How to safely transport a Predicta?

[Captain Video]

I have just bought a Predicta, and I am going to transport it by car on a 700 kilometer trip. I will put the Predicta on the rear seat of the car since it doesn't fit on the luggage compartment of the car. Is there any precautions I should take? I am specially concerned with the fact that I heard that the piece that holds the CRT above the cabinet is quite fragile. Should I immobilize the CRT, to prevent it from moving during transport?

[Sandy G]

I've never seen a Predicta up close & personal, so I really can't say too much, but use your common sense-I'd try to immobilise the set as much as possible, turn it so the face of the CRT is against the seat cushion, bring pillows, cushions, etc & strap the TV in w/the seat belts as firmly as you can.

[AiboPet]

Doesn't the CRT assembly actually come off the cabinet for shipping? I always thought they easily seperated and "plugged in" to eachother.

[Captain Video]

Originally Posted by AiboPet

Doesn't the CRT assembly actually come off the cabinet for shipping? I always thought they easily seperated and "plugged in" to eachother.

I don't know... I would have to talk to someone who knows Predictas to see if it's true. But Sandy's suggestions seemed quite good to me, even though he said he had never seen a Predicta in person.

I am really concerned, because the seller of this TV had it restored and it's working, so it would be really nice if it arrives working at my house.

[AiboPet]

I've only seen a couple.....both "in-situ" and even RUNNING (I'd REALLY love one!)

I have not ever seen one like on a bench...the back off, being worked on or anything like that yet. I remember asking the barber shop what happened to their running set a few years ago.....and they had TOSSED it when something happened to it. Replaced it with a big faceless LCD that they were all GUSHING over. That was so sad to think of where their old set may have ended up. It actually bugged me for a few days like they had thrown a bag of kittens out a car window.

[RDusel]

You don't mention which Predicta model you are shipping, that makes a big difference.
The CRT and housing are 50% of the weight of the Holiday and 17" models and make it top heavy.
I have found that you can put the screen face down on a thick towel on the car seat (with the body face down as well), strap it in with the seat belt and some straps and the predicta travels quite well without stressing the connection because all the weight is now at the bottom and stationary.
This might be more difficult with the barber pole model if you have a narrow european spec car.
It's true that the top can be removed from the base but I have never done it.
Hope this helps!
Rob

[Eric H]

Transporting it by Car shouldn't pose any problems, they are not that fragile in normal handling, exception being the screen, you don't want to hit it and crack it.

I have transported several Predicta's by Car and Van.

I hauled a Holiday and a Debutant 500 miles in the back seat of my Civic with no special precautions other than making sure it wouldn't fall over.

I have a Pedestal model I hauled in the back of my Mini Van by just laying it flat on the carpeted floor.

One note, the collar that hold the CRT to the cabinet is made of some metal, possibly Pot Metal but it seems quite strong.

I move my Pedestal short distances by grabbing it under the CRT support arms and lifting the whole thing off the ground, probably not the best idea but it gives you an idea of how fragile (or not) the Predicta is.

Now if it was being shipped I fear any good shocks or drops would do considerable damage.

[DaveWM]

my princess it transported CRT face down on pillow, then lots of blankets etc... around the base/crt

[Sandy G]

If you have/can get some of those "Elastic Straps/Bungee Cords", they might help in strapping down the set/CRT. I HAVE seen a Predicta, but never got to REALLY examine/study it. One I saw about 30 yrs ago was the model that had the CRT assembly separate from the case, & had a THICK cable/cord that looked to be several feet/meters long. The other one I saw was in Knoxville about 15 yrs ago, I don't remember if it had the big thick cable or not.

[Phil Nelson]

I drove both of my Predictas home without damage.

If you handle it carefully and make sure it doesn't fall off the car seat, you should be fine.

If it's a tabletop set, I recommend picking it up from the bottom, not by grabbing the CRT. It might survive the other method, but that seems like picking up a dog by its ears -- why?

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html

[AiboPet]

That one with the real long cable I think is the illusive "Tandem". I saw it once in an old vintage ad. it said something about putting the TV in one place...and the picture somewhere else.

I would imagine THAT set being much easier to transport since you can apparently set the CRT down somewhere low....mind the long cable...and have the cabinet either up on the seat or on the other floorboard, etc. I think I remember it had long legs though...that may or may not be [easily] removeable. That set I saw at the barber shop that they apparently TOSSED...was I think a red Princess. I could have CARRIED the thing home two blocks if they still had it and woulda sold it to me

[Chip Chester]

I have transported lots of new and older electronics for work, etc. I'll have to take issue with the bungee cord recommendation. They are not your friend. A bungee cord will allow an item to move out of it's cradled position, and unceremoniously snap it right back once the outside force is gone. This creates two impacts out of every one bump. Your goal is to avoid unwanted/uncontrolled acceleration/deceleration of the item, and manage the controlled forces. (Manage by car selection/route choice, and driving style.) So, padding is good, as are non-elastic straps, like light-duty ratchet straps, or seatbelts with locked-up tensioners. (Depending on the car, this can be achieved by drawing the belt all the way out, then letting it back before fastening it. This will make a snug belt, that will only get tighter.)

A boxed, foam-in-place solution, with enough isolated ballast (extra weight) that allows the seat's suspension to work for you, would be very safe, and very expensive.

Alternatively, making your car very heavy will help, too.

Chip

[Sandy G]

You might wanna set it in the floor upright behind the passenger's seat, & then run/wedge the passenger's seat up against it FIRMLY, & try to strap/secure it w/either the seat belts or those "Bungee Cords" I mentioned. I'm POSITIVE there's a relative easy & simple way to do what you want, it would be nice if we had pics of yr car & yr Predicta...If we had MY car, The Mighty Valdez, a 2000 Ford Excursion 4X4 V-10 down there, we wouldn't have ANY problems whatsoever (Except feeding it PLENTY of gas)...IT could easily swallow a couple dozen Perditions safely, w/no problem...(grin)

[Captain Video]

My Predicta is this model:

http://www.tvhistory.tv/1958-Philco-Predicta-BRAZIL.JPG

My car ( not really mine, it is my mother's car ) is a 2007 Ford Focus, I don't know if this car was sold in the US.

[Sandy G]

We had a Ford Focus sold in the US, I assume it was similar....Again, maybe yr best bet is to pull the front seat forward, load the Predicta on the floor, kinda brace it w/cushions/pillows, push the seat back against it, again w/cushions or pillows-You want to make it where it can't move, or move very little...And is supported by the seat back...Maybe even use a few cardboard boxes cut up & folded to brace it in firmly..Do you guys have "Duct Tape" down there ? In America, the whole COUNTRY would fall apart if we didn't have it...It's vinyl covered cloth sticky tape, silver in color, about as wide as yr index finger is long... Its CHEAP, & we use it to patch up, hold up, make steady anything/everything...Blankets/comforters also make DANDY packing material...a BIG trash can liner would be nice to cover it with to keep it from getting scratched/scuffed...