Found a 1979 XL-100 15"

[Eric H]

Nothing like a 15" portable with the footprint and weight of a 19"

This is the second one of these I've found, the other one has a Silver cabinet.
The CRT seems a little soft but it looks good after it warms up.

For $5.00 I couldn't leave it.

[zenith2134]

Sweet I had one just like this with a really weak crt. I really wanted it to become 1 of my main sets because I liked the styling. Forgot which CTC number it was.

[wa2ise]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

Sweet I had one just like this with a really weak crt.

One trick to do to implement a "brightner" is to wrap an extra turn on the flyback for the heater. I think most RCAs of that era got the heater voltage off the flyback, usually 3 or so turns of wire. Of course, there isn't a whole lotta life left in that CRT, but you can squeeze a little more out of it.

Would a Beltron CRT restorer work on CRTs like these?

[old_coot88]

Originally Posted by wa2ise

One trick to do to implement a "brightner" is to wrap an extra turn on the flyback for the heater. I think most RCAs of that era got the heater voltage off the flyback, usually 3 or so turns of wire. Of course, there isn't a whole lotta life left in that CRT, but you can squeeze a little more out of it.

Memory's a little vague, but didn't summa these (not RCAs necessarily) have a low value resistor like 2.2 ohms or so, in series with the heater, mounted on the socket board? I seem to remember "brightening" a weak CRT by shunting this resistor. Or maybe i wuz dreaming it.

[radiotvnut]

Nice find. I've had a few of those; and, when they're right, they have a very sharp picture.

[bgadow]

There was one in a local indoor flea market for maybe 2 years. Every time I was in there I would see that RCA in the corner of my eye from a distance and think it was a Portacolor. I think the last time we stopped in it was finally gone. I'd have bought it for $5, too. (but not the $45 they were asking locally)

[Sandy G]

Giv ya Ten fer it...Dubble yer Munny....But at that price, YOU gotta ketch th' Shippin'....

[sampson159]

i had 2 of those sets.one in my daughters bedroom and one in my sonns.those were very,very good sets that lasted for years.good score!

[AUdubon5425]

CTC-87. I have one that looks just like yours, EC333W is the model I believe. It's the set we keep in the bedroom and has an excellent picture.

[magnasonic66]

That's really neat, great save for that price! I found a 15" Sharp dated July 1976, but I don't have that much space anymore. If I don't break down and get it, hope it goes to a good home. I don't know if there are tv collectors in this area though.

[hamilton]

I paid about $3.00 for a similar set (also made in 1979) at a garage sale back in 1995. I also had the 1978 model with the silver cabinet that I paid $50.00 in 1990. Didn't keep it very long, there were so many problems with it that I sold it to a TV repair shop for 5.00 back in 1991.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Eric H

Nothing like a 15" portable with the footprint and weight of a 19"

This is the second one of these I've found, the other one has a Silver cabinet.
The CRT seems a little soft but it looks good after it warms up.

For $5.00 I couldn't leave it.

That last Quote " I couldn't leave it". is going to be my downfall. You wouldn't believe how many sets can accumulate in a short amount of time. Weight is an understatement. Like the 13" Zenith with a large power transformer and Space Command. Heavyyyyy.

[RobtWB]

Like most of us I can't seem to pass over sets either.
Here is an October 1979 manufactured RCA XL100, Model ED 339WR I recently picked up at an estate sale. Only a 13" screen but this set has the footprint of a microwave oven. The original paperwork was with the set as well as the original 4 button, half round remote control. I suspect this set saw little use. The coax input still had its original plastic protector covering it.
When I brought the set home I was without cable service while waiting for the satellite system to be installed. I used the set over a weekend with a set top convertor box and my ancient outdoor antenna. It has a great picture.

[Hemingray]

Originally Posted by RobtWB

Like most of us I can't seem to pass over sets either.
Here is an October 1979 manufactured RCA XL100, Model ED 339WR I recently picked up at an estate sale. Only a 13" screen but this set has the footprint of a microwave oven. The original paperwork was with the set as well as the original 4 button, half round remote control. I suspect this set saw little use. The coax input still had its original plastic protector covering it.
When I brought the set home I was without cable service while waiting for the satellite system to be installed. I used the set over a weekend with a set top convertor box and my ancient outdoor antenna. It has a great picture.

I have that same exact set, bought it at a yard sale for $5, Have a remote with it too but it's not exactly fully functional (only the volume buttons work)

[Eric H]

Originally Posted by RobtWB

Like most of us I can't seem to pass over sets either.
Here is an October 1979 manufactured RCA XL100, Model ED 339WR I recently picked up at an estate sale.

I had a very similar set in the early 80's, I bought it along with a couple other older sets at a Govt surplus sale for $10.

Mine had been dropped and the back had broken off and the PC board cracked.

I soldered the PC board and glued the back mounting posts back on and it worked great!

Back then a working 2 year old Color TV with a remote for $10 was a killer deal!

It died on me a few years later and I never bothered to fix it.