Preparing for the 50th anniversary of color
 

You know, I was thinking yesterday about my pair o'CT100s and it occurred to me that I most likely now have enough between the two to get one working, with the exception of the picture tube :mad:

Now I know that Steve McVoy has been working on a rebuild of one of the tubes, but in all honesty realizing that rebuilds may be nothing more than a one-off, what are the chances that my set(s) might be made functional again? I remember a couple years back hearing a rumor that Disney owned a couple of these sets and wanted to get them functional, and was going to foot some large bill for research into getting the tubes redone.

My cabinet should be back from the restorer this coming month, but I would seriously doubt I'll have it in running shape for January 1.

Ain't nothin like it...
 

I had my CT-100 restored last year. I certainly watched the parade on New Years Day, and short of watching in Hi-Def there's nothing like watching the Rose Parade on that power gulping mahogany monster. The reddest reds and all of the other brilliant colors gushed forth from that 12 1/2" "flat" screen. I have read some of the archival tv reviews from the first parade colorcast Jan. 1st 1954. Most are not kind. According to the critics, the close up shots were ok, but on that small screen in the wide shots the color seemed to run together. And they though the picture was not bright enough. :cool: Jeez! How about the fact that it was actually live and in color on those super tuned up RCA Model 5 prototypes.

Hee, Hee......I prepared for the anniversary by going out and buying a brand spankin' new 32 inch JVC............it was easier that way :p:

Tim- Why not call or e-mail Disney & just ask them if you could get yr CRTs rebuilt w/theirs ? They might say No & Hell no, but they might just say Yes, & maybe feature yr set as well. You never know. At the very least they might tell you who's redoing their tubes, so you could get in contact w/them. I'd say its at least worth a shot.-Sandy G.

The only thing is, that I don't really know if Disney really does own any, or if it was a rumor......and I wouldn't even know where to begin to substantiate such a thing.

Disney
 

Tim,
I worked at Disney studios for many years. His network show was not telecast in color until the fall of 1961 When it moved from ABC to NBC. Long after the CT-100. That show "Disneyland" was sponsored by RCA Victor and helped to sell a lot of color tv's He was. I understand, a gadget freek, so perhaps he may have owned an early color set prior to 1961.

Yep. I remember those commercials- "Color TV !! RCA new color TV !!" & the cheesy animation that went w/'em. Seems like it was a roundie they were hawking. Everybody watched the "Wonderful World of Color". That show probably did sell an awful lot of TVs-it came on Sunday night after church. About every kid in America wanted-erm, HAD to see it, & would bug their parents til THEY got a color set, as well. Ain't marketing wunnerful ?!?- Sandy G.

Anyone remember the song?
 

Okay, everyone. Sing along with me:

"The world is a carousel of colorrrrrrrrr......."

Living color
 

Many years ago I purchased a VHS tape from Disney Home Video. #279V.(1981) It is that first color show aired in 1961. It's a two parter titled: "The Wonderful World of Disney," "An Adventure in Color." and "Donald in Mathmagic Land." It has Walt talking up color and includes Prof. Ludwig Von Drake lecturing about how great color tv is and how drab watching this show in B&W must be. A shameless (great) promotion for RCA color. I also, later found the original network opening for this episode which has the NBC Peacock followed by that great opening music and color sequence and the RCA Victor commercial for their various products including the new CTC-11 models. Good stuff. I'm not sure if the tape is still available. I would love to have it on DVD.

I remember seeing that show a few years ago! It was with that professor duck showing the different vibrant colors, and for you black and white people, gray, gray, gray, black, gray, white, black, white, gray....LOL!

Man do I wish I had a copy of that!

Gents- Was watching "Boomerang" last night-yeah, yeah, I know...no jokes !!-& it occured to me that a lot of the programs geared towards kiddies were in color-one kid on about every street would have a color set, all the rest would come watch it, & then pester their parents to get one, too. Who wants to see "Huckleberry Hound" in dull old gray when he's really supposed to be blue ? Wonder how big of a cut Disney & Hanna-Barbera got for makin' all those cartoons in color to spur on demand ?!? I smell a conspiracy bigger than Roswell or JFK...<grin> -Sandy G.

Disney in color
 

Sandy,

In Disney's case it was mutual. NBC/RCA lured Disney away fom ABC because Disney had a huge library of color cartoons features and shorts. And gave RCA/NBC a boost in color tv sales and high ratings. And Disney was able to promote his theme parks and new movie releases in color. as well as guaranteed sponsorship from RCA Victor. Both benefited greatly. Now Disney owns ABC and is back on that network still selling it's products through its weekly show 50 years later. ABC started colorcasting in the early 60's with the Jetsons and the Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera.

Guys- Actually, I'd say we were ALL winners- General Sarnoff got to sell a lot of color TVs, Walt got to hawk Disneyland, & the public got some relatively quality entertainment that instilled a love of "nature" for a lot of us. IIRC, a lot of the Disney stuff was nature oriented documentaries. And a few of us wide-eyed little boys developed a fascination for that magick box w/the funny lookin' screen that remains unsated to this day. Sure, the cynical b*st*rd in me says it was all a big conspiracy, but so what? At least Walt, the General, et al gave us quite a bit in return for our money- contrast to today when corporate big-shots seem to want to steal everything they "Ken Lay" their hands on. (Bad pun, I know) -Sandy G.

Race to Rose Bowl 2004
 

I too am trying to get my Merill running for Jan 1....my CRT is NG but will have it running on my tele-matic test jig, o if I get lucky, I may find a 15G by then...

anyway...

It will happen!

Screen shots to follow....

A stupid question...do they still have the Rose Bowl parade on Jan 1?

Thanks,
Kirk

Rose Parade
 

Hi Kirk,
You bet. The Tournament of Roses Parade is held every Jan. 1st. It is telecast on CBS and NBC. Also on some WB stations through KTLA here in Los Angeles. NBC first telecast it in color on Jan. 1st 1954. KTLA followed the next year (1955) in color. Last year KTLA telecast the parade in high def. An incredible picture.

Re: Race to Rose Bowl 2004
 

'Splain, what is a telematic test jig? Hell, if yours can work on one, mine might be able to, too! Oooooh, tell me, tell me, TELL ME!!!!

This could make my day :)

BTW, if you can find an operating 15G by New Years, then you have better luck than I....I've been looking for 2 years :(

Test jig
 

Hey Tim,
I'll try and reply to your question to Kirk. several companies including RCA manufactured color tv test jigs. These were nothing more then color picture tubes mounted in a metal cabinet. They usually came with a variety of tube socket adapters. This allowed the repair person to take just the customer's chassis and not lug the whole cabinet and picture tube back to the shop. He could then just plug the chassis in to the jig and diagnose the problem. Some jigs had other testing devices built in. There was one offered on e-bay recently.

We plan to have the Early Television Museum open for the parade, with the CT-100, Westinhouse 15", Motorola 19", Colordaptor, and our new Model 5 working. We may also get the Philco TV-123 working again.

We will also have the CBS field sequential monitor on display, but only with a color bar pattern, since we haven't yet figured out how to convert NTSC to 144 fps field sequential.

If you are in the area, stop by to see us.

Test Jig
 

I am fabricating the adaptors to run the CTC-2 this weekend.

I have already done this for the CTC4 and CTC5, as they were not offered by Tele-Matic. These chasis work great on it, with a little linearity and Width correction. It is absolutely the best way to run a TV chasis and work on it at the same time. Comfortable and safe. Here is a pix of the CTC 4 "jiggd up", and a closeup of theTelematic with the 4 providing the pix. Note the HV meter.

If I am able to get the CTC2 to run on the Jig, I have a spare(jig) that I can make an adaptor for you, and you can PM me abo
ut getting it up to you in Buffalo.

You were great to me, sending the "Super"emblem.

Telematic and CTC4
 

Another shot, with the chasis on the bench to give it some scale. I have the jig on a shelf,with the wires coming down. This CTC 4 is running the jig. Sorry it's tilted...

CT 100 on Test Jig
 

I finally got around to it..made the adaptors and it works! Most recapping and alignment are complete. Just need a good 15G!

CT 100 on Test Jig
 

Vertical and Horizontal distortion is due to the impedance mismatch of the yoke in the jig, and the difference in deflection angle. (The 15g IS a flat screen).

Re: Re: Race to Rose Bowl 2004
 

Here ya go "Ricky"

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...&category=3638

Anthony (Loosey, WAAAaaahhhhh! :pity: )

Couple of bids placed.....somebody wants this thing badly....but not as badly as me ;)

There's not enough time for my dream to come to light though <sigh> , especially with my level of expertise :rolleyes:

Re: CT 100 on Test Jig
 

Wow, I didn't realize the CT-100 had a digital on-screen display! They were really ahead of their time :D

Digital Disply on CT-100
 

The OSD (on screen display)comes from a VCR being used as a tuner.

The first OSD tv was an RCA. 1969. It was like the 1934 Chrysler Airflow, an Edsel, whatever you want. The public was not ready for it yet and it cost too much to produce. They came back out again in 1979. The rest is history.

The snow was great this weekend..It allowed me to stay in the workshop!

Heathkit introduced OSD in the early 70's on their "ground breaking" GR-2000

They also had only 4 large pushbuttons on the face of the set for volume and channel selection.

Anthony

Re: Digital Disply on CT-100
 

I had 3 Edsels :D

Are you boasting or apologizing. I always liked those last Edsels that were really '60 Fords with funny tail lights. I guess I getting off topic here:dunno:

Hm, now that I think about it, I don't know! :D

I had a '58 Ranger 4 door, a '59 Ranger 4 door hardtop, and a '59 Ranger 2 door post. Always wanted a '60 myself.

Edsels ?!? Hmmphf !! Always wanted a '58 Lincoln- reverse slanted rear window, pre-dented front fenders, "Fu-Manchu" stacked headlights..Talk about "The Age of Gorp" styling- the '58s had it in SPADES. Yeah, you're right-the '60 Edsel was a warmed-over '60 Ford. Probably was the best looking 1960 FoMoCo product, IMHO, but that ain't saying much. Yeah we're getting off-topic here. -Sandy G.

Wanna-Be
 

Make-A-Wish...The CT100 chasis is powering the jig..I stuck the escushion on for ha-ha's:D

Ready for the 50th (For Now)
 

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow collector, I was allowed to borrow a good 15G for the Rose Parade. My fellow collectors from the Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Ct. and I will watch the parade on a working CT-100. :D Include is a srceen shot of my favorite Fox (ie) News commentator, Laurie Dhue.

Outstanding Kirk!
Generous indeed. That's a fine looking picture on your CT-100. I'm borrowing a digital camera and plan to snap some pix of the 50th color telecast of the Rose Parade off my CT-100. Hope to post them on my site and this fourm sometime after the 1st. How about other CT-100 or other working 15gp set owners doing the same?

Too bad the first color broadcast wasn't something a little less boring than the Rose Parade :D Zzzzzz