fair price for an RCA 721TCS floor model?

[bmcgarth13]

Hey guys,
I have the opportunity to buy an RCA 721TCS, and I was just wondering what you think a fair price would be. it is about two and a half hours from my house. the gentleman says it was restored some years back, but obviously I would have it checked again. has all knobs, has the original back, has scratches but grille work is in excellent condition, and could be refinished well. are these sets super rare? what do you think its current value would be in AS- IS condition?

thanks a lot
Bryan

[John Marinello]

Cute set, read here to see what you are up against:

http://www.antiqueradios.com/forums/...552&hilit=+721

[Phil Nelson]

The console TCS model is scarcer than the 721TS tabletop. I paid $125 for mine and drove 8 hours to pick it up. The CRT was good and I considered that a very reasonable price.

This article includes the service manuals as well as some restoration notes:

http://antiqueradio.org/RCA721TCSTelevision.htm

The guy who refinished my cabinet was able to touch up the photofinish without any trouble. Unless the photofinish is severely damaged over large areas, it should not require drastic measures such as applying new veneer.

If the set has already been restored, and the current owner paid a price based on that, he may want to recoup some of that investment, although people who pay for third-party restoration work are rarely able to get their money back.

Regards,

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[decojoe67]

Although that set does turn up now and then I would say it is fairly rare. I see it about as infrequently as the rare 621TS. It seems to have never really caught on big with collectors, although it's a very unique design and an excellent player. Here in the NYC area I would expect to pay somewhere around $350 for a non-working set in good, complete, original condition (knock about $100 off if it needs some fixing-up). The same set with a complete elec. resto. I would expect to add $100.

[John Marinello]

Originally Posted by decojoe67

Although that set does turn up now and then I would say it is fairly rare. I see it about as infrequently as the rare 621TS. It seems to have never really caught on big with collectors, although it's a very unique design and an excellent player. Here in the NYC area I would expect to pay somewhere around $350 for a non-working set in good, complete, original condition (knock about $100 off if it needs some fixing-up). The same set with a complete elec. resto. I would expect to add $100.

Your're way off. I have plenty of business for anyone who will do a complete elec. resto. for $100.

The last two on ebay, no bids:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321062067969...84.m1438.l2661

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300844469006...84.m1438.l2661

[decojoe67]

Originally Posted by John Marinello

Your're way off. I have plenty of business for anyone who will do a complete elec. resto. for $100.

The last two on ebay, no bids:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321062067969...84.m1438.l2661

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300844469006...84.m1438.l2661

It's not about an elec. restoration of a TV being $100. I am aware that will run about $350. It's about how much this set will sell for in working condition. You can buy a really excellent non-working TV for say $250, and then spend $350 to have someone elec. restore it, yet that does not mean you now have a TV worth $600.
Ebay is no way to judge value or interest on a set in my opinion. Someone could be willing to gladly drop $350-450 on one of those sets tomorrow - but not today. It's all about timing. I know a long time collector that has one of those sets and also feels it should be a $500 one due to it's rarity. It's one of those nice rare vintage TV's that has sort of fallen into the cracks. It just has never caught on with collectors. Same for the '46 RCA 630TCS.
The bottom line is the set is rare and really unique and attractive. If someone out there can grab one for $100-$200 - more power to you!
Joe