GORGEOUS RCA CTC-16 Console on eBay!!!!
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/17563111383...&segname=11051

My God what a beautiful thing. From the photos, it looks to be in fantastic condition. I just can't justify the expense or spare the space right now but what a fantastic opportunity. Maybe the ETF would be interested??? It's an hour and a half drive for me but my marriage would be severely strained. The mahogany crotch panels on the cabinet doors are beautiful and they're pocket doors to boot!

Sorry...it's a KCS-25 chassis not a CTC-16

I sorta wish CTC-16 combos took up so little floor space. :D

1948 RCA 8TV41

http://web.archive.org/web/202203240...8TV41-10in.JPG

Thanks for the info Bob. Just watched your latest YT post. Break out the pressure washer and Ivory soap!

they are already asking too much for it :O

Seems to me that it's worth that for the cabinet refinish it doesn't need alone, never mind it being a nice example of a late fortys roundy combo console.

It would depend on how good the 10BP4 is I guess, and the FBT & power transformer to a lesser degree, yes, agreed a good exterior can fetch a decent price, but as the CRTs become more unobtainium, that will be the first thing I tend to look at, I was lucky with my fada 895 cause I knew it sat for 30+ years idle and the 12LP4 in it would be very strong.

Oh please…you’re killing me. I bought a NOS 10BP4 from the ETM CRT list! I’m so tempted but I can’t I can’t I can’t!

Aw, come on, , , ya KNOW ya want to, it's like a beautiful girl lookin at ya from across the bar whispering "Take me home, big guy", , , it's fate's way of bringing people, and things, together........ :lmao:

All the parts in the TV are common and easy to get including the 10BP4 so don't let that stop you :D

That is great news, especially that the 10BP4 CRT is still available at this time. This particular RCA television is very rare and deserves to be restored at almost any cost. RCA was a pioneer in electronic television in this country, so any antique TV made by RCA certainly does deserve to be brought back to life, even if it takes some doing.

they have not had any on the list for a while now, not that I need one, but I do look from time to time out of curiosity, thus I mentioned it, there IS one for a high price on evil-bay.

You need to go an ETF swapmeet. That list is only the museum's inventory. Individual sellers have a bunch.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...6f6ae8f3_c.jpg

If it wasn't a 1300 mile drive from here, I'd would think about doing it some time!

Wow. Got the 10BP4…need a 12JP4 for The Doghouse! Also need a 17DKP4. Do these rarer tubes ever turn up in decent condition with any regularity? I’d also love to find a new or close to new 17 inch for the Predicta. I’d open the bank account for that one and the 12JP4!!!!!!

Yeah...but I think my wife would have the same reaction!

I've got a healthy 17" tube that will fit a predicta. The neck is about an inch longer so you'd have to mount the back hatch on standoffs. $150 local pickup or delivery to the ETF only (I don't want to box it).

I’m amazed it has FM. RCA wanted it killed, per Sarnoff’s orders.

Not really - Predicta compatible CRTs get snatched up quickly.

Are you sure you want a 12JP4? Remember it has no ion trap and will develop an ion burn. I'd suggest going with a 12QP4 to avoid this. 12LP4, 12KP4 or similar might be possible, but they have a different anode connector and are longer.
https://live.staticflickr.com/542/31...0c520182_z.jpg

Wow...same melt on mine. What a mess. Yes, I saw some threads regarding the 12QP4 substitution. Are the required changes fairly simple? FYI I have the Predicta tube wrong. The Princess is the 21" version so I will need to source a 21EAP4

Thanks Tom but I made an error. The Princess has a 21" screen so I need a 21EAP4. Unfortunately, I don't think electronic swap meets happen very often in my area so old and working CRTs are hard to come by. I have purchased 2 from the ETM but, right now, they don't have anything I need in stock.

Chris

I've never tried it, but it's my understanding the 12QP4 is a drop in substitute. Others will require you to cut off the anode connector and install a different type. The longer CRTs might not fit in the cabinet with the back on or require you to move the focus coil/yoke assembly further back.

The Princess, Debutante and Siesta have a 17" screen. Holiday, Pedestal and Tandem are 21"

If you need a 21", you are much, much better off with a 21FDP4 (or equivalent) than the original, flawed 21EAP4.

No, you're making an error now. The Princess is a 17" set. I know because I used to own one (I could also find some service info to quote if you don't believe me).

The only 21" table set is the wood cabinet Holiday model.

The only way a 21" Princess exists is if an owner swapped a Holiday or console headshell onto a princess (the top halves of the swivel collars and electrical connections are the same so the swap only requires 1 screw and 4 wire connectors be interacted with).
Philco never sold a 21" princess new.

So... what you are saying is, that a 21" Princess is a Philco Predicta Frankenstein!:D :scratch2:

I believe they made a 21" Princess model in Brazil. I don't think the 21" head will fit on a Princess cabinet. The CRT also has different specs.

Oh dear Lord what a mess I've made! I need to not post these things when I'm not fully engaged! This is what I bought. It does have a 21 inch 21EAP4

Philco Predicta TV Holiday In Mahogany G4242

I'm just looking for a straight substitute but I have heard the cathode emissions on these prematurely fail. So Bob, you're saying a 21FDP4 or equivalent would be the best way to go???

Never underestimate the power of kludge! :)
In the HS electronics lab, I bodged a 21 inch screen onto a 19 inch RCA tv using some old 2x4s I found laying around, it was literally an open chassis stuck on to the back of a frame holding the picture tube, but it worked! :D

LOL! :P

I'm starting to remember that crazy set now, it was a insane mishmash of what ever I found laying around, 21 inch BW, with a RCA chassis, it sat on my dresser, but I could control it from my bed, as I took the remote control servo motors from another dead set I found and tacked them to volume (on/off) brightness, tint & channel controls and had a long multi wire run to my bedside with all the buttons for it, it was truly a Rube Goldberg machine!

I used it until I was able to find my first color set.

ISTR someone on that predicta Facebook group you're part of sticking a debutante head onto a pedestal cabinet, so the reverse should be possible.
As for CRT compatibility the only difference is heater voltage. A series chassis doesn't even notice that, but a parallel heater chassis like the princess can be adjusted to compensate...In the princess and the similar chassis in the continental console all you have to do to compensate for a different heater voltage is swap the heater hot lead between the 2V tap and the 6V tap on the power transformer.

I've ran 17" headshells as test jigs for 21" chassis before so this can be done.

Running the 2.35 volt filament using the 2.68 volt tap would be fine. I was thinking more about all the other stuff like the yoke impedance and connector pinouts.

I have an opportunity to buy a NOS 12QP4 Bob. Is it a direct replacement for the 12JP4? Do I need an ion trap for 12QP4?

I was thinking about putting a Debutante CRT on a Pedestal set some more. The Pedestal uses 600mA series string tube filament while the 17" CRT is 450mA. You could still do it, but you'd need to add a shunt resistor across the CRT filament.

Datasheet says it needs an external ion trap magnet. Here are the links so you can compare the dimensions.

https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/1/12JP4.pdf

https://frank.pocnet.net/sheets/127/1/12QP4.pdf

Thanks so much Bob. Looks like the datasheet for the 12QP4 has an error maybe? It says pin 10 no connection but it's G2, the same as the 12JP4. Looks like things line up well. The 12QP4 might have a slightly larger screen diameter but looking at the chassis and cabinet, it shouldn't be a problem.

The seller has the original ion trap magnet and is including it in the purchase. Yaaaaaay! I'll be in the Doghouse for the next couple of months. Sorry Motorola VT71...back on the shelf for you...again. No luck at all with getting the video. No signal and no failed parts.