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  #1  
Old 12-14-2013, 09:35 AM
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Futuristic Find! 1959 General Electric Forecaster!

After years and years of looking I finally found one of my "dream sets" the highly elusive General Electric "Forecaster"!

This set was designed to compete with Philco's Predicta series as a look ahead into the future,the 1960's. In my opinion this set is every bit as cool as a predicta but much,much harder to find. It's also very well made,the cabinet is solid wood with walnut veneer,it has sturdy tubular metal legs with Danish Modern oval shaped "ski" feet and the white curved screen shield is painted steel,not plastic. It was extremely heavy,probably around 50-60lbs!

According to the original ads I've seen online this set has a console power transformer chassis.I've also noticed that the ad shows a prototype version without the wood feet to prevent it from scratching your tabletop.

I am very glad I found one locally as it would never have survived shipping,the back cover is metal & fiberboard and the white plastic inset around the picture tube frame is extremely delicate. It's made out of that same ivory colored plastic GE used on their table radios during that time.

I have not attempted to power it up,but the owner said it was watched into the 80's when it began taking longer and longer to warm up,he claimed to have tried it a couple months ago before offering it for sale and it didn't turn on anymore.


Does anyone else here own one of these sets? the original owner worked in television back in the 50's and 60's and said it was expensive when new.
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Last edited by Forward Look; 12-15-2013 at 08:53 AM.
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:17 AM
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Kevin Kuehn Kevin Kuehn is offline
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Welcome to the forum. Sounds like a very interesting set you have there. Hopefully you can post some pictures.
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Old 12-14-2013, 10:55 AM
egrand egrand is offline
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Would love to see a picture. I think some of those sets used a unique push button, motor driven tuner that had a remote option.

They're listed in Sams by the chassis number, which should be marked on the chassis somewhere. Probably a U or M series.
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Old 12-14-2013, 12:32 PM
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Phil Nelson Phil Nelson is offline
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The Forecaster has an asymmetrical, "stepped" cabinet. My wife would go crazy for that. This page shows a Forecaster ad:

http://rogerwilkerson.tumblr.com/pos...ter-television

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html
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Old 12-14-2013, 01:06 PM
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Hi everyone,I will take some photos later when I'm at home.I have a few I took the day I brought it home with a cameraphone but they didn't come out good.
Before I found mine I was never able to find any "real" photos online either,just that ad which doesn't do it justice.when seen in real life the design is startlingly dynamic,the metal screen shield curves drastically out at the top and at the bottom lending it a very space age look when seen at an angle. It's also has a smoked glass lens over picture tube and the small knobs are metal and hour glass shaped!

I sat and looked at the thing for an hour when I brought it home because it was so beautiful! I couldn't believe I finally found one.

"Egrand",can you post a picture of the push button tuner? my tv has a standard rotary tuner as pictured in the advertisement,I don't know if this model came with a remote option or not. I have heard these were only offered for the one year 1959,and they didn't sell well.

Now I need to find a Dualette!
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Last edited by Forward Look; 12-14-2013 at 01:36 PM.
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Old 12-14-2013, 01:07 PM
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I forgot to add that is also has RCA jacks on the back for radio and phono input.
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Old 12-14-2013, 04:29 PM
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That set is COOL! I always thought the Sylvania "Dualette" was the only other "space-age" looking TV besides the classic "Predicta's", but this GE is one more to add to the group! Love to have one. Lucky you!
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Old 12-14-2013, 04:30 PM
egrand egrand is offline
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Now that I see the ad, I don't think it was available on the Forecaster. Here's a link to an ad showing it: http://books.google.com/books?id=PT8...c%20tv&f=false

It was only around for a couple of years.
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Old 12-14-2013, 05:38 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by decojoe67 View Post
That set is COOL! I always thought the Sylvania "Dualette" was the only other "space-age" looking TV besides the classic "Predicta's", but this GE is one more to add to the group! Love to have one. Lucky you!
I love the predictas too and have four of them so far.This GE is definetly one of the most space age sets In many ways its cooler than the tabletop predictas.

The Dualette is a stunning set,I would love to find the two tone turquoise model,of course I'd "settle" for coral. I've seen them come up ocassionally on eBay,but never locally and I've had too many things damaged by careless packing to risk it.

I also like this 1960 Sylvania silhouette with Halo-Light
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=4471,7504600
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Old 12-14-2013, 05:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by egrand View Post
Now that I see the ad, I don't think it was available on the Forecaster. Here's a link to an ad showing it: http://books.google.com/books?id=PT8...c%20tv&f=false

It was only around for a couple of years.

Thanks for the link,hadn't seen that push button tuner before. Pretty neat.
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Old 12-14-2013, 06:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Forward Look View Post
I also like this 1960 Sylvania silhouette with Halo-Light
http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=4471,7504600
I just got done restoring that exact set for a guy in MD. There's one local to me at an antique shop, they're asking $100.

BTW, I just sold my '58 Savoy this past July. It was my dream car for a long time
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Old 12-14-2013, 07:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kamakiri View Post
I just got done restoring that exact set for a guy in MD. There's one local to me at an antique shop, they're asking $100.

BTW, I just sold my '58 Savoy this past July. It was my dream car for a long time

You've got great taste in cars! I love the '58's,best year for Plymouth. The 57's are beautiful but they did a great job of refining them in 58 by adding the matching lower valance,winged hood ornament,sharkfin fender ornaments,dual lights,and adding fury style trim that sweeps up the fin on the Belvederes.

Was your Savoy a 2 door hardtop coupe,2 door sedan,4 door sport sedan,etc? They are difficult cars to find ,especially the 58's. Did you have any other Forward Looks?

I sure wish that Sylvania Halo-Light was near me,I'd definitely buy it for $100.I love that set and haven't been able to find one nearby. How much did the guy in MD have to pay to ship it to you? Or did he just send the chassis? Isn't that model one of the last Halo-Lights made?
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Last edited by Forward Look; 12-14-2013 at 07:22 PM.
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Old 12-14-2013, 08:52 PM
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No, it's actually a 1958 or so. This one is a 1960. They made them one more year after that AFAIK.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1960 syl.jpg (31.4 KB, 62 views)

Last edited by ggregg; 12-14-2013 at 09:08 PM.
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Old 12-14-2013, 09:23 PM
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Where are you??I have a halo-light set from maybe 1958, hot chassis, wiht a GOOD 24" tube.... (tested on CR-70 in 2011) you can HAVE---if you can come for it. cabinet fair, not sure if I have the back.


This goes for anyone else---free if you come for it.
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Old 12-15-2013, 01:10 AM
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Forward Look Forward Look is offline
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Originally Posted by rca2000 View Post
Where are you??I have a halo-light set from maybe 1958, hot chassis, wiht a GOOD 24" tube.... (tested on CR-70 in 2011) you can HAVE---if you can come for it. cabinet fair, not sure if I have the back.


This goes for anyone else---free if you come for it.
Thank you very much for your generous offer,I would LOVE to come get it,unfortunately I'm in California.
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