Reproduction CTC4/CTC5 "Deluxe" emblem READY FOR SHIPMENT
 

From time to time I have encountered collectors that were looking for the small "Deluxe" emblem used on the CTC4 or CTC5. Often the Deluxe emblem is missing or broken. The original part was cast zinc and often got broken because the zinc part is brittle.

I have been considering casting a small production run using an original emblem to create the mold. They would be cast from either pewter or lead alloy and then brass electro-plated.

The production run would be limited to probably no more than 50 parts. I would anticipate that I would need to get about $15/emblem to cover my production costs.

I would like to poll the group to see how many of the emblems people might like to purchase. If I get enough interest to cover my investment I will invest my own money and make a limited production run for collectors to purchase.

Some years ago I made a run of "General Electric" emblems for Harry Poster to put on GE portble sets. He was very happy with them.

If you are interested in getting a Deluxe emblem, please post here and say how many you would committ to buying.

Is the emblem on the 4 & 5 the same one used on the 7 and the B&W sets of the 50's?

I needed one for a 1958 B&W set a while back but have one now, I still need one for my CTC7 and it appears to be the same as the B&W emblem.

If you could produce one for $15 I will commit to buying one.

Count me in for two.:yes:

I would also like two. :yes:
Kevin

Bob, if you do make them we will promote them on our site.

Yes. I have a CTC7 Pensburry and it has the same Deluxe emblem as you have pictured. About 3 inches long. I am not sure about B&W sets.

Thanks STeve, I will keep that in mind.

Bob

I'd be in for 2.

I need like 3 of them, the 'D' is snapped off my Wingate and it never hurts to have spares! Never know- I removed the script from my Anderson console, maybe now I can put one back on.

I wish I could find someone who could make reproduction Space Command logos. I have a
'58 Zenith that needs one.

Hi Nick,

Yes, it is usually the D that is snapped off. I have seen a number of them including a couple of my own with the D missing.

Bob-

I will buy one for sure. My CTC-7 has a good logo, but a spare (or one for a future acquisition) will be good to have. Thank you for pursuing this project.

Count me in for one for my CTC-7.

Thanks!

-Clark

The Deluxe logo on my CTC-5 Wingate was "borrowed" from my CTC-5 Strathmore Deluxe which was in storage & since sold. It was tricky removing that very fragile plastic logo. I felt the Wingate was incomplete w/o it. Have to say that even dusting the cabinet, you have to be careful not to snag that logo w/the dust cloth. I may pop for a spare and will let the person I sold my other CTC-5 know about this thread.

-Steve D.

Hello Bob,

I too need a "Deluxe" emblem for a CTC-7 I have. However, I would also like to get two spares to have on hand. So I would commit to purchasing three of the emblems if they become available. Hope you are able to get them made. Please keep us posted.

Gilbert

Looks like I'll need another one for my new CTC-7, so sign me up for 3 instead of 2.

Progress Update
 

Last week I located and removed a virgin "Deluxe" emblem on one of my B&W sets in storage. This morning I took the emblem over to the felow who will do the casting of the parts. It will be several weeks before the parts are available, and then I have to still get the emblems brass plated.

I will post with another update when I have the raw castings in hand.

Thanks for the update, Bob. That's good news.

I'm going to update my commitment to two emblems. I think hi_volt's idea of having a back up sounds wise.

Thanks,

Clark

Like this one?

http://antiqueradio.org/art/temp/RCA...luxeEmblem.jpg

This free cabinet just popped up on the local craigslist. I might be tempted, just to get a spare emblem, but the ad says, "two people will be required to bring it down three flights of stairs."

Phil Nelson

Phil,

There are 2 versions of the Deluxe emblem. The one we are making is about 3inches wide and is cast. There is also one that is about 7 inches wide and is formed in sheet brass. I cant tell from the photo if this is the 7 inch or the small cast one we are making.

Bob,


You stated the "Deluxe" emblem you will be using as a mold for the duplicates was from an RCA B&W TV. So you are absolutely sure the emblem is exactly the same dimensions size wise w/the attachment pins as those found on the CTC 4/5 color receivers. I guess what I'm staying, your reproductions are an exact match and will push in to the existing holes on the CTC 4/5 color sets? See photo attachment post #14.

Thanks,
-Steve D.

Hi Steve,

I did not actually compare it to a Deluxe emblem on a color set by removing the emblem from the color set. However, cosmetically it appears to be the same emblem from what I can see without removing the emblem from the color set. I can't imagine that RCA would have produced different versions of an emblem that all look alike. However just to make ceertain that there is no difference inthee locations of the pins, I will measure the distance of the holes in a CTC4 cabinet that is missing the emblem and compare it to the drilled holes in the B&W cabinet.

If there is a difference in the location of the holes in a color set versus a B&W set we will have to make a decission about how to make an emblem that fits all sets.

The casting process will utilize metal pin "embedments" instead of casting stems. However the metal pins may be of a slightly smaller diameter. The process used to cast the emblem does not allow us to cast the stems for various technical reasons that I will not go into here. You would need to have a thorough understanding of the rubber mold casting process in order to understand the technical difficulties of casting small diameter pins like we are dealing with. It may be necessary to place a small amount of epoxy in the existing holes of the cabinet with a tooth pick and tape the emblem on the face of the cabinet until the glue sets up and can hold the emblem in place.

Visually the emblems should be near exactly what the original looks like. The object is to have an emblem that looks proper even if there may be some minor mechanical differences. This should not be an issue to anyone who has a missing or damaged emblem.

The only way to cast the pins would be to have a zinc die casting company make a tool steel mold which would be prohibitivly expensive. Sometimes in life we must make some small trade-offs to achieve an acceptable goal.

I just got back from a 1hr round trip to my storage unit. I measured the center to center distance of the holes on the B&W set. I also measured the distances on 2 CTC4 sets. The measurment on all the sets is the same. It measures 1.700" + or - .005"

So, just as I suspected, there is only 1 version of this emblem and it was used on all sets, both B&W and color, with this type of small die cast emblem.

This emblem is not to be confused with the larger "Deluxe" emblem that is stamped and formed from sheet brass.

Bob,

Appreciate you taking the time to measure and confirm the "Deluxe" emblem's measurements re: the stem attachments. I will be purchasing one of the emblems as a spare, as one of the stems on my current emblem has broken off. Look forward to your posting their availability down the line.

Thanks again,
-Steve D.

I need one for my Wingate. Pretty sure the one on the director 21 is broken too.

WELLCOME back. The forum hasn't heard from you in a long time.
We all hope everything is well with you! :thmbsp:

He got lost in facebook for a while, he's been around. Hi Mark!

Looks like I'll be needing one for an upcoming CTC-7, so put me down for 1. Thanks!

Count me in for one, please, I have very recently acquired a CTC 7 with the "D" broken off the Deluxe emblem! Thanks again for your research and time and investment in this project.

I just spoke to the fellow who will be casting the emblems for us. As I suspected, he is draging his feet. Nothing happens very quickly with this guy, and If I push too hard he will just push back. So I have to pe patient and let this guy do his work when he feels like doing it.

I will contact him again in a few more weeks to see if he has made any progress. I just wanted to let everyone know that this is going to happen but it is going to take some time, so we all need to be patient.

Thanks for the update, Bob. No hurry for any of us, I would expect. Our sets will work just as well while they are still only "eluxe" models.

Yep, I'm willing to wait as long as it takes. I imagine my sets have been "eluxe" for a number of years, so they can wait a little longer. :yes:

Absolutely, as hivolt and Chris have said, no hurry at all. I'm sure you only needed to know roughly how many of us were interested in purchasing when ever they become available, thanks :-)

No worries Bob, we all know hibernation can be a difficult thing to get out of up there! lol

Sad news
 

I have been trying to reach my elderly friend who was casting the emblems for me, for about 2 weeks. I have been concerned for a couple months because he has a weak heart and has been telling me he has not been feeling good. Today I went over to his workshop. Nobody was there, so I left a message on the door for him to call me.

I got a phone call From Doug (a friend of Jim's) about 4PM central time that my friend, Jim Bornamen, passed away over the Labor Day weekend. Jim's friend Doug, is acting as caretaker for Jim's workshop. He said that he would make sure that I get the mold that Jim made and the few emblems that were already cast (less than a dozen).

There is a possibility that I might be able to have someone else cast the emblems using the mold that is already made. I will have to try and locate someone with the correct machines to do the work.

So as for right now, we are dead in the water until I am able to find a solution to this predicament.

I have not given up, but this problem is not going to be easy to work around.

Bob,

My condolences on the loss of your friend Jim.

-Steve D.

I got a call from Doug this AM. He is casting the emblems today. I will have them in hand next week. At that point I will need to get them brass plated. I will update again when I have an idea when the plating will be completed.

:thmbsp:

-Steve D.

Can't wait!

Outstanding! :smoke: