Looking for help restoring an old RCA console TV in Las Vegas - Videokarma.org TV - Video

johnmckay · #1 03-19-2022, 11:14 PM

My dad recently passed away and one of the items I inherited was the old family RCA console TV. It was a favorite of mine growing up and my dad was so meticulous that he even kept the original paper receipt.
I have some ideas for what I'd like to do with the console that involves gutting the TV portion of the unit (I know, that's probably heresy around here!) and replacing it with a modern TV while keeping the AM/FM radio - Phonograph as is since they still work.
But I'm open to suggestions.
The TV doesn't work as it's just sat collecting dust and degrading since probably 1978-ish. But the radio and record player do still work although the buttons are a bit scratchy when depressed and the left side speaker cuts in and out.
Here's a link to the gallery of photos I've taken if you want to take a look at this classic.
https://www.alnitakproductions.com/P...KL/TV-Project/

I'm really hoping someone can point me in the right direction to reviving this beauty.
Thanks in advance
John ~

doogie812 · #2 03-20-2022, 12:01 AM

Wow! A RCA CTC-40. RCAs first solid state console. I have not had my head in the back of one of those since 1982 and I have only worked on a few of them in my TV career. They produced a very good picture with tight color. The rare earth CRT you have in your may look a little orange. If I had a good 25XP22 CRT I would restore the thing.

johnmckay · #3 03-20-2022, 12:16 AM

Thanks Doogie!
Any suggestions on how I should proceed?
I know the purist here will say restore the TV but in this modern HD age, I'm not sure I'd get much use out of it. But I'm really keen on getting the radio and record player portion back in tip top shape.

Popester · #4 03-20-2022, 04:27 PM

God that would be massively heavy. In my twenties I remember getting combos out of basements to the shop. I don’t miss those days. Nice set. That would be worth saving if it had a good jug. CTC 40 was pretty reliable for what it was. That interesting sweep SCR components.

Electronic M · #5 03-20-2022, 04:57 PM

I'm sure unless you were an early adopter of HD you spent a few years watching downscaled HD on SD CRT sets...That will look about the same on that sets original electronics.
SD sets can still look very good with modern programming and there's plenty of ways to feed them HDMI through adapters as well as DTV converter boxes, and old signal sources.

johnmckay · #6 03-20-2022, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electronic M

I'm sure unless you were an early adopter of HD you spent a few years watching downscaled HD on SD CRT sets...That will look about the same on that sets original electronics.
SD sets can still look very good with modern programming and there's plenty of ways to feed them HDMI through adapters as well as DTV converter boxes, and old signal sources.

Okay, with a little more arm twisting I might be convinced to keep the TV alive....IF, I can find someone locally that knows how to repair/restore them and it's not too crazy expensive.

johnmckay · #7 03-20-2022, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Popester

God that would be massively heavy. In my twenties I remember getting combos out of basements to the shop. I don’t miss those days. Nice set.

Yes, My guess is that it weighs somewhere around 400lbs. It took four of us to move it in and out of the U-Haul truck.

johnmckay · #8 03-20-2022, 06:04 PM

Here's the radio playing. Hopefully, it doesn't get taken down for copyright issues.
https://youtu.be/eDAVd-Bv7zk

AlanInSitges · #9 03-21-2022, 11:17 AM

Keep in mind that cabinet was designed to complement a 25", 4:3 aspect ratio CRT with all the associated knobs, buttons, and hardware. Those CRTs have a specific curve to them - they aren't flat. Every one of these "I shoehorned a cheap LCD into an old console" projects I've seen looks half-assed, at best, with huge gaps around the screen. At the same time keep in mind that the biggest screen you can fit into that cabinet is going to be 24-30". Sitting six feet away, you cannot tell the difference between the higher resolution of an HD flat panel and the NTSC picture on the set that's already in there. Further most LCDs are made to watch either straight on or from slightly below center. Putting one on the floor in that cabinet means you'll be watching it off-axis, and both brightness and color fidelity will be crap.

The TV you have there was RCA's top of the line and they were known for having a killer picture. Restored and properly set up, and fed with a clean HD signal from a cable box, or a Roku, or a Fire Stick, I think you'll have a much more enjoyable experience and avoid a failed DIY travesty at the same time.

Tom9589 · #10 03-21-2022, 01:29 PM

One more negative side to installing a flatscreen TV in the cabinet. Even if you were able to get a good mating of the flatscreen to the CRT mask, I'm not sure you could easily adjust the height and width to properly fill the screen. If there were such adjustments, they would be hidden deep in the software of the set.

The curators at the Henry Ford Museum tried to do a flatscreen conversion on an RCA CTC-9 and it didn't look good for the very reasons Alan outlined above.

I vote for restoring the CRT TV.

Jon1967us · #11 03-21-2022, 05:53 PM

That thing is super cool

johnmckay · #12 03-23-2022, 11:02 AM

I might be in luck. A friend of a friend of a friend here in Vegas actually restores old TV's and Radios so he's going to take on this project.
I'll keep you guys posted here on the progress. I'm sure it will be a while though.

zeno · #13 03-23-2022, 02:21 PM

Good, let us know. It should be a nice one to restore. Best TV you could buy at the time.

73 Zeno

LFOD !

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnmckay

I might be in luck. A friend of a friend of a friend here in Vegas actually restores old TV's and Radios so he's going to take on this project.
I'll keep you guys posted here on the progress. I'm sure it will be a while though.