Predicta Tandem / Penthouse scored

[bandersen]

I was quite surprised to find one of these in a vintage shop on the northside. It's not working and they were promoting more as a prop or decoration. They had received a few inquires and offers already, but if I could lay down some cash it would be mine. So I ran over to a nearby bank (paid the $3 cash station fee ) and it was mine



Now I am taking a gamble that the CRT is good, but I could liberate one from a Holiday if I really had to.
The base is very light. Almost makes me wonder if there's anything really in there!



It's also missing one knob and, as usual, the antenna.



Now for the worst part. Someone cut and tossed the umbilical cord

I suppose I can roll my own unless by some miracle there's a spare cable floating around out there.

[bandersen]

I carefully popped the CRT back cover off.
Interesting how they located the final video amp next the the CRT. I supposed that was due to the long cable.



Hurray! We have filament glow at 2.5 volts.


I increased the filament juice until I had 600mA of current and checked the emissions. Weak, but I'll let it cook for a while.

[tvdude1]

I know where there is a complete head and cable but no tv. Craigs list in mass

[bandersen]

Hmm. I tried searching around on craigslist in mass, but couldn't find it.

[old_coot88]

Originally Posted by bandersen

...Interesting how they located the final video amp next the the CRT. I supposed that was due to the long cable.

Yessir. Capacitance of the long cable would have smeared fine detail in the pic, so it had to be fed by a low impedance source (cathode follower), keeping the vid.output stage next to the CRT.

[bandersen]

That makes sense.

I popped the back off the set and took a look inside.

Seems it spent time in Philadelphia. Wonder if Fred Mertz is still around ?


I found a plastic tube from the missing antenna and some service info inside.
I'll scan the info and post in a bit.


Looks just like a Holiday chassis except for the big socket.


Both fusistor and thermistor have blown.


Odd diode holders. I wonder if these are factory or an old repair ?


Flyback is flaking, but looks OK.

[ggregg]

Nice story and nice score, Bob. Cool set, about as cool as they get.

[tvdude1]

Its in worcester mass. I was there two weeks ago and bought a zenith 9s 262 for 10.00. My friend bought a 7 incn motorola for 20.00. The zenith needs cabinet work at the bottom. Clean chassis with correct wooden knobs. I was going to take the predicta head but when I checked the crt it was dead. If you want it its under radios and tvs for sale. I could pick it up.

[bandersen]

Would that be this guy ? "also i have old parts, tape recorders, up right radios old record players call me ****** lucien"

[tvdude1]

Thats him. I try not to miss any adds around my area.

[fox_rivers]

Thats a sweet lookin' set and I hope you can find a replacement umbilical cord soon. I'm sure your anxious to start restoring it. I would be :P

[Glenz75]

Thats a neat looking set Bob And what stupid 'git' decided to cut that cable??
That must be so annoying, are you able to make up something that will do the job ok?

[bandersen]

Originally Posted by tvdude1

Thats him. I try not to miss any adds around my area.

Ok, I'll try to get him to ship it or maybe find someone in the mass to pick it up and ship it my way.

Originally Posted by fox_rivers

Thats a sweet lookin' set and I hope you can find a replacement umbilical cord soon. I'm sure your anxious to start restoring it. I would be :P

I am, but I just so happen to have a Predicta Holiday a friend dropped off for restoration. It's a very similar set so I'll practice on his first

Originally Posted by Glenz75

Thats a neat looking set Bob And what stupid 'git' decided to cut that cable??
That must be so annoying, are you able to make up something that will do the job ok?

Yes, very. When I saw that cut, I almost turned around and walked out of the shop. The price was really good though so I couldn't resist.
As for fabricating a cable, I can try if I have to. I'm a little concerned about matching the impedances and what about that crazy socket on the back of the set? I think I'd have to bypass that and run wires right into the set.

[jr_tech]

Originally Posted by Glenz75

Thats a neat looking set Bob And what stupid 'git' decided to cut that cable??
That must be so annoying, are you able to make up something that will do the job ok?

I have seen a few of these where the cable was brittle, broken and otherwise fried, perhaps this one was in bad shape before it was cut off.

jr

[bandersen]

Sure, that's possible. I wish they had left the connector on the set though. I assume it's very non-standard.

I gave this cabinet a little rubdown with Howard's RAF and Feed 'n Wax. I used Novus #2 on the screen.



Here's the preliminary schematic I found inside "FOR SERVICE TECHNICIANS ONLY"