Anyone up for a challenge (http://cgi.ebay.com/NON-working-Antique-PHILCO-Predicta-TV-maybe-Penthouse_W0QQitemZ180385084537QQcmdZViewItemQQptZ LH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item29ffc9f479&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A10|66%3A2|39%3A6|293%3A1|294%3A50) ? :)

http://i.ebayimg.com/10/!BWrZ,!QBWk~$(KGrHgoH-C8EjlLlh!lGBKYln38UCg~~_12.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/17/!BWrZklwBWk~$(KGrHgoH-DgEjlLl0b,6BKYlo0S7mg~~_12.JPG

My God..........

I kinda like basketcases but it seems to be P/U only. Too bad the price is right!
Terry

I do wonder what she'd look like cleaned up, looks like most is dirt. Always wanted a set like that.

Dirt can be deceiving. Sometimes what's underneath is surprisingly unaffected. Of course, other times, what's underneath is a rust bucket that someone cannibalized decades ago.

It crossed my mind to get it and have my Dad stash it until we make our next family jaunt back to MN. But he's 82 and no longer takes great joy in such adventures. I pulled that trick last year with a fancy Stewart-Warner cathedral that I got reel cheep on Mpls craigslist. It took 7 months for us to get out there, and the cost to pack & ship that heavy beast back to WA ate a considerable portion of what I saved on the purchase price. I'd still be tempted if it were within driving distance.

Phil

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I'd love to get it just to see if it could be restored.
It looks pretty solid under all that dirt, the screen is moldy and probably needs replacing but the cabinet looks good.
Of course it could be a mouse infested nightmare.

There was a Holiday in a local shop that was worse, swaybacked, waterlogged, delaminated and probably nothing good on it and they wanted over $200 as I recall.

I'll predict (pun intended) this goes for $200.

A trip to Houston & back would cost me about $70 in gas alone - It's just not worth it to me. I have to say though, the picture quality of the seller's camera is horrible; my gut tells me this may not actually be that bad. If it were closer I would go for it.

Here's a pic of what a humid garage can do. If you saw the underside of the chassis you wouldn't believe it's the same set - clean as a whistle. It works in case you're wondering.

Looks like it has been stored in a shed in a very humid climate.

The speaker cloth and cone appear to have completely rotted away in the steamy Gulf Coast atmosphere... Houston + storage shed + decades = mold, mildew, other fungi, rust, corrosion, and probably with that plastic face that already is subject to s stinky fungal growth, it would smell like a boys' high school gym during a janitorial strike.

Charles

it almost looks like it was on fire or in a fire.

it almost looks like it was on fire or in a fire.

Appearancewise, yes, but the plastic isn't melted or distorted. I've worked on Predictas from fires, and the whole CRT housing is always drooping down, even if the rest of the set is still OK. Just a lot of black dirt and fungus, and probably rained on a couple times.

Charles

Psst looks can be deceiving...I came across this sparton....looked good until you touched it and it just crumbled.

http://i39.tinypic.com/ojjnd2.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/mk9fo6.jpg

...

Wow, cooljay, that's a perfect example! Did you at least walk away with a good crt?

Couple times I have found old sets out in the woods. Tempting to drag them home-but in the end, best to just let them sit there and slowly fade into the landscape.

yup i had a GE (admiral look-a-like) set that was in poorer condition than the spartan. i attempted to restore it, but it was just too much work than what it was worth. However, the CRT was very good. benham picked it up to be used in his col-r-tel system. worked great i assume.

yup i had a GE (admiral look-a-like) set that was in poorer condition than the spartan. i attempted to restore it, but it was just too much work than what it was worth. However, the CRT was very good. benham picked it up to be used in his col-r-tel system. worked great i assume.

That sparton was a sad fine, I was all happy till I uncovered it, went to grab it and poof. I seen an admiral behind that, that I thought was a bakelite model but just a wooden version that turned to saw dust. There were lots of tvs at that place, lots of sadness. The lady said they hauled a whole room of them away to the dump. I was hoping to find a predicta. There was no way that I would even consider restoring one, I give you a thumbs up :thmbsp: for trying.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2hgyemu.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2yjwj0n.jpg

Seeing those sad photos makes me renew my vow to sell or give away absolutely every radio & TV that I own before I croak.

Phil

the problem with that phil, How do you know when you croak? you croak you croak and that is that. hehe.