RCA model 1R81 AM-FM radio

[electra225]

I have had this radio for over 30 years. A lady my wife worked with wanted to get rid of it, so she brought it to work and the wife hauled it home on the right hand bucket seat in her '79 Corvette. I don't use it much. I can't say it is still all original, but I've never done anything to it besides clean and dust it. It really could stand to have a good dusting in the chassis. It is an eight tube radio, still has all RCA tubes in it. The 5Y3 rectifier has the newer "RCA" logo on it, so I'd say it's been replaced. I don't have date codes yet, but I'm guessing this radio is from the middle 1950's. The Zenith guys talk about the C845 radio and its derivatives, but these big RCA radios are their worthy competitors. This thing has a powerful front end, both AM and FM. It is a powerful performer with good tone and plenty of bass. This radio will look nice displayed with the 45 rpm changer I'm redoing currently. RCA built a 9-tube version of this chassis, having one extra IF amplifier tube. I can't tell the difference in performance.

[TC Chris]

When you get it all organized, gives us a YouTube demonstration!

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Maybe I can impose upon you to give me "You Tube 101" I've never done a YouTube video, but I'm not opposed to doing it.

[TC Chris]

On the YouTube site, there's a small image of a video camera with a "+" inside it. Click on it; it offers "upload video." I can't drag and drop using my little video cam's program so it usually takes me ten minutes to remember how to get the video into the "upload" box. Once there,you go through several steps. One asks if the video is intended for children; always click no. You can add a title; you can choose to add music or say no and use the video's sound track; eventually you click on upload and it starts the process. At some point you have to click "publish," after selecting public or private. Public means anybody can view it. Before it will "publish," it does an automated copyright check for music. If you look back at my Edison cylinder video, the music I played from about 1914 was under copyright but the holder waived it. Or my suitcase RCA phono video, I played Elvis, and nobody objected. Go figure, as they say. Just try to limit the duration of any music you use to demonstrate.

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

Does it help to upload the video from camera to a computer? This might make it easier to load. I have never taken a video with my camera, nor with my phone. This may take some "doing" but is sounds like fun. If I have questions as I go, I may have to ask you to bail me out.....

[TC Chris]

I have used a little Flip vido camera that came with its own editing program, and come to think of it, that's where I add the title. The I load it onto the computer.

Chris Campbell