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In the late 50s and early 60s, RCA supplied finished chassis to many manufacturers, including GE. It was RCA's effort to get color moving more quickly without the other manufacturers needing to make a major investment. There were more brands available to give color some credibility. Servicemen gained proficiency, competitive dealers had product on the floor and test fixtures and parts were common to all brands.
Meanwhile RCA Broadcast division was selling NBC affiliates and competitive stations the transmitting and studio equipment. It was an admirable strategy. Sometime in 1962 RCA sent a generic letter to all the manufacturers advising that it would no longer supply OEM chassis to other manufacturers. The letter was widely circulated as a sales driver to further stimulate RCA sales. RCA pumped a lot of cash into color and must be respected for sticking with it for the duration. No consumer was left stranded with an RCA color TV.
Don
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