Older C-M sets, at least the color set I saw, was an RCA CTC-15 clone.

Yes , it seems that older set where very descent, but the 80's one seem to be considered as crap. It really is too bad because I really love 80's tech (the fact that I was born in 82 might help ;) )

Get a Sony Trinitron from the early 80s, or late 70s. I think that in terms of performance for the era, they're unbeatable.. especially the "made in japan" ones.