Philco Predicta

[Don Lindsly]

Bryan:

I believe you're right about the 70s Appliance sell-off. Correction noted. Philco greatly expanded the Connersville, Indiana appliance plant in the 60s and implemented an automated dishwasher line. That was about the time GE buillt its Columbia, MD plant. That raised the stakes and drove some industry consolidation. Seventies is more likely.

If GTE ran the Philadelphia TV plant, it was not very long. GTE had two US TV plants and did not need Philadelphia's labor problems and high taxes. Rebranded Sylvanias were good enough for the new distribution model.

Philco sold the Landsale, PA TV picture tube plant to Zenith sometime in there.

Don

[peverett]

One more comment about the Philco "Seventeeners". Philco was not immune to cost cutting on the these sets. I have a 1957 model with a brass plated solid metal channel selector knob. I also have a 1958 model. The channel selector knob on this one is part painted metal, part plastic. Guess which one is cracked!!!.

[tvdude1]

Originally Posted by Adam

Got this Predicta tonight. It looks like I'm going to have to repaint the cabinet, the antenna is broken, missing all the knobs. I think that's a Zenith UHF knob on the volume control, and a Magnavox knob on the tuner. Some extra knobs came with the set, but I don't think any of them actually go with it. Antenna is broken. But the clock is interesting, I don't think I've seen one with a clock before, I think there must have originally been some kind of glass covering it that is now missing though. The inside is full of lint, dead spiders and other gunk, I even pulled a VHS tape out from back in there. A few tubes missing, but otherwise the chassis looks original. Here's some pics...

Hi Adam I found your philco parts if you still need them. tvdude1

[Adam]

Thanks tvdude, I'll send you a PM

[Dan Starnes]

Adam,, I watched an episode of Route 66 on my Predicta tonite,, you will love the set. The comments I get from guests in our home is greater than any piece of old electronics that I have. While it is not my favorite old tv, I do enjoy it greatly.
Dan