This is just wrong... - Videokarma.org TV - Video

azguy1878 · #1 09-02-2006, 12:16 AM

look what happened to this poor guy...

doug621ts · #2 09-02-2006, 01:56 AM

My god! Where did you find this guy at?? Just when you think that it cant get any worse!

2DualsNotEnough · #3 09-02-2006, 02:06 AM

It probably works a lot better as a 'puter than they ever worked as tv's!
Jimmy

jstout66 · #4 09-02-2006, 08:31 AM

LOL! That's about the truth Jimmy! I love the looks of those sets, but man were they DOGS. The Predicta line is what bankrupted Philco and why they sold to Ford in the 60's. I'm not familiar with them other than some history I have read. I don't know if the chassis' were any good, just know the picture tubes were crap.

vintagecollect · #5 09-02-2006, 10:02 AM

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Don Lindsly · #6 09-02-2006, 12:32 PM

Much said about Philco and the Predictas is urban legend. I will share some history. Some supports the legend, some does not.

1. I am not aware that Philco was ever bankrupt. Philco had so many other businesses including appliances, computers, government, military, transistors, auto radios, mail sorting equipment, special test equipment and aero space so one model of one product could not have much impact on the bottom line.
2. The transition to Ford started quietly in the mid 50s, completed in '61. It was part of Ford's strategy to emulate GM and Chrysler by having broader consumer lines; Chrysler with Airtemp and GM with Fridigaire. The OEM auto radio business was also an attraction that was expanded under Ford.
3. The Predicta electronics were contemporary designs jammed into unconventional enclosures.
4. The picture tubes were following the trends toward lower wattage heaters to reduce heat and extend life. The same picture tubes were used in other cabinet designs including the "Seventeener 3", 17 inch briefcase portable. They sold at the rate of 5,000 per week and numerous ones survive today with good CRTs. Eventually most manufacturers followed to 450 ma heaters for series string TVs.
5. Predictas earned a reputation for poor quality. They were difficult to assemble, had poor factory yeilds and high on-arrival failure rates. They were the result of the stylists winning out over the engineers. Too much heat into too little space. Product Planning wanted something different to put in the dealer's showroom. They got that, but they were never intended for a 50 year product life.
6. I am surprised that so many Predictas survive, considering the number sold and the volume of other good products of the era that have been long since discarded.
7. Philco supplied hotels and motels through the Telesound Division. Many of the Predictas available today are former hotel TVs that got hard use and shoddy repair.
8. Philco President, Philip Caldwell, shifted the emphasis to quality after the official Ford takeover. By that time, the Predicta was long out of the product line.
9. In the 60s, investment went to color TV and appliances, like everyone else, so the B&W console chassis remained virtually unchanged until it was discontinued around 1970.
10. The Philadelphia TV plant closed in 1975, long after the Predicta so the Predicta did not put Philco out of business.
11. In the picture displayed in the opening comment, I am surprised that the same person can operate the keyboard and see the display at the same time.

Jonathan · #7 09-02-2006, 01:41 PM

Thats quite depressing. Even though the sets are so hard to work on and their quality isn't the best, there is still no reason to ruin such a pretty set.

bgadow · #8 09-03-2006, 09:39 PM

Don, good facts & observations. I am generally a fan of Philco & find its later years to be poorly covered by most sources. I find it interesting that after Ford took over they made much of their newly designed "Cool Chassis", designed to promote airflow, something that was a weak point of the Predicta.

A common print ad for Philco-Ford from the late sixties/early seventies era would show a suburban house with its yard full of Philco-Ford products, demonstrating the wide range they sold. Guess not everyone thought it was such a good idea-Lee Iacocca, in his first book, mentions that when he was with Ford he wanted to get rid of Philco because he didn't think FoMoCo had any business being in the washing machine business.

As for the Predicta in question, I wouldn't think this would catch on enough to worry about it...but then, in a table model it would be quite different.

Tom_Ryan · #9 09-04-2006, 12:57 AM

In the era of the muffin (box) fan there are no excuses for even the poorest venitlated designs to run cool. Modern computers are a testitment to that bit of clever engineering. But 40 years ago I think the mentality to heat and MTBF (mean time before failure) was very different. I'm sure back then manufactures were well acquainted with the idea that heat kills. But to use a small fan to force out the heat, well that would mean the TV set would last longer? I recall there were some tube portable sets in the late 1960's early '70's that did have a small quiet 3 fan inch moulded into the back plastic cover. I think they were made by Toshiba for sears. I suppose plastic cases would melt down much easier than the thermo plastics made for TV sets today. Then again, let the heat kill the set...in an ear when new models are sold every year...TV sets are like cars...run then for a while then replace them. I guess Philco thought a bit of heat was good for repeat business!