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Vintage Television and Video Vintage television and video equipment, programmes, VCRs etc. |
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23rd Apr 2017, 5:12 pm | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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Philco Predicta TV
Ive always been rather taken with the Philco Predictor Television, and I was wondering if anyone here had such a beast in their collection?
Ive always had a hankering for one after seeing one in a museum a few years ago , but ive never seen one in the wild. |
23rd Apr 2017, 6:40 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Derby, UK.
Posts: 7,735
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Re: Philco Predictor TV
As far as I know, the Philco Predicta sets only ever existed as 525-line VHF versions for use in the USA. I never saw one over here.
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23rd Apr 2017, 7:39 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 7,444
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Re: Philco Predictor TV
There was a dismantled Predicta on Ebay recently.
Even more stylish is the Teleavia from France. DFWB. |
23rd Apr 2017, 8:34 pm | #4 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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Re: Philco Predictor TV
That's a shame, I would have probably bid on it if I had seen it.
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28th Apr 2017, 12:06 pm | #5 |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 396
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Predictas were indeed only produced in 525 line versions but there was quite a wide range of models including some VHF/UHF models - UHF had just been introduced in the US in order to provide additional services as VHF channels had become fully occupied - as a matter of interest I came across a Predicta which had been converted to 625 line CCIR standard in Germany about 20 Years ago - perhaps arrived in Germany via US forces but I'm not sure - conversion , apart from changing field timebase frequency, would have involved accomodating 220v mains and changing 4.5MHz sound intercarrier to 5.5MHz as well as re-alignment of tuner and vision IF amplifiers - I should have paid more attention to the details of the conversion at the time but I do recall that the set produced cracking pictures so a very competent job had been made of the conversion
Rgds to all John Last edited by kan_turk; 28th Apr 2017 at 12:19 pm. |
28th Apr 2017, 11:32 pm | #6 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Waterford, Republic of Ireland
Posts: 259
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
I remember there was a series in Television on converting foreign sets
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29th Apr 2017, 9:40 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 6,644
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
The Philco Predicta is an American Set but why do all that. Get an Aurora World Converter and run the set on its own standard. But they are not the easiest things to fix as Philco sets were all style and no quality!
Remember they work on 120v mains and you will need a converter for this too. Cheers. Steve P.
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If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...? |
29th Apr 2017, 10:49 pm | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK.
Posts: 8,923
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
I had one through my workshop,I think they called it the petrol pump.
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29th Apr 2017, 11:19 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 6,644
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Yes I remember - when you were in Misterton. Did you fix it in the end?
Cheers, Steve P.
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If we've always had it, why is the Car Boot open? You're not sneaking another Old TV in are you...? |
30th Apr 2017, 6:35 am | #10 |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 396
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Something to bear in mind for anyone running US equipment from that era - it was designed to run at 115 - 117v and often does not take kindly to being fed with 120 - 125v which is typical today either in its home territory or via a converter/transformer from 230v. It is particularly rash to overrun vintage equipment in this way but can easily happen if there is not an appreciation of the above.
Rgds John |
30th Apr 2017, 9:19 am | #11 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
Posts: 22,803
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Ah, an early model interocitor!
And according to the name it could already allow you to view programmes which hadn't yet been made. David
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30th Apr 2017, 9:58 am | #12 |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Peacehaven, East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 278
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Thanks David for supplying the name of the triangular shaped screen that came to mind when I saw the name Predicta.
You have to wonder if the good people at Philco had seen the film and took it for inspiration for the set |
30th Apr 2017, 10:36 am | #13 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bridgnorth, Shropshire, UK.
Posts: 787
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Interocitor renovation is difficult these days - you just can't get the XC condensers
I've always wondered if 'XC' was a reference to capacitive reactance Anyway, I decided to look into making my own miniature Predicta out of a 5" TV. Not a chance! The tube is far too deep. It just looked like, well, a 5" telly tube on top of a box |
30th Apr 2017, 1:09 pm | #14 |
Pentode
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Wirral, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 118
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
One solution,and i hate to say this is fit an LCD screen.
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30th Apr 2017, 1:29 pm | #15 |
Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fife, Scotland, UK.
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Hmmm, use the rods supporting the screen as the antennae of a built-in theremin.
David
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Can't afford the volcanic island yet, but the plans for my monorail and the goons' uniforms are done |
30th Apr 2017, 2:38 pm | #16 |
Nonode
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Gloucester, Glos. UK.
Posts: 2,149
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Im going to look into importing one if all else fails ive decided.
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30th Apr 2017, 5:47 pm | #17 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 7,444
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
There's a few Predictas on ebay.com. USA site.
DFWB. |
3rd May 2017, 9:01 am | #18 |
Retired Dormant Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 27
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
"bandersentv" on Youtube has lots of video's series about restoring Predicta's.
The seem like a pig to work on, lots of custom hybrid modules, the boards need to be completely de-solderied to remove them from the chassis to work on. The external tube and interconnection cabling seems like a common failure point. So, good luck ! |
3rd May 2017, 8:24 pm | #19 |
Hexode
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 396
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Not to mention 'special' slimline (120 deg) CRT with low voltage (c 2.7v) heater - replacements not exactly plentiful - hen's teeth come to mind
More than good luck required but ideal if you're a glutton for punishment Kind rgds John |
3rd May 2017, 9:14 pm | #20 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Posts: 7,444
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Re: Philco Predicta TV
Found this, 1958 advert for the Predicta TV with the then new 110 degree CRT.
http://www.vintagetvsets.com/predicta.htm "Most picture tube design engineers agree that a commercially feasible, truly flat CRT--one with no visibly protruding neck structure-- is years away. Nevertheless the past two years have seen enough reduction in picture tube depth to have a strong effect, if not on electrical design, at least on cabinet styling and chassis layout." DFWB. |