Anyone know how old this RCA set is?

[Jeffhs]

I'd try putting the TV on the same channel the VCR outputs to. Most VCRs output to either channel 3 or channel 4, depending on which channel is not used in the user's area; I have never seen one that has RF output on channel 5. That's probably why you are not getting a picture, although the signal may still be strong enough to produce some sound. If you try to watch the VCR when it is set for channel 3 RF output, but the TV is set on channel 4 (or vice versa), you may not get a picture at all; if you do, it will either be negative with very poor horizontal sync or else very weak and distorted. Set the TV tuner to the same RF output channel the VCR is set to and it should work well.

[zeno]

WOW it looks like RCA sent up modules & told them
to build the chassis for it. Never seen anything like it
but the boards & other parts look the same.
Anyhows the hoz may be running way off freq, try
the hold control 1st. IIRC its on the h. osc board & there
may be a customer control also. May also be an SCR, IIRC
one of them gave a similar problem.

BTW someone here or on AR said they got a bunch of
Canadian service manuals within the last few months.

73 Zeno