I bought a new television today

[bugsyjones]

It's a COLOR television too! No more black and white.

It's solid state. No more tubes to change. Fewer service calls to the house.

RCA solid state COLOR set. 25 inch screen. Danish-modern cabinet. I estimate it to be early 70's.

It was an estate sale find. For $10 I couldn't leave it there. I tested it at the sale and it all seemed to work ok. I even got help loading it.

It was in the basement too. But it was a walk-out basement hehe.

What turned me on was the Danish style cabinet. Love it! It's a behemoth too. The cabinet is flawless. Not a scratch to be found. A little lemon Pledge and she shines like new.

I tested it at home and tried a VCR with it. I was encountering horizontal hold issues. But when I used a different tape, it cleared up. Also DVD's play flawlessly. Color is good. Contrast etc. work fine. Audio is great. No static or buzz.

People have a hard time selling console tv's. Nobody really wants them even though there's absolutely nothing wrong. Many times, I see them outside with a FREE sign. I have always liked the idea of televisions and radios as furniture. You have blonde furniture? You buy a blonde tv. Dark furniture? Dark tv. It matches better than a ugly black flat-screen nailed to the wall.

~Tim

 

[supersuds]

Seems like everybody had those (or a Zenith) in the 70s. Glad you rescued it.

 

[rp2813]

That is a beautiful cabinet!  Well worth saving that set!

 

[mtn1584]

That's a beautiful set...........that's when televsions were televisons! The cabinet is in great shape too! Good luck.
Mike

 

[danmantn]

Does the controls "tilt out" on this one? If so, a pic would be appreciated...think my mammaw had one of these.

 

[a440]

Very nice!

The cabinet is in awesome shape!

 

 

[danmantn]

With those speakers, I bet the tone is very nice.

 

[mattl]

I'd place that more like '68, there should be a date on the back somewhere. Unusual it survived in such good shape for so long.

 

[frontaloadotmy]

Hey Bugsy!

 

" No matter what sign you are; ........ "

 

[tolivac]

with the transistion from analog TV to digital-expect to find more nice analog "cast off" TV's like the one you found.I like the wood cabinet TV's not the UGLY plastic cased ones.Saw many of the plastic ones at yard sales-passed.Now if it were a beautiful console like you found-I would grab it.Folks today want widescreen instead of standard.They want the sorround sound instead of mono or stereo.and high def pecture.I am getting too used to the high def pictures-but an older analog set like the one pictured is kinda fun to watch older movies and TV shows on.and that TV is in such nice shape-not a mark or scratches on the cabinet.Around here-if the set is cast off and a "free" sign pinned to it-its been sitting outside for several days-so the cabinet is getting weathered and cracked.and the older set could do double duty--it could hold your widescreen flatscreen set on top!

 

[drewz]

LOVE IT, thank you for saving this gem!

 

Nothing like a Danish Modern Lowboy... as RCA use to label them.

 

Looks to be either ACCU COLOR, or early XL-100.

Love those flip up/down on and off switches, and those tilt out controls.

Console Economy models were all plastic fronts screwed onto a wood cabinet box.

 

Now does it have dual speakers mounted on either side of the cabinet or just the one mounted to the tilt out controls?

You could never tell with RCA some cabinets where loaded with all different sizes and types of speakers and others had a speakers the size of a cheap portable radio.

 

Again thanks for saving it!

I must admit at Estate Sales I too cannot pass up a nice console tv or stereo, especially if it is RCA, or RCA Victor (New Vista Styles)

 

[kevin313]

It's lovely - and compliments the decor beautifully!

I reminds me how much I miss TV's that were actually pieces of furniture instead of these ugly plastic hulks that collect dust.

Thank you for saving this wonderful television!

 

[petek]

Wow you'll see all your color shows now

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[dirtybuck]

Wood cabinet TV'S were SO BEAUTIFUL! They could display a framed picture (or pictures), a vase with flowers in it (just make sure there was something underneath the base in case it should develop a leak), a candy dish or some other nick-nack, and in Sam And Darrin's home, a firm platform to put their telephone.

Try doing any of the above with a flat screen "monitor" of today...it won't happen.

Is it possible one day wood cabinet TV'S may make a comeback? I'm sure technology can come up with something to house a TV of today. However, it would probably be nothing more than plasterboard, and if it is a solid wood cabinet, the price would be astronomical.

 

[112561]

Color so real, you'll think you're there

Or this one?
<iframe width="480" height="390" src="" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[lordkenmore]

NIce find!

Past the appearance of a wood cabinet, there is also the virtue that these older sets can actually be repaired. (Assuming, of course, that suitable parts can be found.)

I suppose a modern TV can, too, but from what I've heard (I know someone who's son in law does TV repair) it's mostly switch out complete assemblies (the whole power supply, or whatever). And, I'm betting, parts support will be gone very fast for modern TVs. I can already hear this line: "Oh, it can't be fixed! It's too ancient! It's nearly 2 years old!"

 

[whirlcool]

I remember back in the day when your local appliance dealer would have a dimly lit room with rows and rows of new color TV's stacked up on risers. It was called their "demo room". You could see all the brands they sold. RCA, Zenith, Admiral, Magnavox (sometimes), GE. This was about 1966 or so, before the Japanese started to invade with their sets. Ah, the smell of ozone in that room!

My parents always had Zenith console sets. My first color TV was a Zenith System 3 21" "table model" (a portable in a wood cabinet without a handle). By the time we was ready to move up to a console they weren't making them anymore.

Back when consoles were king, they were the centerpiece of the living room or den.
But as they lost popularity, they just became another component. Well, the new HD TV's are the centerpiece again.

I am glad this wonderful set found a home with you. You will enjoy it for years to come!

 

[bugsyjones]

Thanks for the comments everyone. As far as year, I haven't looked at all the numbers on the back yet but 1968-70 sounds about right.

frontaloadotmy - Yes, that's correct! 'No Matter What Sign You Are.' I thought I would pick something from around the same time as the TV.

Yes this has the tilt-out controls.

drewz - This is an Accu-Color model. It says it on the front. And it does have dual functioning speakers on either side of the chassis.

I took a short video of it playing the beginning clips of the TCB program from 1968. It has the NBC "In Living Color" logo and it fits the tv perfect. I'll have to upload that video when I get it edited.

Here's a pic of the flip-out controls that someone requested.

~Tim

 

[paulg]

Tips

That is an excellent television with quality in every detail. They work a loooong time.
I had one some years ago. One common trouble is that the "fidelity" of the picture would change as you open/close the door.
The fix is easy. The Molex connector between the control door and the chassis is oxidized. Unplug and reseat.
If the chassis is a vertical one, avoid removing the modules unless you absolutely have to. As their sockets age they can get a little brittle.
If the pix becomes herringbone, reseat the IF module (square can).
Gotta go. I know you'll love the set for years to come.