Tag Archives: antique tv

57 Predicta Barberpole Resto – Initial Inspection

We just received this very complete 57 Philco Predicta Barberpole for repair. While the customer lives in Las Vegas; he purchased the TV from a seller nearby us in Walnut Creek so it was easy to arrange delivery. These are the initial pictures- overall cosmetic and working condition. Just some notes: the screen cover isContinue reading “57 Predicta Barberpole Resto – Initial Inspection”

The Predicta from Heck

ntroducing tonight’s luminaries, including from right to left: The Leaning Tower of Impedance, Electrolytic standing in as vertical feedback capacitor, “Stairway to the Stars” Couplate, and last but not least, Resistor; playing the part of Fuse. The show will certainly be delayed as it appears the Union of Tube Manufacturers has gone on strike.

On the Bench: ’58 Philco Predicta “Barberpole”

Restoration wrap-up on a Philco Predicta Pedestal TV.

Vintage TV Hoarder Estate, Day….. 4?

Who would have thought: a couple months have passed since the big TV hoarder’s estate sale off in Rocklin. Three entire days of discovering gem after gem and clearing out nearly every TV set, picture tube, and related part there… that there was yet more nestled in the back of the estate company’s storage locker.Continue reading “Vintage TV Hoarder Estate, Day….. 4?”

Sparton Mirror-Lid TV (1949)

Feeling ultimately modest about your electronics? You can’t beat this 1949 Sparton Mirror-Lid TV from 1949. Very Deco, and very understated, but have you ever seen a TV set on which you’re looking at a reflection of a vertically-mounted picture tube? An echo of pre-WWII television design; mounting the picture tube vertically allows the cabinetContinue reading “Sparton Mirror-Lid TV (1949)”

Vintage TV Hoard, Day 2

  More excitement on day 2 of the TV estate sale! We snapped some more pictures of the sale being set up as many more TVs were being brought out and lined up as we all anxiously awaited the barn doors to open 🙂 Sets we ended up with are a beautiful Bendix aviation 12″Continue reading “Vintage TV Hoard, Day 2”

Two Predictas hot off the bench!

Just finished servicing these two stunning Philco Predictas for Hepcat Restorations. The larger floor model, known colloquially as the “Barber Pole” or “Pedestal” was 98% bone stock and I was impressed that it was working at all with so many original components though with a ‘squeezed’ picture (poor vertical deflection.) After discussing the options, IContinue reading “Two Predictas hot off the bench!”

1946 RCA 621TS 7″ Tabletop TV Issue

The very first commercially available post-WWII consumer television set. Just a peek at the ’46 RCA that’s on the bench. Chassis has been restored and the set has beautiful video but I’m giving a shout out to some other techs for some help with the audio. Once that is fixed everything will be perfect.

Color on the Olympic!

New video electronics installed and set is displaying a picture! This Olympic used a very unusual 24″ black and white picture tube… when most TVs of the era were 21″ this was a king-sized model. There was no way to prevent the small bits of the top and bottom of the new picture tube fromContinue reading “Color on the Olympic!”