Groovy CTC-15 - Videokarma.org TV - Video

Charlie · #1 01-18-2005, 08:01 PM

Here's a cool CTC15 I brought home today from the old TV shop. Model 14G896MV. Has some really groovy looking wood over the speakers.

I found this set in the warehouse he has across the street. I looked thru there once before, but, it's even darker than the attic where I usually dig thru. This morning, I bought one of those flourescent lanterns so I could go looking. I'm going thru this place pretty good this week because he is selling the property and I will be helping him take stuff out for the trash man. Looks like it will take us at least a few days to clean it out. There are a few more roundies... but not sure of their condition yet. Some of the sets in here are stacked 3 high! I did, however, notice that one of the roundies had an RCA Colorama CRT in it, so, I bettin it had been replaced and it's probably good. Seems I saw it's date code of 1971. There's a Truetone roundie that looks like it has potential (RCA clone). I'll know more as the week continues on those sets.

Okay... back to this one. The cabinet of this set was in far better condition than most of the sets I've brought home from this place. It had other consoles on top and on all four sides, so, it seems that it kept most of the dirt off of it. It's a little dirty, but overall, the cabinet is in pretty good shape and should clean up nicely. There are a few scratchs and nicks that can be touched up... but nothing too serious.

Other that dirt, the chassis looks pretty good. No rust and it should clean up nicely. The 21FJP is a GE dated 1966, so, it's been replaced. Checked it on the tester and shows good on all three guns! The glue under the safety glass has turned to Jello, so, it will pop right off. I'll get that cleaned up and re-installed.

Seems that 95% of the RCA sets I find here have drippy flybacks (like my last ctc15), and this one is no exception. Got some burn marks on it, so, looks like that's what retired this one. I'll call Moyer's tomorrow and order another. I was really pleased with the flyback they sent me last time.

Because of the fancy looking tuner, I thought this set might have remote or power tuning. Nope... just a plain old tuner. No UHF, either.

Looks like I found my next project! (as if i didn't already have enough before bringing this one home)

Charlie · #2 01-18-2005, 08:04 PM

It's missing the door that goes over the color picture controls. Anyone got one of those to donate?

Charlie · #3 01-18-2005, 08:05 PM

Close up of the speaker covers...

Charlie · #4 01-18-2005, 08:07 PM

The inside... a little dirty... but will look better later

Charlie · #5 01-18-2005, 08:10 PM

Oh yeah... and I found another 21FJP in a trashed looking CTC15... tested great, so, grabbed it too. Seems I noticed that most of the color sets there are either 15's or 16's.

reeferman · #6 01-18-2005, 10:12 PM

RCA aftermarket had 2 versions of replacement CRT's. The "Colorama" was a rebuilt. The "Hi-Lite" was new, "The glass, the gun, the works!" as advertised by RCA. Cut my teeth on 15's & 16's. I can just smell the dust. Looking at the convergence board makes me want to see if I can find my diddle sticks. Best of luck.

#7 01-19-2005, 04:24 AM

I like that toob as well, Usually I don't like the horizontal consoles as much. I like the compact models and uprights, but that one has good style and I dig the speaker grills.

mbates14 · #8 01-19-2005, 08:46 AM

Yea, thats a nice looking set! looks to me, there is a dosen more to go through!

My grandmas 50th anniversary color from RCA looks similar to that, but its a rectangle tube, with folding wood doors. still plays perfect today, tube has been replaced. looks very similar.

mbates14 · #9 01-19-2005, 08:49 AM

id like to have that B&W roundie I see over to the extream right. That would be nice to have.

Charlie · #10 01-19-2005, 11:23 AM

Last night, I jerked the HV tubes and brought it up on the variac. I never made it past 85 volts because i could feel, hear, and smell one of the lytic cans getting hot. I was still able to tune in audio pretty good, so, looks like this cool-cat will be coming back to life!

Just got off the phone with Moyer's... ordered a new flyback. I was in luck... got the last Thoradson they had on the shelf for this model.

I had examined the old flyback a little closer last night. It looks like it had some serious issues. Melted wax, burn marks, corroded wire going to the 3A3.

Did a quick clean-up job of the cabinet. It's looking much better. I will go over it again later paying more attention to detail.

Charlie · #11 01-19-2005, 12:53 PM

Does anyone happen to know the name of this model? Model number listed on the back is 14G896MV.

kc8adu · #12 01-26-2005, 07:22 AM

dont pitch the old flybacks.
i have had good luck fixing them.
and the tubes not lit are likely the ground points to the chassis.
common problem
i resolder all of them to be sure.

bgadow · #13 01-26-2005, 10:13 AM

My -15 had the short vertical problem which took some looking but finally I found an open resistor, it was right off of either the height or vert lin. control, I can't remember which, but worth checking.

andy · #14 01-26-2005, 11:16 AM

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Charlie · #15 01-28-2005, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgadow

My -15 had the short vertical problem which took some looking but finally I found an open resistor, it was right off of either the height or vert lin. control, I can't remember which, but worth checking.

That's exactly what was wrong with this one. R105 150k ohm connected between the height and vert centering controls was open. Changed it and the raster opened up nicely! One problem solved... several to go!

I got the rest of the lytics changed last night. Almost a pain trying to figure out where to put them all. Those 80/450 caps take up some space!

Those two tubes that wouldn't light turned out to be a wire on top of the board that had corroded and broke. New piece of wire fixed that.

Today I am going to removed the crt so I can get all the crap cleaned out from behind the safety glass. It should fall right off.

Three other problems I've noticed so far. It seems that I have very little control on the brightness. It's displaying the picture at a "normal" brightness level it seems, but, I can't make it much brighter or darker. It will change some, but not like it should. Checked the control with my meter... it checks good. Any suggestions on that?

The picture will lock on the horizontal when i first turn on the set (with the control turned all the way to one side). Touching anything... whether it be changing the channel, adjusting the controls, or simply breaking wind will cause it to get out of whack. The only way I can get it to come back is to turn it off and then back on. Tried two different horz osc tubes and no luck so far.

The service switch fails to function conrrectly. I don't get anything on the screen when in the service position. I had to remove the verticle output tube for setting the screen controls.

Can't say much for the color right now. I think I saw it get color a couple of times, but, I'm not going to concern myself with it till I get all the other bugs out.

It's getting better... slowly but surely.