1940's RCA TV's for $75... Worth getting?

[Magnavox300]

I have a chance to get these two RCA sets, both for $75...
Neat sets, but are they worth getting? I'm just not too sure of how difficult these are to work on, obsolete parts and such... or how reliable they will be afterwards... figured I'd ask those with any experience on these!

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by Magnavox300

I have a chance to get these two RCA sets, both for $75...
Neat sets, but are they worth getting? I'm just not too sure of how difficult these are to work on, obsolete parts and such... or how reliable they will be afterwards... figured I'd ask those with any experience on these!

The price is nearly a giveaway, so if you have the space, go for it. Desirability is moderate, but early RCA TV's always have collector interest. Just the 10BP4 CRT's, which likely are good, are worth over $100 a piece. Both those sets have a bullet proof quality chassis. Not being electronically adept I do know that they are not problematic to restore and both those sets are about as good a performer as any early vintage TV you'll find.

[nasadowsk]

They're 630 derivatives. About as nice as you get in early TV after the Dumonts..
That being said, mine had a connection that was never soldered. From the factory. Go figure..

[vts1134]

Originally Posted by nasadowsk

They're 630 derivatives. About as nice as you get in early TV after the Dumonts..
That being said, mine had a connection that was never soldered. From the factory. Go figure..

I'm not absolutely sure about the table-top set, but I can tell you the 730TV1 console is not a 630 derivative.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by vts1134

I'm not absolutely sure about the table-top set, but I can tell you the 730TV1 console is not a 630 derivative.

The table set also is not a 630 but is a later simplified design with 24 tubes... IIRC: 8T24.

jr

[Yamamaya42]

Originally Posted by vts1134

I'm not absolutely sure about the table-top set, but I can tell you the 730TV1 console is not a 630 derivative.

There are quite a few similarities to the rca 630ts in the 730TV1 schematics, kind of like it's a 630 that's been evolved quite a bit.

[N2IXK]

Old RCA's are pretty easy to restore, and work very well. Parts generally easy to find, as there were lots of them made.

The chassis on the 730TV1 is VERY similar to the one used on the 721TS/721TCS (KCS-26 series chassis), which was the cost-reduced replacement for the 630 chassis.

[bgadow]

I seem to recall the Photofact for the 721 was shared with the 730 (could be mixing things up), I think the biggest different being the 730 used the radio chassis for audio. I had a 730 that had been abused and partly gutted, and have had one of those table models (never could recall the model number.) These still show up quite a bit; RCA was building them as fast as it could go at the time. There are a few little challenges with those RCA's, like the resistor network that tends to open up and a finicky tuner, but you won't have trouble finding help to resurrect them. BTW, I wouldn't consider the prices a bargain, but fair.

[rld-tv01]

Originally Posted by bgadow

I wouldn't consider the prices a bargain, but fair.

If $37.50 apiece for two TVs is not a bargain (both for $75) then the net worth of my collection just fell through the floor.

[Electronic M]

One is a console and the other is a fairly bland not highly sought after model....I have sold similar table sets in slightly worse condition for $35 in the last few years.

Also value is about supply and demand. Most TVs typically cost more to ship long distance than they are worth. So if a region has a lot of early post war sets and few or no collectors they maybe unsellable, and elsewhere there might be a concentration of collectors and few sets available and bidding wars and Craigslist post response driving races may insue over more mondane models.

[bgadow]

To be fair, I misread and thought they were $75 each. 2 for $75 is certainly better. I will also say, I've had about 3 of those table models and I honestly could not give them away. Nobody would drive over here and get them. I also had to junk the console I had. And I had a 641TS that sold; guy drove here and parted it out in my driveway, leaving the cabinet for me to haul to the curb.

(Yep, as Electronic M said, region has much to do with it. Location, location, location. I learn this every time I list a TV for sale. Very few want them enough to drive here, no matter the price.)

[truetone36]

If those were near me, they'd already be safely tucked away at my place.

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by truetone36

If those were near me, they'd already be safely tucked away at my place.

I just picked up 8TS30, which is 10" table model with channel 1, that came from Brooklyn originally. I wanted a set close to a 630TS and this is it. At $60 and 45 mins away, it was a pretty standard find at a good price for ex-urbs of Philadelphia.

I also have two 8T241's and a 9T240, a simplified chassis version of the 630TS, two of which I will bring to the next Kutztown swap. I paid way too much for one of those 8T241's and standard bargain amount for the others.

[Chris K]

Hi Dave...I'm in Drexel Hill...whereabouts are you?

[Notimetolooz]

Originally Posted by Chris K

Hi Dave...I'm in Drexel Hill...whereabouts are you?

Chris, this thread is two years old.
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