1962 GE color

[Jeffhs]

Rob,

Very nice looking set, and in great condition for being over four decades old. (Even better, it works and has the original CRT. Many if not most sets of this vintage, if they last this long, have probably, even likely, gone through at least one CRT by now.)

I also like the looks of the stand it's on. I've never seen a TV stand designed quite like that before now. This would be a great set for anyone who didn't have the room for a full-size console. The front-panel layout, and the fact that the set is a roundie with a 21FBP22 CRT, reminds me of RCA's CTC-12 through CTC-15 series, all of which had similar control panels. Could this GE actually be a rebranded RCA? I had a 1964 Sears Silvertone color set in the early '70s whose chassis and front-panel layout had a striking resemblance to RCA's CTC-12, so it wouldn't surprise me if your set fit this description as well.

Kind regards,

[Rob]

Jeff,

Thanx, I think this is a looker too although I wouldn't say it is any smaller than a full sized console! It is really deep because of the safety glass up front. The chassis is all GE.

The leg undercarriage was all in pieces when I got the set and I rebuilt it using hardwood gussett blocks and larger dowels to pin the legs. I was not able to do a very good job staining and color match to the cabinet color however.

[Rob]

GE undercarriage after rebuild. This is solid!

[Rob]

Here's a pic of the inside of the GE. I haven't even cleaned the inside of this set yet. Note the 'professional' electrolytic cap replacement job!

[Jeffhs]

Rob,

I just saw the pics of the chassis of your GE TV. Gee whiz, it's a miracle (IMO) the set works with a patch job like that on the electrolytics. Seems to me someone (obviously not a professional TV technician) did this job in a hurry, just to get the set going again after the original caps failed.

I also saw the picture of the rebuilt stand for your set. Ater reading your description of its condition after you got the set, I'd say that stand was badly in need of a rebuild, and I don't mean maybe. You did a very good job of rebuilding it, however; it should last years now.

I think you did a good job of matching the color of the stand to that of the cabinet as well. I have a fairly new monitor (HP MX70) on my computer that shows colors very accurately, so I would have been able to spot any major discrepancies between the color of the legs and that of the rest of the set immediately. The differences may be noticeable if one is looking for them, but most of the time, again IMO, it will not detract from the overall appearance of the set.

[Rob]

This post should be at the beginning of this thread but I don't know how to do this. It was an error caused by a thread splitting manouver.

Here is a 1962 GE color set from my collection. VHF only. Works. I like the style and the wooden slat speaker grille. The legs are unusual, reminds me of a lunar lander from this angle.

[Rob]

As found. Kamakiri was the one I have to thank for finding this set for me in Buffalo. Thanx Tim! Besides rebuilding the legs I haven't done a thing to this set yet. Not even a cleaning, inside OR out. Too many projects on the go.

My cat Fluffy is always first to inspect anything new that comes into the house.

[Charlie]

Rob,

I've always liked the way your GE looks. Those legs make it look like it could walk... maybe like a spider.

I recognize that style of professional re-capping! Looks like a few of my sets!

[bgadow]

This is one of the best looking roundies I've seen, in my eyes. Gotta say, if GE built that chassis they sure followed RCA's plans for the CTC-11 awfully close.

[smoker76]

Thanks

[Charlie]

Rob doesn't hang out here anymore, but I have a couple of pics of Rob's GE... but on another machine. I'll post it later.

[Don Lindsly]

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

[Chad Hauris]

However it seems like a lot of private label manufacturers stuck with the basic ctc-15 or ctc-17 designs and added their own small touches to them (color indicator lamp, color temperature control, AFT, 6BQ5 audio output) etc.
RCA must have licensed the patents to these designs to Wells-Gardner, Hoffman, Curtis Mathis and such.

[Charlie]

Here's the photos of Rob's set. I really like the way the legs are... it looks like it could walk across the room.

[smoker76]

It would be neat to know how many of each model were made to have an idea of how many of any particular model is left.
It would be neat to see a photo of the living room that GE was originally from.
Thanks for the photo!