You are bidding on a vintage television cable box -  a Cabletenna RC-36P, a 36-channel cable TV converter from the late 1970s and early 1980s. These devices were essential during the transition from basic broadcast television to early cable service, as most televisions of that era only had tuners for channels 2 through 13. [1, 2] - cool item if you collect vintage television equipment - very dated looking - lots of cool buttons and switches - would make a good prop
Device Features and Operation
The RC-36P served as an external tuner, allowing households to access a wider variety of programming, including early premium channels like HBO. [1, 2]
  • Channel Selection: The front panel features a grid of channels labeled with both numbers (2-10, 11-13) and letters (A-X). Users selected a "range" using the red buttons or a sliding switch to access different tiers of channels. [1]
  • Connection: The system consists of a set-top controller connected by a long cable to a separate power/signal box. The signal box connected to the wall's coaxial cable and then outputted to the TV, which typically had to be set to channel 3 to receive the signal. [1, 2]
  • Fine Tuning: A dedicated "Fine Tuning" slider on the right allowed users to sharpen the picture manually, a common necessity for analog cable signals. [1]
Company and Industry History: Cabletenna
Cabletenna was part of a wave of electronics manufacturers that emerged to support the rapidly growing Community Antenna Television (CATV) industry.
  • Industry Context: Cable TV was originally a "novelty" for rural areas with poor reception. By the 1970s, it evolved into a provider of diverse entertainment, requiring new hardware like this converter to bypass the limited tuners built into standard televisions. [1, 2]
  • Market Position: While major players like Jerrold Electronics (founded in 1948) and Hamlin Internationale Corp (which claimed to invent the converter in 1966) dominated the market, companies like Cabletenna provided similar hardware to various local cable franchises across North America. [1, 2]
  • The Era of Set-Top Boxes: In the 1970s and 80s, these boxes were often nicknamed "descramblers" because they could be configured by the cable company to unlock premium movie channels for paying subscribers. [1]
  • Obsolescence: These mechanical and analog converters became obsolete with the rise of digital cable and modern televisions with high-frequency tuners (cable-ready sets) in the late 1980s and 1990s. Today, they are primarily sought after as vintage collectibles or period-authentic props
reverse reads: 
TO PREVENT ELECTRICAL SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE COVER.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL
CATV CONVERTER
110-120VAC 60Hz
4 WATTS 0.035 AMPS