RCA Victor portable TV from the 1950s

[vortalexfan]

Hello everyone today I finally got the old TV I was talking about, it's a 1950s vintage RCA Victor 12" B & W portable TV that is in a metal and plastic cabinet with a handle on top and it's white colored.

Interesting thing is that it's got both VHF and UHF tuners on it and built in antennas.

Any information about the TV?

Pictures of the unit in question posted below.

[jr_tech]

Same set (17inch) in maroon:

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1959-RCA-170P063.jpg

jr

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by jr_tech

Same set (17inch) in maroon:

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1959-RCA-170P063.jpg

jr

Cool, thanks for the link. So, mine doesn't power up when you turn on the power switch, and it does have all of its original RCA branded Tubes in it.

Also was this considered a high end set?

[michaelz]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

Cool, thanks for the link. So, mine doesn't power up when you turn on the power switch, and it does have all of its original RCA branded Tubes in it.

Also was this considered a high end set?

check filament of all the tubes.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by michaelz

check filament of all the tubes.

This isn't a series string set, it has a power transformer in it, and I don't see any fuses in it.

The tube placement chart and chassis number is missing from the set so I don't know if I can find a service manual for this TV or not.

[vortalexfan]

Here's some pictures of the inside of the TV.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by michaelz

check filament of all the tubes.

IIRC, the set is considered to be a 1961 model.
RCA made about three years of that model. The 1959 model used a 5U4 rectifier, where the newer ones used the voltage doubler circuit.
A member of my family had a 1960 model that was the TOTL. It had a two-tone charcoal and white cabinet with all chromed metal knobs and a better looking front bezel.
The one you show is a lower priced version of basically the same set.
The TOTL 1961 models had a new-vistor tuner.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

IIRC, the set is considered to be a 1961 model.
RCA made about three years of that model. The 1959 model used a 5U4 rectifier, where the newer ones used the voltage doubler circuit.
A member of my family had a 1960 model that was the TOTL. It had a two-tone charcoal and white cabinet with all chromed metal knobs and a better looking front bezel.
The one you show is a lower priced version of basically the same set.
The TOTL 1961 models had a new-vistor tuner.

Yes, and apparently it also came with a remote in the Top of the line models...

My tv seems to have developed a vertical problem where the top of the screen isn't going all the way up to the top and it bounces around, and the vertical output/oscillator tube is still good yet, any ideas as to what could be causing the unstable vertical?

One theory I have is that the vertical section has about 3 paper caps in it which may have become leaky, but not sure if that's the problem or not.

[michaelz]

Originally Posted by vortalexfan

Hello everyone today I finally got the old TV I was talking about, it's a 1950s vintage RCA Victor 12" B & W portable TV that is in a metal and plastic cabinet with a handle on top and it's white colored.

Interesting thing is that it's got both VHF and UHF tuners on it and built in antennas.

Any information about the TV?

Pictures of the unit in question posted below.

Cool.

[Eric H]

I have the same set, 1959 I think, great performer when restored.

It has a fusible resistor I think, that will kill it if it's open.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Eric H

I have the same set, 1959 I think, great performer when restored.

It has a fusible resistor I think, that will kill it if it's open.

OK so I think I found the fusible resistor yo were talking about, and it actually tested fine, it said it had continuity according to my continuity tester on my DMM.

But there was one part near it that I wasn't sure about what it was or what it was supposed to be and it appears to be damaged whatever the part is, and it looks to be part of the power supply.

see picture below.

[Electronic M]

CRT probably woke up from sleeping sickness.

Those thermistors were designed to get hot and often would unsolder at the point the leads joined the resistive puck... Sometimes the pucks would crack too. These were high failure parts in color TVs (which was the main application for them).

Check the brightness pot and if it is good change any caps in it's circuit that might be leaky and dragging it's output.

[vortalexfan]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

CRT probably woke up from sleeping sickness.

Those thermistors were designed to get hot and often would unsolder at the point the leads joined the resistive puck... Sometimes the pucks would crack too. These were high failure parts in color TVs (which was the main application for them).

Check the brightness pot and if it is good change any caps in it's circuit that might be leaky and dragging it's output.

Ok, thanks, I'll check into it.

Although this set has mostly Mylar caps in it except for about 4 paper caps that I saw on the back of the set so it seems that there shouldn't be too many caps needing changed in this set.

[Electronic M]

The early mylars are not completely above failure, but are very low failure....I've found 2-3 genuine bad ones out of many dozzens encountered.

[Kevin Kuehn]

By the looks of how nice that sets plastic is I'll agree it may have been a closet queen most it's life.
Post a couple close up's of the broken knob and possibly someone will have one in their stash.