Is this a Motorola?

[Eric H]

This picture is a screen capture from a program called "Weird U.S.A."

Looks like a 55ish Motorola with it's original 19" tube?

They are supposed to be watching Jackie Kennedys 1962 tour of the White House on that set.

[Steve D.]

Looks to be a 1956/57 21" Motorola color set.
Model 21CT2M, chassis TS-905

Not that it matters. Jackie's 1962 televised tour was in black and white.

-Steve D.

[Eric H]

Ok, I was close with the wide masking I thought it might be a 19" set.
Either way it's a rare one now!

[vintagecollect]

Set looks unusual, streamlined for a color set. Looks as though made cabinet barely big enough to house crt and electronics. Is there anyone out there with this set?? I have yet to see one for sell, a rare set?

[Steve D.]

AK member Charlie Trahan rescued one of these rare sets from an old tv shop. Here's his post from Jan. 2004:

Went to the old local TV shop today. Wasn't really expecting to find anything that I hadn't seen before, but I did! I went digging around in an area that I hadn't looked in before, and found some unique color sets! I was really excited because we have recently been talking a lot about "the lost years" and Motorolas.
This one is a 1957 Motorola 21CT2M (Chassis TS905). It's in Sams 371-5. Unfortunately, the top isn't in the greatest of shape from sitting in that old attic for the past 30+ years, and some of the insides are somewhat rusty. It's not as bad as some of the other sets I've brought home from this shop. (My Sylvania HaloLight was in the same condition, and I had to put in MANY hours of work to make it run and look nice)
It looks like there was a failure at the yoke. In the photos, you'll see ash in the yoke area and it's also all over the power supply chassis below.
This has a 30 tube chassis, and the 21AXP22A (which tested very good). It has a unique looking switch assembly for the blue lateral magnet. According to Sam, part of this switch is for blue size. What is blue size? Never heard of that one before.
Whether it's a TV or radio, I have always felt that Motorolas had a style that set them apart from all other brands. This one is no exception. That big honkin' channel selector is pretty cool looking. It also has a neat push-button power switch, although it looks like it does not work because someone installed a little toggle switch on the top left rear of the cabinet. I was disappointed at first that the pencil box was missing, but once I got it home I found it inside the cabinet.
The cabinet has that cheesy fake wood stuff on it. The sides are in okay shape, but the stuff is peeling off the top. It could be fixed up with a piece of veneer I suppose.
This set will have to sit for a while before I can pull the chassis. I have too many others out there that are waiting in line for attention. Hopefully I'll be able to do something with it, but not today.
__________________
Charlie Trahan


-Steve D.

[vintagecollect]

I thought Charles had one, any staus on restore?? THIS IS Motorola's own chassis design, and not a RCA clone chassis thrown into the Motorola cabinet, right? Should be----sounds like too many tubes, ctc-4 uses about 25 tubes. I hope he gives us update, must be very rare roundie. Does channel knob have that great large tri colored emblem for color?

[Steve D.]

Here's a picture of Charlie's 21" Moto wih the tri-color channel knob:

Audiokarma.org Photo Gallery - 1957 Motorola 21" Color 21CT2M TS-905 - Powered by PhotoPost
Address:http://www.audiokarma.org/gallery/sh...sort=1&cat=503


-Steve D.

[Charlie]

Yes, I still have the Motorola color set. It sits in the garage with the others patiently waiting. Unfortunately, it's not in the best of shape. It has the fake wood cabinet with several scratches in it. Much of the trim is in need of being replated. The chassis has a little corrosion on it, but I think it will be okay. The CRT tests pretty good. I don't recall looking in the HV cage, so I'm not sure of the flyback's condition.

It appears that it's main issue is the plastic body and cover of the yoke has completely rotted away... which seems to be a common problem of sets from this time period. There's no chance that I'd ever find one to replace it with. It would have to be manufactured by hand. I've heard of someone successfully doing this with a small plastic bucket, so that gives me a little hope. The photo below shows what's left of the yoke assembly.

The Motorola is going to need LOTS of attention, and I'd rather not start taking this set apart until I get some other items completed around here. My TV work has really slowed down during 2005, and hopefully will pick back up during '06. I've got 3 other color sets out there that have been half-completed, and two others that haven't been started yet.

My last vacation from the ship was spent dealing with Hurricane Rita. My current vacation was mainly taken up by the holidays, and much of my next vacation will involve having my cabin repaired from Rita and trying to get rid of the 3 dozen or more trees on my property.

I've had an itch to pull the Moto chassis several times... and may get it again soon... but for now I think it's best that I leave it all in one piece to keep from misplacing parts or forgetting how it went back together.

It's a very bold and beastly looking set... definitely different looking!

[vintagecollect]

That's just a clean , great looking modern front for tv. Will look awesome restored!! I really wish more of these were available.

I'm sure Charlie will have no trouble fixing yoke or cabinet--He's done some terrific work in the past.