Tag Archives: vintage electronics

On the Bench: ’58 Philco Predicta “Barberpole”

Restoration wrap-up on a Philco Predicta Pedestal TV.

On the Bench: ’51 Zenith Porthole “Aldrich”

Rich from New Zealand sent in this beautiful ’51 Zenith Porthole for restoration. Aesthetically gorgeous, and very complete. This model is known as the Aldrich. Upon removing the back cover, first thing that I saw was a brightener attached to the CRT which is usually an ill omen. I hooked up the Beltron to checkContinue reading “On the Bench: ’51 Zenith Porthole “Aldrich””

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)”

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!”

Beetlejuice in 1958 Color

Have you ever seen a 1950s color TV set? This amazing 1958 RCA CTC-7 series came up for sale on ebay out of San Jose. These early round screen TVs are very unusual, and only the very wealthy could afford to own such a set in the ’50s. Color broadcasts did not become regular untilContinue reading “Beetlejuice in 1958 Color”

On the Bench: The new blonde Philco Predicta!

I just got back from a small group meetup of early TV enthusiasts at a fellow collector’s house in San Jose. Among the featured sets were a pair of pre-WWII 5″ television receivers (VERY rare) and one modern replica of a “color wheel” b&w to color converter. Too cool! I picked up this blonde PredictaContinue reading “On the Bench: The new blonde Philco Predicta!”

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!”