Free RCA color console in California
 

I happened across this, and thought somebody might be interested. Could be something nice.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/zip/1275134953.html

Thanks for the note. I sent a message to the advertiser.

Hope you save it Chris. Be sure to post some pictures of you do.

Sounds kinda like a combo........might be interesting, I hope you can grab it Chris.

I wish the seller would have posted a picture of this TV. Even though I am too far away (almost 3,000 miles) and probably couldn't afford it if it were near me (not to mention that I have no room for a console TV in my apartment), I'd still be interested to see what it looks like. The seller says it is "one of the first color TVs made" and is 1961 vintage. Must be a very good looking set from an appearance standpoint; I don't know, however, whether or not it works.

I wish CL had a policy similar to AK's: "This thread is worthless without pics!" It's always good business to post a picture of an item one is trying to sell on eBay or CL; it gives prospective buyers a chance to take a first look at what is for sale.

Shopping "blind" on eBay, Craigslist or any other online store or auction site (i.e. by simply looking at ads with no pictures of the sale items) can lead to trouble, IMO, because sometimes a person will purchase an item, sight unseen, then discovers after winning the item that it has problems or damage not mentioned in the item description. A picture (or several) of the item will show obvious defects in the finish, etc. and will almost always be mentioned (on eBay anyway) in the item description, as, "The cabinet has slight scuff marks and dings, as shown in the pictures."

Remember the old saw: "A picture is worth a thousand words." When shopping on eBay or CL, a good look at pictures of the item, in addition to a careful reading of the description, before bidding can mean the difference between getting a good used item and getting something that amounts to little more than junk. I personally would not spend any amount of money on, say, an antique radio on eBay, even if it was a set I was particularly interested in, if the listing did not include a picture of the item in question.

1961 RCA color television -- CTC-11 like mine?

Phil

If she's really a '61 RCA color it should be an 11. I really wonder what it looks like, I too hate it when there's no picture.

Too bad that's nearly 500 miles from Los Angeles... Way up in the North Bay. Please, NorCal collectors: Save it!

Charles

Only to find that it is a B&W instead of a color because they have never seen a B&W and thought everything is color and you drove 500 miles to get there.

Good point. Ask them if they can send a picture in email. Or give a very good description over the phone. Ask key questions that will give a definite answer. Gas aint cheap!

No answer from the advertiser yet. They may have given it away to the first of 75 responses and didn't bother to delete the ad, you never know. If I get a response, I do plan to ask a few basic questions, but for free, I wouldn't expect someone to put much effort into their ad.

I sent another message tonight, too. Yes, I promise to post pictures if I do get the TV.

I had a free weekend, so I drove up there yesterday... Would you believe, IT'S AN RCA MODEL 5 PROTOTYPE, and they had given up trying to sell it... It was at the curb; with a brand-new screwhead prototype RCA 15" CRT in the box, sitting on top with the engineering manuals!!!!!!

At least that's what it looked like in the dream last night :tears:

Charles

Certainly possible. I gave away a big dog cage a while ago. I had dozens of responses within half an hour, and someone had picked it up within the hour. I did delete the ad and answer everyone, but I can imagine other people not getting around to it right away.

Phil