How much for a CTC-15?
 

I was looking around here, and spotted a CTC-15. It doesn't appear to be working, and I'm not sure what could be wrong with it. I don't have a way to test the CRT. I haven't gone to see it yet.

My question is, what can I expect to pay for one of these working, and non working?

I was thinking of negotiating a price, but I don't want to give him too much, and i don't want to insult the seller either.

Any thoughts?

The market for 60s color sets has not yet "gelled". They seem to go anywhere from free to several hundred dollars, but more towards the low end of that scale. Personally, I have an -11, -12, -15 & 2 Zenith roundies & among those 5 sets I have about $50 invested.

If the set is in working condition I would try $50-100. If you can't tell if the crt is any good then I wouldn't offer much. If it has cataracts don't let that scare you away, but use it to your advantage in negotiating a price.

I agree with Bryan on the prices: $25-$maybe a couple hundred max, depending on the cabinet style and the condition... If I were in the market for one, I probably wouldn't brag it was a great deal unless I got it for $40 or less. I think many of the sky-high eBay prices are being paid by new collectors, and others who "gotta get a round set now". The most I ever paid for any post-1960 round tube color set was probably the $85 I just paid for this Zenith a couple weeks ago, which is as-new condition except for the busted CRT. A CTC-15 is a good set, but not really collectable yet. Once a year or so, I still see them lying in the alleys of Los Angeles. I used to drive right by, but now I stop and check them out :scratch2:

They aren't very rare, and if you miss this one you WILL find another in the future... Many TV shops still have one or two buried in the back.

Charles

Most of my roundies were free from various sources. I gave 125.00 on eBay for my Curtis Mathes... it had the stereo and record player as well. I gave 75 for an -11. It was local and an easy pick up for me. The guy wanted 100 for it, but I pointed out that the tube had a brightener on it... so I knew I was going to have to replace it. I offered the 75 because I found that the set was exceptionally clean.

For a CTC15, I would go along with Bryan's suggestion. A 15 is definitely nothing special being that they're so very common.

Cabinet style and condition usually influence me... so if it was a fancy cabinet with a nice finish, I'd probably offer more. I wouldn't offer a lot for a 15 in a fake wood cabinet.

Someone here on AK gave a few hundred for a 15 this year on ebay. I forget who it was... but it was such a beautiful set that I would have done the same. It had the fancy cabinet with a BEAUTIFUL finish, and it worked as it was (had an impressive picture).

For a CTC15, I would go along with Bryan's suggestion. A 15 is definitely nothing special being that they're so very common. Let us know how your visit goes.

Thanks for the suggestions. I wasn't planning on paying more than 100 bucks if it were working and the cosmetics were good.

I'll get to see in in person sometime at the end oof this week. The owner was going to ebay it, but he said he'd hold off until he knew I wasn't going to buy it. I'll bring my variac and give it a test, and I'll go from there.

<<<The guy wanted 100 for it, but I pointed out that the tube had a brightener on it... so I knew I was going to have to replace it..>>>

I don't know what the odds are of that, I have bought only one set with a brightener on it and it turned out after fixing it up, it didn't even need it after all, and far from it. So from this I wouldn't say a brightener is 100% proof the tube is shot but it's probably a very high %. Has anybody else found a brightener on a set where the tube was still in pretty good shape? Maybe I'm the first...

I've brought a few sets home (color and b&w) with brighteners. I would find the tubes wouldn't even make the needle move on the tester... so they apparently used the set till the tube until it's last-breath-death. Can't say I've found one plugged into a good CRT.

It must have been a pleasant surprise to find that your tube was still good. :yes:

<<<It must have been a pleasant surprise to find that your tube was still good.>>>

When I first pulled the back off, it was, ughhhhh, why me? I'm screwed. Then I dejectedly plugged it into my tester out in the garage without the 'juicer' on it and got well into the green zone on all 3 guns and was scratching my head, whuhhhh? I even went on ebay and bought another tube thinking well, good test or not I bet it will turn out to be a turkey. Plus before I restored it the brightness of the picture was awful which was not encouraging. Good thing I didn't take the back off the set before I bought it... or I woulda left it on their front lawn! Needless to say the spare tube is sitting on a shelf!