My First Philco Predicta - Videokarma.org TV - Video

azguy1878 · #1 05-06-2006, 11:55 PM

Iv'e been thinking about buying one for a while, i finally came across one at a local antique store..and the best part it was only $100.00!! The reason why it was so cheap is becuase they could not get it to power up, well i figured for the price i'd buy it as a project. I took it home and played around with it a bit, it turns out that the power cord wasn't plugged in all the way becuase the back panel was warped! So i took the paned off and plugged the cord in all the way and guess what..i have a working predicta! Only two probelms so far, the built in antenna is missing (easy Fix)..and it has raster and sound but no picture, someone with the same problem posted a thread on this site, so i should be able to fix it! The set is really in exellent condition, just got done cleaning the brass and touching up a few things. In case your wondering its a Philco "Princess". will put some photos up soon!

azguy1878 · #2 05-07-2006, 12:41 PM

ok..i now have a picture but the quality is really bad, its just good enough to make out what it is, theres also a line on the top of the screen that i cant get to go away...anyone have any ideas?

jpdylon · #3 05-07-2006, 01:48 PM

the line on the top of the screen is most likely vertical blanking information. Ther's not too easy of a fix unless there is a mod for the chassis.

The bad picture, is it smeared looking or washed out? if so there's probably a bad IF tube or open/shorted coupling cap in the video section. If its dim and fuzzy check the HV rectifier tube. I would pull out the chasssis and re-cap everything. Test and replace the bad tubes as well.

azguy1878 · #4 05-07-2006, 06:52 PM

the picture is dim and washed out looking, i'll have to continue working on it later, below is a picture, you can see the lines on top of the screen..theres a smaller one on the bottom..it seems to come and go. Also I just lost volume controll!

***Kamakiri*** · #5 05-07-2006, 09:09 PM

You have no idea of how lucky you are. Those sets barely worked when new

azguy1878 · #6 05-09-2006, 04:30 PM

You're right,its amazing the thing works at all. I'm gonna take it to a repair shop and see if they will work on it. I cant wait to see the looks on their faces since we all know the predicta is a TV repair man's worst nightmare!

Sandy G · #7 05-09-2006, 05:54 PM

I ain't tellin' you what to do, but if it were MY set-and I wish it wuz-I don't think I'd be playin' it anymore, until I had a good TV guy go thru it.....The volume dyin', & the weak picture could be caps fixing to check out on you...& THAT'S not a good thing...

blue_lateral · #8 05-09-2006, 06:40 PM

I agree with Sandy. You need to go through it. It's not time to "repair" it, but restore it. I dont mean to be a wet blanket, and I wish you all the best in your quest to get this fixed, but I think the chances of a regular TV shop working on a Predicta are between slim and none. From what I have seen, if a TV repairman thinks a set wont stay fixed, he probably wont work on it.

If this is beyond your own capabilities, you need a Predicta expert or at least someone who likes to work on older sets. I'll bet if you asked around, you could find someone capable and willing right here on AK. I would find someone that it is feasible to drive to and take it there, even if the trip is fairly long.

As you probably already know, this has a circuit board that has to be *removed* to get to the bottom. Taking this apart is probably most of the work. Old circuit boards are fragile, and the traces lift easily when soldering. You only want to do this part once, if possible. Someone needs to take this apart and replace all the paper and electrolytic caps (and any others that are likely to be bad), before putting the board back on. They also have "couplates" which are little early integrated circuits. These are often bad too, but can be built up out of parts.

Best of luck,

John

azguy1878 · #9 05-09-2006, 07:26 PM

Actually I havnt powered the set since the day i was messing with it to get a picture becuse i know its probably not gonna last much longer in its current condition. I'm also not going to attemp to fix it myself anymore, there as a guy downtown that offered to rebuild the entire chassis for $200.00...i didnt think that was a bad price... but i'll keep looking around. If anyone on here wants to have a look I can make arrangements, i'm in Glendale az. Let me know.

Phil Nelson · #10 05-10-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azguy1878

there as a guy downtown that offered to rebuild the entire chassis for $200.00...i didnt think that was a bad price.

I think that's pretty reasonable if he does a full restoration (replace all paper & electrolytic caps, maybe the couplates, check resistors, etc.).

I won't embarrass myself by telling you how many hours I spent restoring my Predicta! :-)

Carmine · #11 05-10-2006, 05:32 PM

Ahh... "Good Moooorning Arizoona", to be followed several hours later by "Good Eeeeveing Arizoona" on Channel 3.

I'd be surprised if you could find anybody out there who knows what to do with that set. I could count how many tube sets I saw in 3 years on one hand, and I used to got to Sun City estate sales all the time.

Where are u in Glendale? Just curious, I used to live on 55th Ave between Union Hills & Bell. Now I've got a house in Avondale that's for-sale (if you know anybody looking

)

azguy1878 · #12 05-11-2006, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmine

Where are u in Glendale?

Right next to the air force base.

#13 05-18-2006, 08:18 AM

Hi,
I have two Predictas, one recently restored, the other one almost done. The one restored is the Pedestal model, a unique piece, the other one is a Holiday. I'm not a repair guy, but even when I know a little of tech stuff, from day one I knew this job was not for me and an expert was needed. So long story short. If you are looking for the one who know these babies like the palm of his hands, let me know. I'm not posting his name or info cause I'm not sure if I'm allowed to. I have no business with him,
and not related in any way. I did had a lot of trouble finding one, BTW The first guy I found I had to pray and pray cause I thought I'll never see my chasis back. Thanks God I did, but the job was really bad. It was then that I knew from this company.... and today I'm a happy man with two Predictas!

I'll post a pic (if you show me how).

Alexis

I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Alexis I'm new here, a Predicta fan.

El Predicta · #14 05-18-2006, 10:04 AM

$200 is a fair price if the local guy really goes through the chassis,i.e., cleans it, replaces weak tubes, capacitors, out of tolerance resistors, recoats the flyback (HV transformer) and does other preventative maintenance.
If you can't get it done immediately, I'd be glad to help-but I'm in Mesquite, Tx. (DFW) area. I've done scores of these sets and sell some on eBay (one just closed this week). You could just send the chassis.