Here's my most recent Philco TV acquisition. It's a nice blonde Predicta Tandem set. It actually sold on ebay for nearly a grand, but the CRT and enclosure were destroyed by UPS when the seller tried to ship it. He filed a claim, which of course UPS declined, so he listed just the console base back on ebay. Luckily, I have a spare head unit so bid on it and got it for a fraction of the earlier selling price. It's the one we were discussing in this thread (http://www.videokarma.org/showthread.php?t=256443).
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Philco-PREDICTA-Penthouse-Television-TV-screen-broken-25-Umbilical-cable-cord-/00/s/NjQwWDQ4MA==/$T2eC16NHJIYE9qUcM8dHBQw7KCnIm!~~60_3.JPG

I flipped out a bit when I opened the box because there was sticky clear packing tape stuck all over the original finish :rant:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8323579555_e5e29ec1ff_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8323579555/)

Slowly, over the course of an hour, I carefully peeled it off. Success! No finish came off :)

There's one mismatched knob, a few paint flecks and some finish loss at the base of the legs. Also, the center HV conductor is broken on the CRT socket. Otherwise, it's in very good condition.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8323578757_d4a0b4bbf6_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8323578757/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8324650702_b4aa8f7045_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8324650702/)

Here I've removed the back for a look inside.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8323590743_d15b77f672_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8323590743/)

I pulled the chassis and was blown away at how clean it is. Easily the most pristine vintage TV chassis I've ever seen.
Other than a few tubes, not one single component has been replaced and all the metal surfaces are gleaming :thmbsp:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8324649468_225a2e8692_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8324649468/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8324651526_36ed466c76_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8324651526/)

Now for the best part. I did some basic checks and only found a bad thermistor. It looked fine, but measured open.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8494/8323592339_a1ced091f7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8323592339/)
Blonde

Once that was replaced, I slowly powered it up, did some tweaking, wiggled the bad CRT connector and it came alive.
[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8323591549/]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8323591549_3dff3d670e_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8323592339/)

Here it is after a little tweaking :D I figure a few new tubes and some fine tuning will get it running even better. Which leaves me to ponder how much I want to run it on all original parts :scratch2:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8324652286_e049c86a91_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8324652286/)

Nice. JC what is the basis for a decline?

oops never mind I see it all covered in the link.

Nice, it looks like it works better than the one I recapped!

As for the packing tape, you can squirt some Ronsonol lighter fluid on the sticky side as you slowly peel the tape, it releases the bond as you go, minimizing the risk to the finish. Of course you might want to test it on an obscure place to make sure it won't damage the finish itself but I've never had that happen.

That reminds me of a few years ago when I was poking around the basement of an antique shop where they did the touch up work. There were several Ronsonol containers in the supply cabinet and I was wondering what they used it for.

I'm thinking maybe this tint base in "Honeydew", "Parchment" or "Harvest Grain" will work well for touching up the legs :scratch2:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7037/7029918891_3effd22e02_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/7029918891/) http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8351/8324638472_3008df9414_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/70039806@N00/8324638472/)

...As for the packing tape, you can squirt some Ronsonol lighter fluid on the sticky side as you slowly peel the tape, it releases the bond as you go, minimizing the risk to the finish.
Often a hot air gun or the wifey's hair dryer will greatly facilitate removing the tape. Gently warm the stickum so it softens and releases easily.

Hi Bob,

I saw that TV and was tempted, but then I'd have to source a head for it. Being in Australia, it's a lot more difficult to do this, and I'd have to pay 2 lots of freight. (Plus I want the mahogany version.) Very glad you have a tube to test it and that it works pretty much out of the box! Interesting background story to it.


Looking forward to seeing your top notch resto on this one. :)

Another blond has popped up on ebay. Also in very nice condition except for no legs ! http://www.ebay.com/itm/321071195753

I just might have to refinish my brown CRT base in a light finish like this.
http://www.videokarma.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=177804&d=1360687486

Hi All;
Bob, That has to be the fastest restore job you have ever done.. Nice Job.. Congratulations.. It won't be long and we will start having to call you Predicta Bob, Instead of Admiral Bob..
THANK YOU marty

No, sorry for the confusion. That's not my set, that's one for sale on ebay that I would mine to look like when I'm done ;)