangular tube and solid state were not seperated.

Thanks for the answer though. :p

[jstout66]

And here's some "nerd" trivia.... RCA would also use XL on some of the chassis numbers. Example: The CTC-16 had different letters stamped after the 16. My RCA is a CTC16A, which by the way uses a different flyback than a CTC16XL. I asked my Uncle (who was a TV repairman) what was the deal with the letters, and he said the chassis' that had XL stamped on them were the top of the line sets, and used higher rated components, hence the XL (Xtended Life).
Would make sense that RCA would use that in the early days of the XL100 for their top of the line TV's.

[radiotvnut]

And, some of RCA's last tube sets had "XL-color" stamped on them. I have a 19" hybrid RCA from around '73-'74 that has this wording. I think it uses either a CTC53 or 63 chassis.

[davet753]

I can't remember exactly, but I know they were making the XL100's in the mid to late 1990's because I was an authorized service center for RCA/GE. Of course, the sets they turned out at that time were a far cry from the quality of the earlier XL100's.

[holmesuser01]

I recall the first time I had to work on my first XL 100 set. It was one of the first solid state RCA's I saw. Never got to work on the CTC-40 series chassis, either.

I replaced a glo-bar resistor on it, and it worked perfectly. Back then, I didnt fill in the model numbers or chassis numbers on repair tags. I started doing this later, when I became an authorized service shop. At one time, I had HUNDREDS of RCA modules in stock.

The mid '80's XL sets had issues with horizontal sweep modules, and pin to module connectors burning up.

[Charlie]

Interesting. I always wondered what made an XL-100. We had a 19" XL-100 that my parents bought around 1980... the set ran nearly 15 years and it finally went away due to one of the guns getting weak in the CRT.

[rpm1200]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Interesting. I always wondered what made an XL-100. We had a 19" XL-100 that my parents bought around 1980... the set ran nearly 15 years and it finally went away due to one of the guns getting weak in the CRT.

XL-100 = 100% solid state. I have a scan of a brochure (which I believe was posted on VK originally) where RCA called their hybrid sets "XL-Color".

Then the question becomes, what does "XL" stand for? Excel? Maybe it's derived from Excellent? Extended Life?!?

[Charlie]

Sometimes I think letters such as this mean nothing at all. They just sound cool, and so they are used. My '67 Galaxie 500 had the XL package. I never found out what that was supposed to stand for. Perhaps it was "extra luxury"... perhaps something else... maybe nothing at all. I can't say it was luxurious.... it was a fastback with bucket seats and a floor shift. I suspect XL just sounded cool. Maybe the same thing here on the XL-100.

Ahhh.. marketing. Make something sound cool and everyone will want it.

[Rod Beauvex]

I thought I read somewhere else on here that XL mean eXtended Life.

[jstout66]

Hi Rod,
Yes.. I was the one that posted that.
That is what I was told.
RCA tube color sets usually had a letter designation after the chassis number, and XL was always top of the line, so it kind of makes sense that the marketing people would actually use that for their top of the line solid state sets.

[bikensail]

Well, Greetings Gents (and Ladies), I'm new to this forum and registered primarily because I HAVE A WORKING RCA XL-100 TABLE TOP MODEL in working order. Any idea if anyone would have an iterest in it? I've had it for approx. 10 years, rarely turned it on, but it does work. I think 1 needs some sort of adapter/converter to change the current digital signal back to analog?? Anyway, if anyone has an interest or suggestions as to what I can do with it to keep it out of a land-fill, I'd really appreciate hearing/reading from you. Best way to reach me is laudybike@aol.com or either of the numbers in my signature. Thanks in advance!

[W3XWT]

I was always impressed with the XL-100 sets. A long ago former girlfriend had one in her living room (circa 1975). I have a fond memory of us on her living room floor on a rainy night watching "The Stranger Within" on WABC-TV after we gave up on "The Trial of Billy Jack" at the nearby cinema. I don't know which movie was more dreadful. But, at least the premise (if there really was one) to "Stranger" was at least "inspirational"!

[Electronic M]

You are all wrong...XL stands for Extra Lazy! They didn't even bother to write the whole phrase.