RCA XL-100 in Germany - Unusual !

[jhalphen]

Hi to all,

Saw this 13 inch RCA XL-100 in Germany. Pretty much a common set in the US, but unusual on this side of the Atlantic.

Mystery is explained by the fact this is probably a TV purchased by a US Army or Air Force person stationed in Germany as the main US bases operated NTSC low power transmitters in Frankfurt, Ramstein and probably other places.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/RCA-XL-100-Fe...item27cd681cfe

The barely readable sticker in photo #3 specifies "Frankfurt area color system".

Personal memories: i stayed twice in the Frankfurt area during 2 summers to learn German, this was in 1965 & 1967. The US base radiated a B&W 525 line signal and local radio/TV shops would install for a few tens of DMs an FM audio adapter in your TV to pickup the 4.5 MHz US audio channel.
The H/V scan rate differences were accomodated simply by tweaking the H Hold & V Hold controls.

These kits were very popular with German families as they could watch US TV series straight from AFN instead of waiting sometimes for years until they were aired dubbed in German from their national broadcasters.

Nope, i won't buy it, too big & no more space.

Best Regards

jhalphen
Paris/France