RCA 1986 Color Trax Console Television

[Console User]

Looking for an extra picture tube for this T.V. Any Advice and Information would be apreciated!!! Model# GLR689PR Picture Tube # A63ABP13X

[radiotvnut]

I think your best bet is to find another TV with a good CRT and harvest the tube from it. There are no CRT rebuilders left for replacement CRT's; but, there are still plenty of these mid '80's RCA's around for cheap prices. Just keep an eye on the curb, CL, and the thrift stores.

[Console User]

I was told that a CRT from a RCA Table Top Model Would work in it? Is that correct?
Please give me any advice about that.

[sampson159]

crt will work as long as it is same number or pin basing.doesnt matter what is came from a console or table model.i might have a crt for you.will check

[Console User]

Thank You. Please explain to me what is meant by the pin basing so I can better understand CRT tubes.

[Jon A.]

The remote you were asking about in another thread about this set:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380561264299

Nice to hear of someone else with an appreciation for 80s TVs.

[Dreamsbeard]

I think a lot of people appreciate 80's TVs! My personal intrest is 1975 until maybe 88-89 where most of them slowly began to turn into ugly BPC.

By the way, what would be the earliest console to have "RCA" inputs? I have a colortrack 19" from 1983 that have them, I can't imagine finding one much older thant that...

[Jon A.]

Same here really, but I go slightly earlier into the 70s. Not sure about the RCA input thing; my oldest TV right now is from '82, but only my '89 Panasonic console has them.

[radiotvnut]

I'd say early '80's on some of the highest end sets from Sony, Zenith, RCA, and Magnavox.

I'll drag home some '80's portables; but, I'm not much into '80's consoles. By that time, they had become pretty much "cookie cutter" in terms of styling and most had particleboard/plastic cabinets. Another big issue for me is space; which, I'm almost out of and I need to reserve what little room I have left for older stuff. With that said, those '80's RCA consoles were excellent TV's and I made a lot of money off of them a long time ago; but, sadly, they are hard to give away today. If I was in need of a TV and a mid '80's RCA console came my way; then, I'd have no problem with putting it into service. Unlike most people today, I don't feel like I have to own a flatscreen TV.

Concerning the CRT, any A63 (25" viewable) series RCA CRT from that time period should work. The RCA CRT's from that era usually have a different style base that the socket plugs in to that's different than most other CRT's from that era; but, like I said, those RCA sets are still common and it shouldn't be hard to find one with a good CRT. As long as the CRT mounts the same, has the same socket, and is the right size (A63); then, it should work. The A66 series tubes were 26" and the A68 series tubes were 27"; so, those would be too big.

Back when I was fixing and selling used TV's, I was all the time swapping CRT's from other TV's. Some of these CRT's came out of a different brand of TV and often had different type numbers; but, they all worked as long as they physically fit and have the same electrical connections.

[Dreamsbeard]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

I'd say early '80's on some of the highest end sets from Sony, Zenith, RCA, and Magnavox.

I'll drag home some '80's portables; but, I'm not much into '80's consoles. By that time, they had become pretty much "cookie cutter" in terms of styling and most had particleboard/plastic cabinets. Another big issue for me is space; which, I'm almost out of and I need to reserve what little room I have left for older stuff. With that said, those '80's RCA consoles were excellent TV's and I made a lot of money off of them a long time ago; but, sadly, they are hard to give away today. If I was in need of a TV and a mid '80's RCA console came my way; then, I'd have no problem with putting it into service. Unlike most people today, I don't feel like I have to own a flatscreen TV.

.

Interesting. Would there be any other brands in the 80's, apart from RCA, that you would consider good enough (or at least interesting enough) for your collection? It seems that Sony from that time period are considered to be very good.

I am asking because over here I only seem to be able to find the "less desirable" of the 80's tv like hitachi (there is a LOT of those on the market right now) and quasar. I did find one mitsubishi console and those seem to be considered high end for the time, but even that one is a low end model (particule board and only coax). So i'd like to know what to look for in that time period.

[Jon A.]

I have a 1987 Sony with 19" screen that started my collection. Good set. In regards to your question, I'd say that the early Zenith System 3s are pretty good, especially desirable with built-in speakerphone. Not those with the weird curved cabinet though, yuck. That's the only Zenith oddity I know of that I don't like.

[zenith2134]

Hi Dreamsbeard. I collect 80s sets. I feel they will be the rarest to find one day in the future, due to lack of saving now.
Some of these later sets (pre-1987) are superb performers.
I do not save anything after about '87.
My favorite period for color television is ~~ 1974-1984.

[Jon A.]

Originally Posted by zenith2134

Hi Dreamsbeard. I collect 80s sets. I feel they will be the rarest to find one day in the future, due to lack of saving now.

I don't know about that. I don't think nearly as many people owned TVs when the still-common 50s sets were made. The supply may just sort of even out.

I'm currently trying to save an early '88 XL-100.

[Dreamsbeard]

Hi there Zenith2134! It's good to see people interested in the 80's set! Personnaly, I think those set are great because they combine great desing, great picture and some great new technology not available in the 70's like LED display, build in phone and so on... anyone remembers 80's speaking cars haha, call me crazy but I like those kind of quirky things.

[Console User]

Also, looking for the manual for this particular Model# GLR689PR RCA Color Trax T.V.