Early Color Television
RCA Model 5 Serial Numbers
(Information in this table was from Ed Reitan and John Folsom and was culled from various spots in Pete Deksnis’ Web site on the CT-100) Update 8 May 2008 (#672, #697); 1 Jan 2010 and 7/23 Feb 2013 (#538)
| Serial Number | Owner | Located | Observations |
| 526 (the earliest known) |
Ed Reitan California |
First Model 5 found. Set was previously at NBC Burbank and bought from an NBC Engineer by Gary Hough, an early collector, and sold to Reitan during the late 1970’s. | No power resistors on chassis back. AC cord out through hole in back. Adapted Vertical Output from octal to 9-pin miniature with 12BH7. Several unused electrolytic capacitor mounts.
|
| 538 | Ernest Bailey |
"I worked for the RCA Service Co. for 38 years (1947-1985) and as a Chief Technician for about 18 of them. The set was given to me by the widow of a former chief engineer of NBC who died in the early fifties. I can't remember his or her name. (Senior problem, I am 87). I used to service the set for her and she gave it to me when NBC gave her a new 21-CT-55. She kept her husband's ashes in an urn on top of the set"
|
Cabinet & Lid #37.
Chassis #538 in red on power transformer. NBC inventory control plate: CT-16 |
| 539 | John Folsom Florida |
Sold by Estes Actions in June 2007 to John Folsom. | Cabinet has big square Pencil Box. Chassis similar to 526
|
| B570 | Wayne Abare |
Originally owned by Donald E. Pike, of NBC technical staff, who lived in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Acquired in 1974 by John Garrison and stored for 25 years. This set was purchased at Early Television Convention by Wayne Abare in April 2004.
|
AC Adaptor Plug on chassis back. |
| B583 | Early Television Foundation | Originally owned by Dan Gustafson. Sold by his estate to ETF in late 2003.
|
Cabinet & lid # 108. NBC inventory control plate: CT-66. Operational. |
| B668 | Don Saltzman
|
Originally owned by RCA Labs Employee Mike Colaselo in New Jersey. Purchased by Don in 2000. | Operational; restored by Kirk Stankiewicz. |
| 672 SUB4 | Monty Holt New Jersey |
"Set that I have owned since the late 1950's. Bought them both used and had one running until 1965. I am retired from RCA Service Company where I worked as a TV Tech for RCA for 35 years: 1958 to 1993."
|
The number on the top is 34. No numbers are evident behind the pencil box. [One of these two sets (672, 697) is a donor. Donor set is unknown at this writing.] |
| 697 5C | Monty Holt New Jersey |
"Set that I have owned since the late 1950's. Bought them both used and had one running until 1965. I am retired from RCA Service Company where I worked as a TV Tech for RCA for 35 years: 1958 to 1993."
|
Cabinet number is 16; the top number is 23. No numbers are evident behind the pencil box |
| 685 5C | Mike Molnar New Jersey |
Originally owned by Tom Pederson of Bell Labs’ Holmdel, NJ technical staff who bought the set in 1964 for $25. Pederson lived in Lincroft, New Jersey. He extensively repaired its cabinet and restored the set while a member of Bell Labs’ CT-100 club. Operated last in 1969. Sold to Mike Molner in Middlesex, NJ in the last quarter of 2009. | NBC inventory control plate: CT-34. |